Mass(achusetts) Migration Scott Borthwick

from 4 Legs & A Tail LK Winter 2021

by 4 Legs & a Tail

Not So Cold, After All Dorothy Crosby

Mass(achusetts) Migration

Scott Borthwick - Canaan, NH

In March of 2020 when the full brunt of Covid 19 hit all the work we had lined up for the next few months came to a screeching halt. No one wanted strangers in their house, except for squirrels and bats of course, and some not knowing what the future would bring just didn’t want to spend any money. The phone just stopped ringing.

The bank worked with me and helped me apply for the PPP loan so I could keep my employees going with the minimal amount of work we had. The moment the PPP check was deposited the phone started ringing. It seems that people from out of state started “Heading for Hills”. Opening summer camps two months earlier and discovering uninvited squatters already occupying the home. We were driving all over the place dealing with squirrels, bats, skunks, lots of chipmunks, and even snakes. One gentleman from Connecticut discovered a woodchuck was living under his woodshed. He called and told me if his wife found out she would sell the house and move back to Connecticut. Not only were people moving up here in droves but they weren’t going out and were working from home. At first, the noises were only a minor annoyance but eventually became unbearable. Similar to the Chevy Chase movie Funny Farm. When he moves to the country to write a book and the bird chirping outside his window at first was pleasing to him but eventually became an annoying distraction.

Years ago when I worked in construction I was eating breakfast at a restaurant frequented by other building contractors listening to them talk about this “flatlander” they were doing a project for. None of the conversation was complementary to the “flatlanders” until I pointed out to them that if it wasn’t for “flatlanders” they wouldn’t have any work. I was particularly annoyed by being a “flatlander” myself.

I would like to thank everyone who helped us through these tough times. Both “flatlanders” and locals alike. Because of you, we were able to survive and hopefully will be able to service the communities nuisance wildlife issues for a long time to come.