They started down the redwood tree when I was deep into my book (She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb) and half asleep. Still upset at losing all my goldfish, I got my flashlight and shone it outside. Nothing. Not that I could see that much with the shrubbery.

About an hour or so later, the sound of claws on bark woke me. I thought I would try to figure out how many there were instead of a futile attempt at spotting them. Clickety clickety whomp. Clickety clickety whomp. Six at least. From what I can tell today, they went through the tomatoes, knocking down some ripe ones, not eating them. There is a new bare spot near the mint plant, looks like something large has been rolling around.

The gophers have made part of the backyard a treacherous spot for walking around despite the scattering of human hair, a recommended but questionable deterrent. I’m thinking I should just hire a skilled bow hunter. There is actually one in the family, although he lives elsewhere.