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Sunday, February 15, 2015

Romping Raccoons



The kits are becoming more active, romping through the space above my sleeping/living area, one room in this case. My barking and growling slows them down little. I growled when two kits were practicing being destructive by scratching the ceiling tiles. I cannot have them scratching holes into my ceiling.

For the last three days, things on the porch and in the flower bed outside the picture window across the end of the room have been moved around. They knocked a gallon jug down the steps, along with a plastic window box. Thankfully, the glass jug did not break. The heavy metal key to the water meter was knocked off the bbq grill. That means they are climbing the vinyl cover.....sigh.

Dusting off the trap will be my next move. If I catch the Mama, maybe the babies will be easier to trap. If I trap a baby, Mama may jump me. Or, she might dig her way through the ceiling. She is huge.

At that point, I might just let her have the house. Have you ever seen the destruction a raccoon can cause? I have, but I cannot find the sites now. One site showed how the raccoons had opened every cabinet, the refrigerator and freezer. They destroyed the furniture, ripping the upholstery, pooping and peeing everywhere.

As long as they don't get my hens, I can handle this annoyance and get rid of them. Raccoons like strawberries and shiny things. If I put a can of sardines or tuna in the trap as some advise, I just catch cats.

I was talking to a young man about raccoons and their love of shiny objects. He said the steal his tools on the farm, carrying off pliers, wrenches, sometimes his cap.  Often, he finds a cache of his tools.

One supermarket was caught selling raccoons for $9.99/lb. The raccoons were not dressed. Imagine seeing a dead raccoon with its bloody fur just thrown in with the other frozen meat. When the article starts, just click the commercial to make it go away--loud music.

When I hear scratching at the door, I never open it. This is why.

Your turn
What is your experience with raccoons? What would you do if you went into a supermarket and saw a bloody raccoon's beady little eyes looking at you?


9 comments:

  1. I know you can't afford to have someone come and catch them, but can you call the local humane society or wildlife department to come and get them. They are a serious health risk and someone should be able to help you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jane,
      All anyone does it set traps. I have gone through all the resources available. I have a trap. The trap that anyone would bring would be the same kind of trap. However, you cannot borrow a trap just anytime. I can set a trap as I please since it my trap. No one will come pick my trap up, saying I have had it too long. However, Animal Control will come get my trap and the raccoon.

      All I have to do is set the trap. They are all over the neighborhood. Some people think they are cute and feed them.

      Delete
    2. Actually, there is no way to rid this area of raccoons since there are woods about two blocks over. When one leaves, another comes along.

      Delete
  2. Well, there is no way I would let a raccoon live in any part of my house. I have my husband put out bait for the mice. We live in the country and do get mice in the attic. We found a dead rabbit and, I think, a muskrat in the sump hole under the house in the past. My house and no unwanted critters are welcome in it. I wouldn't be able to sleep.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jane,
      Please! You know I don't "let" it live in my house.

      Delete
  3. What I don't understand is why anyone would buy a raccoon in a grocery store when they're so easy to find by the side of the road, as in roadkill? Seriously, do people eat raccoons? Why wouldn't they hunt them instead of paying for them? Raccoons are a dime a dozen. I do not like raccoons. They can be very mean. When I lived in Illinois, some people on my street had a mama and babies in their attic. The man lured them out and shot them. I wouldn't shoot anything, but I would poison them, maybe. Actually, I would probably cry and run away.

    Love,
    Janie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Janie,
      LOL, yep, just littering the landscape and people go and buy them. I think the last link said this was in huge Chinese supermarket

      Delete
    2. cont...in CA. The worst part was the raccoons were in clear plastic bags, head and fur intact, with bloody fur. They were next to dressed meat. The first meat I ever let pass through my lips was raccoon. My neighbor around the block and maybe others think they are cute and they feed them.

      If I had a gun, I would shoot them. I would not cry, but I would throw up if I shot one. I need a shotgun so I won't miss.

      Delete
  4. I know you are not letting it be there on purpose, but I couldn't allow it to stay for any reason. Somehow it would be gone.

    ReplyDelete

Okay, hoping the annoyances have gone away.