…please do no harm. Instead, talk to the little perpetrators heart-to-heart, by way of animal communication, our primary language.

Whether they are upsetting your space, chomping on the roots of your fruit trees and vegetable gardens, creating a stink, gnawing at the walls of your home, chewing on your car engine wires, and/or finishing off your cereal before you wake up…whoever they are, try to be humble. Talk to them.

They’re smarter than us when it comes to listening, to creating harmony.

Two emails Bev Shintani in Oregon sent me in 2011, about her backyard pests:

“Jane, I have a problem with some raccoons leaving a poop pile in the same place, every year. Each year, as it progresses into summer, the pile grows and grows, and the stench gets stronger and stronger. I’m wondering if we can ask them to stop leaving the mess. I’ve tried cayenne pepper, and other such “natural” things, but no results.”

Bev’s reply to my 2015 email, asking about the raccoons:

“The raccoons. I have not seen a trace of them since our a.c. session four years ago. Nothing. I check for poop piles from time to time, but the place remains clean.

“I would be delighted for you to share the poop story. It may help someone else, or at least make them aware that they can resolve “backyard pest” issues without doing any harm.”

A few months ago, I spoke with Bev again. Still no pest problems.

You don’t have to be in the animals’ physical presence to ask them to work with you. Remember, we’re all connected. We’re all one, us and the entire universe.

Might as well make it all won, while we have the option.

You don’t need me to do the talking for you, but I will, if you want.

Thank you for listening.

Now, I just need to make time to talk to the rodent newcomers outside my door, as well as remind my dachshund friend to please not ‘reach out’ to them again.