We have several chipmunks in the yard, many of them overwinter in our rock walls. Yesterday morning I noticed one on our deck eating acorns with something green on its body. I thought at first that it was burs but after checking through the binoculars I realized that it was green plastic mesh wrapped around its neck and front leg.
I borrowed a live trap from a friend and caught the chipmunk within an hour of setting it up with peanuts. The plastic mesh was so tight around its neck I thought that it would start to imbed itself into the skin and possibly prevent the chipmunk from being able to eat.
We put mesh bags on each end of the trap to catch the chipmunk coming out. My husband held him still in the bag in his hands and I was able to cut an opening in the bag to access the plastic mesh on the chipmunk's neck and leg.
We got it all clipped off and he was off and away in no time without too much trauma. (He came back for more peanuts within minutes.)
The green plastic mesh is from sod rolls (sod companies wrap sod rolls in this mesh) and it is also used in seeding lawns where a straw layer is added on top as a mulch. The straw is held together with the plastic mesh.
In our neighborhood, it was used with the construction of some new homes - most likely where this chipmunk got entangled in it.
I have seen several instances where the mesh surfaces and gets clipped by lawn mowers, people trip on it and where the straw blows away leaving the plastic mesh exposed. It certainly should be considered a hazard to wildlife (like most plastic items) and I would hope that sod companies will not continue to use this mesh.
Wow! Great save and very educating story. I wonder how many people actually realize the hazards they place in the environment.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! I'm sure he feels better today.
ReplyDeleteSo too the seals get trapped in discarded plastic fishing line. The ones who live in harbours can be helped, as you did your chipmunk.
ReplyDeleteTo this day I always cut up any type of plastic ring or mesh before disposing of it ... just in case it gets away. So great that you were able to capture and free this little furry friend.
ReplyDeleteHeather, sorry but this has nothing to do with Chip. This cool weather has made me start working on my buckthorn in the back yard. Along with it I'd like to tackle my day lillys. Would smothering work on them? I noticed in your photos that your yard originally had some.
ReplyDeleteMelissa
Hi Melissa,
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately smothering day lilies doesn't work too well b/c of their rhizome. They tend to resprout and push through the paper. Digging is usually the best way to get rid of them.
Heather
We had a temporary fence around our garden made of that stuff. A chipmunk got stuck in it - he was wrapped up like a burrito when we found him. We freed the poor thing and kept him overnight in a bucket because he was too tired to fend for himself. But by the next day, chippy was feeling well enough to run off. (But the poor dear ran the wrong way, right into the open door of our house, leading to hilarity.)
ReplyDeleteWe have a much safer fence now.
How clever you are to capture and treat the little guy without injury to you or him. It does seem that the sod companies could come up with something that was cost effective and quickly biodegradable. You really don't need it to hold together for very long.
ReplyDelete