ktinkel
July 1st, 2007, 08:20 AM
You haven’t mentioned your squirrel problem lately, but I thought of it this morning when I was listening to the answer to last week’s puzzle on Morning Edition.
(The puzzle was unusual; host Will Shortz said he had squirrels in his attic and asked listeners to send in solutions. The best, in his estimation, would get to play on the air today.)
The woman who won had the same problem. Researching solutions, she read that squirrels hate strobe lights. She found a very expensive solution — something recommended on This Old House — but finally found three strobes at $15 each at a theatrical supply shop. Placed them in her attic, wired up with a remote switch that she threw several times a day for short periods, and the squirrels left and have stayed away.
I would be tempted to put them on a 10-X so the intermittent timing could be automated (at least I think it could be), but what a clever solution. (Lots better than fox urine, which was the runner-up.)
(The puzzle was unusual; host Will Shortz said he had squirrels in his attic and asked listeners to send in solutions. The best, in his estimation, would get to play on the air today.)
The woman who won had the same problem. Researching solutions, she read that squirrels hate strobe lights. She found a very expensive solution — something recommended on This Old House — but finally found three strobes at $15 each at a theatrical supply shop. Placed them in her attic, wired up with a remote switch that she threw several times a day for short periods, and the squirrels left and have stayed away.
I would be tempted to put them on a 10-X so the intermittent timing could be automated (at least I think it could be), but what a clever solution. (Lots better than fox urine, which was the runner-up.)