My wife pointed out that the pillows on the front porch were being shredded. Holes in them and stuffing pulled out.
I looked and sure enough.... yep!
I told her it wasn't me and it wasn't Lilly our Shepherd. Lilly has been known to shred pillows in the past but these are where she can't get to them , and..... she has stopped her destructive behavior a long time ago.
So while I was looking out the window at the pillows, the culprit picked that exact time to return to the scene of the crime.
It was a squirrel. As I watched, this varmint jumped up on the chair and onto the pillow. It paused because it saw me watching it.
Needless to say, I have a varmint that I need to catch in my trap. I simply need to get the trap out of the shed, bait it with some cracked pecans and give it a bit of time. I will relocate the varmint to another county.... or perhaps down to my farm.
Our neighbors let the squirrels get into their attic and it resulted in their house catching fire and burning in the attic. The varmints love the taste of electrical insulation and ate the wires bare.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Ah, try as you might, you never really get rid of squirrels...or opossum, or raccoon. I've been fighting the varmits for 22 years and I live in the suburbs.
I always know when it's time to trim the tree branches near my house. That is when I start hearing squirrels running around on the roof.
I see the branches out of the skylights .. but normally wait I until I see squirrels using the branches as a runway .. then I climb up there and trim them .. again.
I don't have a lot of land around the house, but it is mature forest. I've seen a dozen squirrels in the yard many times. Dogs seem to keep the 'possums and raccoons at bay, but the chipmunks seem to be winning lately. And the rabbits .. think I need a younger/faster dog.
The little (youngest) dog is quick, but he's smaller than the bunnies. Seems to keep the mice at bay. <grin> He's my avatar currently. Hairless something, the family named him 'Harry' 'cause he has no hair. I call him weird Harold.
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
Reading this makes me smile. I live maybe a half mile from the beach in SoCal and in many ways I might as well be on your ranch Herb. All these critters you guys are talking about are all over the place here. Skunks, possums, squirrels, raccoons. In my complex there are the fattest squirrels you've ever seen because everybody feeds them. Just to remind us this really is a desert area there's gazillions of little black lizards running around. There's a couple of owls in the trees right behind me. I'll smell a skunk a couple times a week. So many people and animals around that the skunks do what they do pretty much every evening and the city is out all the time trapping them. They take them 25 miles up in the mountains and let them loose.
There was an article in the local paper a few months ago about how dangerous a raccoon can be to your dog and people too for that matter. I had no idea, they said most of the time they're mild mannered but if a medium sized dog decides to mess with one a raccoon can tear him up pretty good. I've seem them occasionally too but they're not so easy to spot.
Just a few miles south is Palos Verdes Estates. This is where Trump has one of his golf courses and you're lucky to buy a garage for a million bucks. Up there on the hill there are not only these critters, there are rattlers, whole flocks of wild peacocks and a few horse stables along with many different bird species. That hill was a wild forest 50 years ago and the estates are fairly big with lots of land and big trees. I've done gigs at the PV country club and you see the peacocks walking around. I'm down here on the beach yet it's 20 minutes to the country club and all that forest and stuff. Oh, did I mention ducks? Whole flocks of ducks at Polliwog Park in Manhattan Beach a couple miles from me. Everybody feeds them too.
When I think about it it really is amazing the wildlife in this very high density area right around me. This isn't counting the ocean. The day boats go out of King Harbor in Redondo every day and catch squid, halibut, yellowtail, sea bass and who knows what else. Further out in the Catalina Channel they go after marlin and swordfish.
Lots of folks from elsewhere don't realize all this wildlife is right in the middle of LA. You have to watch for deer at night running across Sunset blvd just a mile west of Hollywood.
We have a derelict house across the street that we've been trying to get the town to condemn and tear down. It is home to a variety of critters. Bats, at one time had colonized it, chimney swifts are in the chimneys, squirrels live in the attic, and I've even seen a cat staring down at me from the holes in the fascia boards where the varmints enter.
