It is. Unless you are a squirrel and you are eating Sheryl's sunflower plants.
Sheryl grew some beautiful sunflower plants in an area separate from the garden. They were doing really well until last week, when she noticed several had been destroyed at the stalk. Upon further observation she noticed a squirrel doing all the damage, likely to get at the seeds in the flower itself.
Squirrels put their lives at risk when they are in our yard. Our three dogs love squirrels. Genie, our English Shepherd, is the only one fast enough to catch them. Most of the time the dogs charge off our porch and into the yard when they see a squirrel, and it climbs up one of the two bigger trees, chittering back and angrily defending its right to cross our yard. We also have a pear tree with tons of pears this year that are actually edible, so they go to town when the dogs aren't around.
On Saturday afternoon I was in the middle of a busy day in the 
music store when I got a text from Sheryl. Attached was a picture of a dead squirrel. Apparently it was eating the sunflower plants again and this time, Genie managed to murder it. BAM. One quick lunge and the squirrel was in trouble.
I think Genie and Angus played with it for a while but it didn't take long for the lights to go out. Then Sheryl went to take a look and noticed Malcolm licking the squirrel's face, so it was time for the Squirrel Removal Posse to get rid of the body.
The squirrel looked younger and not fat but full. It's been a good growing season in the Calftown hood and they've taken full advantage. The sunflower patch was just the most recent section to take the squirrel hit. Good for them, except when the dogs charge out to defend their turf.
This morning I was back there and two young squirrels were hopping along the fence and squeaking like mad at me. "Killers!" they said. "Murderers! We are only getting ready for winter! And do you know how bleeping good sunflower seeds are?"
The dogs came out and the squirrels ran away. "You were destroying our plants. Enter the yard at your own risk," I yelled.
Ah, the balance of nature.
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