The Other Two!

Tuesday
I brought home three hens.

Wednesday
One was torn open by a raccoon.

Thursday
The other two are still alive.

Between worrying about the car and hens, I slept little.  The car issue is bothering me so that my colon reacts.

Neighbor friend got things out the car today that I could not lift. Another friend, one who mows for me, is coming to see if he can see how the raccoon got in the pen.  I will have him carry the trap back there and set it.

I am very relieved the hens are okay.

There are two can for trash that has to be carried to the road each week. Then, I have another three. All three of those were in chicken pen to keep them from blowing away or having to be moved for mowing. Of the three, one is for chickens to sit in under the table to protect them from wind or rain or cold. The other sits outside the pen for trash. That leaves one new can, the only one with a lid.

One of the three in the pen was near the door and on its side. When I opened the door to feed them yesterday, the other yellow hen was hiding between the can and the chain link fence. This is perfect for raccoons. They reach through the fence and grab the immobile chicken and rip it limb from gut. So, yesterday, best I could, I removed all the cans from the inside perimeter and put them toward the middle of the pen.

I attribute the hens being alive to the moving of the cans from the walls. Otherwise, they would snuggle up to the fence behind a garbage can. Today, the cans are all where they need to be.

The last hen, Dominique, knew her chickenly duties and performed them well. She scratched here and she scratched there. If I were in the pen, she made sure to scratch dirt all over my feet and onto her food I just put into as clean container!  She scratched dirt through the chain link. However, she only scratched it through the door, never the walls! Consequently, dirt piled up right outside the chain link door. Eventually, the door would not open. Well, I could not force it open, neither could I shovel it away.

My friend today shoveled the mound of dirt in the heat and humidity and in a long-sleeved shirt. Now, I can get the door open. Before, I could barely squeeze through, snagging skin and clothing. The mosquitoes are so thick and fierce that I wore a heavy sweat shirt over my summer blouse and with long pants and feet in sandals sprayed with Cutter.  It was like an oven out at 8 am, but anything is better than being blanketed by blood-sucking mosquitoes. My friend was looking very hot. He was on his way to work, but he knew what I needed.

So, other than stress about the car, I am a happy camper today.

Then, Heartbreak!

On Tuesday night, I finished the day with the glow of new chickens surrounding me. When I went out Wednesday morning, one of my precious red chickens was dead, her chest ripped open.

With a heavy heart, I tried to find how the raccoon got into their cage. I know it was a raccoon because of the chest being ripped out. I could not pick it up because I don't have enough balance to bend that far on uneven ground, using both hands to pick it up without chancing a face-plant.

When I first went into the pen, chickens were running and screaming for their lives. I thought--foolish chickens, you are safe. Then, in my search for eggs, I found the body.

No one I asked had time to help me. Well, the body will be gross by morning. Plus, there will probably be two bodies, maybe three.

My second career as a chickie mama was short. I cannot afford more hens. I really hate raccoons.

Today, I used my birthday card from KFC and got a free 2-piece meal. Of course, I got extra gravy. I carried the carcass home to the two who are left. But, they were so hysterical, I am not sure they ate it or the oats I gave them.

I also got my hair cut. I think this cut will work. It feels nice and swingy. You know that feeling?

Raccoon in Chicken Pen

raccoon inside hens' pen

click photos to embiggen

Look at her evil, beady eyes!

 

Thursday, about 4:15 I decided to put up the hens so that an early-wandering raccoon would not bother them. As I rounded the corner of the house to go across the back yard, I saw a raccoon in the pen, eating ravenously. I think there was only cabbage. I didn't know that a raccoon would love cabbage as much as this seemed to be loving cabbage. I used zoom to get all these pictures. He is about 60' away. 

 

 

 

 

eating as she heads to the door

 

These raccoons are habituated to humans and human activity, so they don't move away at the first sight of  humans. Since they go onto porches to eat cat food at night, lights, human noises, humans going and coming are nothing new or cause for alarm.

 

 

 

raccoon up on the corner of the fence

 

She did not move very fast, just sauntered up, climbed, turned, and sat there a few minutes looking at me. 

 

 

going to other side of fence

 

 

 

turning to peer at me instead

See her eyes?

 

She was in no hurry! She just turned and looked at me for a few minutes, never moving, just watching.

 

Your turn

Have you experienced a raccoon up this close? Can you believe that she did not just run over and grab a hen? 



