HIRING A HITMAN

A hitman(male) or hitlady (female) is an assassin who is hired to kill another person or in my case a creature.  

The Mafia is notorious for having professional  human exterminators on speed dial. These days the private citizen has also sought out the services of hitpersons to eliminate an annoying spouse.  In the private sector however they are usually nonprofessionals  who frequent bars. 

Both the  Mob and the disgruntled spouses hire the killer  for they are too chicken to tackle the job themselves. It keeps the blood off their hands.   Sad to say or perhaps delighted to say, I have stooped so low as to farm out such an ugly task myself. 

The other morning when I was walking Mighty in the dark (his usual 4 AM toilet) I  saw the shape of a large animal out by the septic tank. I quickly put my undersized pugilist in the house and went to investigate. 

There I met my personal hitman or perhaps hitpreditor  is more correct. 

 Not my image. This came in an email. 

I was very surprised to see  that the creature on the ground was actually a very large owl. At first I feared the ice storm, which was in progress, had felled him but as I shined the flash light on him, he gave me a look only an owl can give. He blasted me a withering stare like I had just piddled on the carpet. It is quite guilt inducing.  Having put me in my place with his steely glare, he then  expanded his giant wingspan and quietly slipped into the night. Wow.

At first I delighted in my discovery of such a beautiful creature,then the sinister wheels turned. I had found my hitman or more correctly, hitbird.

Vole from Google Images

 In July I had  written a post about my vole invasion.  My plants were dying in the ground as their roots were eaten away by the  adorable  little rodents. I had been invaded. I was half dreading Spring planting for I was afraid my veggies would never make it to the table. Not my table anyway. 

 I am too much of a weenie to do any actual killing but I have no problem with Nature doing her thing, as long as I don't have to watch. Balance is good.

 However one problem potentially solved has created another. I read where owls that size can carry off a small fox. Since Mighty Dog is much smaller than a fox,  I now  will have to leash walk  Mighty on those early morning jaunts. Somehow, it will be worth it.

 Hopefully Mr. or Mrs. Owl wasn't just passing through and that my enormous supply of voles will entice it to stay. 

Anyone know if there is something extra I can do to keep the hitbird attracted till the vole problem is solved?