Nature Note: A Naturalist's Travels Through Nature

Our houses are more lively than we sometimes expect. We invite small creatures to live in our midst by hanging feeders and nest boxes outside our homes and while some respectfully keep to themselves, others will overstep their welcome. I was burgled a few months ago by a squirrel I rescued from our dumpster and while T.S. (Trash Squirrel) only took an apple, it was still a crossing of barriers.  That squirrel's neighbors also engage in remodeling efforts on the eaves and walls of the apartment, chewing holes for access to the warmth within. Other animals like starlings and wasps take over these holes when the squirrels leave, raising their young in a prefabbed space. We have small visitors as well.  The occasional spider or beetle will accidentally find itself inside our apartment and it will be my job to gently escort them outside to the hallway or swiftly eject out of the window, depending on my mood. More than often than not, our home is plagued by fruit flies. They sit like