Raccoon Patrol

Where I left off:

"Okay, I went out and checked. They are such good hens and went back to their pen. There was so little light in the sky, but I could see they were standing instead of sitting as they usually do this time of night. They did not have their heads tucked for sleep! I looked where they were looking."

RACCOON!

As I pushed the door to, I saw it. The raccoon was holding onto the chain link on the side and top. One foot/hand was advancing onto their ladder as it held to the ladder in the pen. I think within 2 minutes, one of my hens, at least, would be dead. I screamed inside. Aloud, I was sputtering and gasping for breath, trying to calm myself and be brave and bold. The hens now were sounding the alarm very loudly.

I have a rock, about three pounds, that I use to keep the door from closing during the daytime. I just have to nudge it for closing the door or blocking the door open in the morning. Now, understand, I had the door within three inches of being closed for the night. My hens would have been trapped with a killer.

I flung the door open, snatched up the rock, the nearest missile, in both hands and with a mighty overhand throw tried to hit the raccoon which had climbed up the chain link. He had one front hand on the ladder, making his way to them. I hit the chain link about three feet off the ground. Dumb throw. I ran, AND I CANNOT RUN!, back to a pipe that had been put in the seat of my metal swing.

I was terrified. The hens were sounding an alarm and I felt like I was running at least sixty-feet both ways in slow motion. My head was pounding. I felt faint. My lungs felt seared. I was not able to get air in or cough.

Then, I RAN back and to the back of the pen where the raccoon still clung. I could not lift the pipe, so had to try harder. Then, I could not find a hole in the chain link...lol. I just kept slamming the pipe into chain link. He did start to leave. Finally, I got the pipe in and made contact as he moved away and out, not enough to hurt him. But, he ran back to the fence and over. it was a mighty and epic moment for the girls and I.

I could have done more damage if I had gone into the pen for better aim, but then I would have been between the raccoon and the door of the pen. I have no desire to make contact with an angry raccoon. It was not very large, not like the 25- and 30-lb raccoons I usually catch. Still, it could be rabid. I just do not like being hurt. Animal Control officer commented before that I catch the biggest coons he has ever seen.

Now, the trap and pipe are on the picnic table, and I am waiting for Tony to come and help me. I am really afraid of the raccoon. Remember that when the babies were in my house, the raccoon was trying to get into the open back door with me and three policemen in here.

Tony is not home. I drove around and looked. I am going to bed, secure in the fact the hens are safe. Okay, almost secure. Update and pictures tomorrow.  I am not going out in the dark because I don't want to fall over limbs or pinecones. Plus, it is cold and windy. So, keep your fingers crossed for safe hens.

Anyone want a raccoon to eat?

Tomorrow

Yes, I will go to Urgent Care. I am not sure how long I would have to wait tonight, and I cannot CANNOT sit very long. Plus, I need a bath before I present myself anywhere! I am too sick to go to the doctor. That is what I told my mother when I was about eight-years-old and I was trying to talk her out of a trip to get a shot. Yes, I always got a shot back then. I am going to ask for one when I go in the morning.

I went out to close up the hens. Something was exiting their pen, ran to the fence, leapt up, and over it went. Patsy Cline and Thelma made so much racket when the animal left, jumped down and ran out to me. They don't want to go back in and it's almost dark. They followed me to the porch. They better not be on the railing near the door!

Okay, I went out and checked just now as I had an urgent feeling. They are such good hens and went back to their pen. There was so little light in the sky, but I could see they were standing instead of sitting as they usually do this time of night. They did not have their heads tucked for sleep! I looked where they were looking.

RACCOON

I am also too sick to deal with a raccoon!

gotta go

Things That Go Bump, Screech, Thump

Since the raccoon scare, I don't want to let my hens out much. I caught my neighbor's cat in the raccoon trap. I had to struggle to get her out. the lock is dinged and too tight. The snake is leaving the eggs alone. I still think I have a raccoon and snake!

Finally, I let the hens out about 4 pm for a bit of grass time. I was wary because I heard something in the basement around 2:30 pm. The hens were grateful but rather cool to me. I picked up a few things in the yard and put them in the trash, righted my little red wagon after draining it of water and leaned it where it won't fill again.

As I came into the kitchen to wash dishes in the sink, I looked out and the hens were in the swing--all three of them! Why not look for worms after the rain? I put it all out of my mind and came to sit a bit.

