DIR Return Create A Forum - Home
---------------------------------------------------------
Bad Manners and Brimstone
HTML https://badmanners.createaforum.com
---------------------------------------------------------
*****************************************************
DIR Return to: Life in General
*****************************************************
#Post#: 22723--------------------------------------------------
Strange, somewhat disturbing experience
DIR By: Dr. F.
Date: December 30, 2018, 8:40 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
I have been in my new house for just on a month now - I moved in
on Black Friday.
Last thursday, I was out of the house pretty much all day taking
Ariel to the vet hospital, which is now 50 miles from my new
house. Since she sees three specialties - internal medicine,
surgery, and opthamology - it's a whole day process with the
drive.
Friday morning, I let the dogs out into the backyard, and
noticed something odd. I went out to investigate, and discovered
an apple impaled on an about 6" steel spike embedded in the dirt
in one of the flowerbeds. This was not an accidental object. It
was not tossed over a fence. This was placed deliberately. It
was about half eaten, but I don't think any of my dogs ate it. I
pulled it out and tossed it. One of the gates to the backyard
has a lock (that I don't have the key to, as it was put in by
the previous owners), but the other is unlocked. So, clearly,
someone could get in. But I have many questions:
1. What is it? Is it poisoned? My first thought is that it's
some sort of pest control for squirrels? rats? mice? and the
pest control company doesn't realize that there's a new owner. I
don't do poisons, unless absolutely necessary (they concentrate
up the food pyramid, and kill hawks and owls). However, there
was no bill or notice anywhere.
2. Is it a prank? This seems unlikely in my nice, suburban
neighborhood. But, I have yet to meet/have a conversation with
any of my neighbors. Are they irritated with my dogs? Except 3
of my 4 neighbors have dogs, and mine are not the barkiest. This
seems overly paranoid, but it's lurking in the back of my mind.
3. How can I prevent a repeat of whatever it is? I've bought a
lock for the currently unlocked gate, and need to get a "Beware
of Dogs" sign for both, as I want to put in a dog door, so that
they can get out into the backyard at will.
The whole thing has left me unsettled. On the whole, I think
it's most likely some sort of pest control, and I can only hope
that the old owner realizes that they're paying for a service
they no longer need, and it stops. But, the notion of someone,
and I don't know who, traipsing through my backyard and planting
(poisoned?) apples in it, without my permission, is ...
disturbing.
Thoughts? Suggestions? Are poisoned apples on steel spikes a
known pest-control mechanism? Or, what?
#Post#: 22724--------------------------------------------------
Re: Strange, somewhat disturbing experience
DIR By: jpcher
Date: December 30, 2018, 8:55 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
That's kinda scary.
Do you still have the object (I know you said you tossed it, but
can you retrieve it?)
I think you should definitely call the police about it. Maybe
somebody had a beef with the previous owner and didn't know the
house now has new residents? Either way this incident should be
reported, just for the record, in case something similar happens
again.
#Post#: 22727--------------------------------------------------
Re: Strange, somewhat disturbing experience
DIR By: MOM21SON
Date: December 30, 2018, 9:24 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
Weird. I have no idea what it could be. However, I would be
very careful letting your dogs out by themselves.
#Post#: 22728--------------------------------------------------
Re: Strange, somewhat disturbing experience
DIR By: browzer11
Date: December 30, 2018, 9:38 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
"some sort of pest control for squirrels? rats? mice?".
That's not how pest control works.
If it bothers you, call the Police non-emergency number.
#Post#: 22730--------------------------------------------------
Re: Strange, somewhat disturbing experience
DIR By: Dazi
Date: December 30, 2018, 10:40 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
William Blake's Poison Tree is what sprang to mind when I read
this. I guess a lot of people may not be familiar with his work.
But I'd have to consider if this was a threat.
Here's the poem for those of you curious
HTML https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45952/a-poison-tree
#Post#: 22731--------------------------------------------------
Re: Strange, somewhat disturbing experience
DIR By: lakey
Date: December 31, 2018, 1:06 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote ---
>
> Re: Strange, somewhat disturbing experience
> « Reply #3 on: December 30, 2018, 09:38:39 pm »
> Quote
> "some sort of pest control for squirrels? rats? mice?".
>
> That's not how pest control works.
>
> If it bothers you, call the Police non-emergency number.
--- End Quote ---
Especially since rat and mouse poison is also poisonous for cats
and dogs. I have a preventative pest control service and they
use devises that cats and dogs can't get into, even in areas
that my dog doesn't go, such as the front yard. I can't imagine
a pest control service putting a poison apple on a stick where
anyone or anything could get to it.
If you are concerned, you could get a motion activated security
camera, and put it in your window with it aimed at that area of
your yard. I have one that came with my home alarm system, but I
think you can buy your own.
Anyway, until you feel like there isn't anything going on, I'd
be hesitant to let the dogs have access to your yard when you
aren't home.
#Post#: 22738--------------------------------------------------
Re: Strange, somewhat disturbing experience
DIR By: gramma dishes
Date: December 31, 2018, 10:26 am
---------------------------------------------------------
I admit I would find that worrisome. Is there any way you can
contact the previous owner to learn whether or not they had
similar issues when they were living there? Perhaps a neighbor
problem?
In any case, yes I would notify the police and I would also
definitely get a secret camera system set up so that you can see
(and record) any intruders coming onto your property uninvited.
#Post#: 22742--------------------------------------------------
Re: Strange, somewhat disturbing experience
DIR By: Chez Miriam
Date: December 31, 2018, 10:52 am
---------------------------------------------------------
It would definitely be worth checking with the previous owner,
and the non-emergency police department [they may have heard of
other incidences].
I hope it's just a one-off weird thing that you soon forget
about.
#Post#: 22750--------------------------------------------------
Re: Strange, somewhat disturbing experience
DIR By: Snowfire
Date: December 31, 2018, 12:00 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
You can easily find security cameras that you can monitor
online. Just look for one with good end to end encryption. I
would be concerned about this, not just the possibility of
poison, though that is very worrying, but also that it was on a
steel spike. Either you or your dogs could have stepped or
fallen on something like that and been seriously injured.
I have NEVER heard of anyone doing pest control with fruit on
spikes. Getting a lock for your other gate is high priority, but
also getting a lock you can open on the other gate. If you have
no way to contact the previous owners for a key, then an angle
grinder is your friend, or bolt cutters if it isn't too big.
#Post#: 22755--------------------------------------------------
Re: Strange, somewhat disturbing experience
DIR By: Rose Red
Date: December 31, 2018, 1:14 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
If you can't get a camera, at least get a sign saying that you
have one.
I never heard of this method of pest control, especially by
professionals. Are you sure it wasn't already there when you
moved in and you just never noticed? Was the apple fresh?
*****************************************************
Page 1 of 2
DIR Next Page