As an electrician, I have seen the damage squirrels can do to attic wiring. Not something you want over your head at night as you sleep or in the walls behind you. They will chew their way in and usually the hole is small and in a place that hard to see from the outside on the ground.
Yes.... we have a bunch of squirrels around here.... and also at the farm. I will eat good in the Zombie Apocalypse. I'm just waiting for it to start. You don't get much meat from a squirrel so it would have to be a dire situation for me to be eating tree rats.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
I live very close to a nature preserve. We have plenty of squirrels, and they are actually quite intelligent overcoming quite a few plans to 'out-smart' them.
Fortunately, my house doesn't have an attic, but they did make a hole in my screen porch. I don't keep the canister of bird feed in the porch anymore. It's sealed and squirrel proof, but I guess they can smell the seeds or something like that.
Being next to the preserve, I have a red shouldered hawk that likes to perch on my trees and fence, but it doesn't eat enough squirrels, a 6' long coachwhip snake that lives under my house, but reptiles seldom need to eat. Leilani feeds the rabbits (they will eat popcorn out of her hands) but they are no problem. I've also seen Sand Hill Cranes, I can walk up to them and they are almost tall enough to look straight in the eye. They have no fear of humans. I've seen bobcats, fox, coral snakes, gopher tortoises, ibis, egrets, and dozens of species of small birds in my back yard too.
We have a bird feeder, and we had one of those plastic squirrel baffles under the feeder. The squirrels couldn't climb past it, so they gnawed a channel from the edge halfway to the post so they could just climb through the slot they made. We have steel ones now.
We hung it from a tree with the baffle on top, they gnawed through the branch bringing the branch, feeder and squirrel down to the ground. We were lucky enough to watch that happen.
They are very entertaining but they are indeed pests.
Their biggest defense is that they are so darn cute.
Perhaps the critters just enjoy you guys' music too much. That's why they hang around. Send them out an off-key, out-of-tune performance occassionally.
(Thus fulfilling the requirement "...for music-related discussions that aren't covered in other forums" <grin>).
We too have varmint problems. We live in a fairly large city (100,000), and on a large lot because the city grew up around us. we have a beautiful wooded park with a stream running through it about 400' away. Naturally this is the ideal habitant for squirrels, racoons, the odd deer and beaver. Because we have a large garden we have had to be very proactive in rodent control. Therefore the garden is kept very neat and organized and parts we keep netted or screened. Also we endeavor to keep outsided clutter to a minimum to reduce hidey holes and safe passages. Monthly (or more) we make an outside visual checks of our building to ensure no critters are trying to make entry anywhere. Bird feeders are all screened. It is a bit of work BUT, the critters pass us by heading for easier pickin's. One of the biggest problems is that people think they are cute because they appear tame. Consequently the squirrels and racoons don't move on because people are feeding them. If you have a rodent problem I can empathize with you because until we got serious about our home they were a bloody nuisance.DennisD
There are only 3 kinds of musicians: those that can count, and those that can't! PC AMD A4-5300 APU 3.4 GHz, 8gb RAM, 1T HDD, Windows 10, Reaper 4.77, BIAB2018, PTPA12, RB2018, Roland VS-880 DAW
Last Chance! The Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® Special Ends Today (May 31, 2026) at 11:59pm PDT!
Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PDT today!
We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.
Another exciting new addition is the amazing new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. View the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to transcribe an entire track or transcribe specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Mac® to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!
Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.
If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
Good news- we've extended our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® special offers until May 31, 2026!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 is packed with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can transcribe an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, and much more!
There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®.
When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PDT on May 31st, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.
Check out the Band-in-a-Box® for Mac packages page to find the best package for you.
Today's the Last Day of the Band-in-a-Box 2026® for Mac Special!
Order before 11:59pm PDT today (May 15, 2026) to save up to 50% off your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® upgrade and receive a FREE Bonus PAK loaded with great new Add-ons to use with this new version!
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac® today for as little as $49! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all available purchase options.
Learn more about the Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK here.
If you have any questions about which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We're here to help!
202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
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