Wood Stack Creepy Crawlies

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Caw

Minister of Fire
May 26, 2020
2,556
Massachusetts
Changing out the sun damaged tarps for winter today and found this not so little guy. Also had 5 mice jump out of a nest. You never know what you'll find in your stacks!

Wood Stack Creepy CrawliesWood Stack Creepy CrawliesWood Stack Creepy Crawlies
 
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I know I have a bumblebee nest in my kindling boxes stashed under a tarp. Saw them when I was stacking wood in the shed. I will wait until colder temps before going in there. It wouldn't surprise me if mice had also taken up residence. These boxes have been there quite a while because I rarely need much kindling burning 24/7. I'll probably give them away this season to others in need.
 
Pulled the tarp back on one stack that's been tarped since late summer. Found a couple of mouse nests and a fairly good sized snake shed. Fortunately no snake to go along with the shed!
 
i find snake skins all the time they help keep the mice pop. in check. but for my stacks it's to much for a snake to eat
 
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Ive got some rather large wood spiders crawling around in there, also noticed we had a 'bumper crop" of earwigs this year. Already had to take care of a few on the splits that made it into the house for my first burn of the season.
 
I sprinkle all of my stacks with borax when I am stacking them. A single 4 lb box can do about 3+ cords. It is extremely effective at killing insects, although you still get mice. You have to get some cats for that.