The trees exploded with cacophony,  the warnings and flight of birds. "Do birds get upset at raccoons?" I asked myself. Okay, I went out to help the frantic birds. Usually there is a cat in the bushes, a cat that could never get to the nests so high in the trees. Nevertheless, the birds go crazy. I shoooo the cat away.

Upon stepping onto the porch, I saw two male cardinals and another bird flopping in the edge of the yard in the monkey grass. All three were dragging a wing as they vocalized along with the birds in the trees. All three flew away as I descended the steps. I walked around the yard, looking for the cause of the alarm. Finally, the birds became quiet. I can only assume a cat beyond my fence was upsetting the birds.

Tonight, Louise was adamant about NOT going into the pen, not being lured by my feeding her. She sat on an overturned container resting on two chairs. I turned the container diagonally so she would not have the flat bottom for sitting. Then, she got on the porch railing. She had the most stubborn look on her face. I held a container of dehydrated corn up to her. She ignored it, something I have never seen her do.  After tossing her off the railing and into the yard several times, I just carried her to the pen! I was all sweaty by then and had chicken feathers stuck to my damp arm.

After dark, I heard a different noise from the basement--raccoon rambling around? Snake making something slip?

My only consolation--there is no door from the basement into the house. I have to go outside the house and go down the basement steps. Otherwise, my hair would have gone white 20 years earlier than it did.

Do you ever. . .
hear things in the basement, attic? hear the trees explode with alarms from dozens of birds?

Raccoon Attack--MIDDAY!

five feet from me and starting to rear up

I was sitting here and had just heard the machine spin its last--2:00 pm. I was ready to hang clothes on the line. The most horrendous cackling and alarming arose from my hens, just outside the backdoor. They were not 30 feet from me. My heart leapt in my throat and the adrenalin kicked in. At the window I saw a raccoon digging furiously at the hole where the hens were taking a dust bath.

The light colors are buried feathers

They had all fled and were really making a racket. I was so afraid one had been injured. The hens were running all about. They stayed together. Pepper seemed to be accepted for the first time by Louise!

As I went silently for my camera, I kicked something. When I returned, the raccoon was gone because he heard me. I ran out in my nightgown and found the hens, fearful and skittish, still cackling and giving the alarm/predator signal.

blurry because my hands were shaking

Since the raccoon was out in the daytime, I decided the hens would remain locked up until I can catch the raccoon. Thelma, Louis, and Pepper wanted nothing to do with me or crumbs from a hamburger bun. Getting them into the pen was difficult.

A pocketful of corn was my next thought to get them into their pen. Poor things were afraid of my hoe. My staff might turn into a serpent, you know. I was carrying a hoe since I have heard that raccoons will attack a human if the human seems to stand in the way of food. Why don't I have a gun? Damn the zombies. Raccoons are my enemy.  I took my cell in case I were attacked. Whew! Adrenalin was pumping. Camera was in hand and turned on.

My hands are still shaking 45 minutes later!

I threw a strawberry in front of the opening and noticed the raccoon got it. When I baited the trap with chicken, I threw a tiny piece of chicken under the house. I never yell at raccoons or chase them because I want them to feel safe where they are. I also throw a bit of food down to entice them. The raccoon got the bit of chicken, too. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."

I had to get a pocket full of the corn I dehydrated to interest the hens in any food! Once I had them secure in their pen, Pepper brushed against Louise. Louise jumped two feet in the other direction and did not bother giving Pepper a peck. Louise just squawked.

Then, I had to get into the basement while I was shaking, hoping I did not trip and fall down the steps! Trap retrieved, I set it and baited it with a strawberry and a piece of cooked chicken.

As I went up the steps to give the raccoon a chance to take the bait, I decided to see if I could capture a picture if I sat quietly on the steps. Oh shit! I sat in dried shit! But, I sat tight and got the picture you see at the head of the post.

Keep you posted!

About the snake--I did get an egg for the first time in over a week! Every day, I do get broken eggshells. The chickens are not guilty. I am waiting for exbf to get here tomorrow to make the snake trap. I am afraid my hands won't be strong enough and I will lose a finger.

Your turn
Who has seen a raccoon out at midday? I have seen them early in the morning or late at dusk. Aack! Need some excitement? Come on by.

Around My Home Today

The battle of the dandelions commences

One year, I decided that I would just make dandelion jelly and use a plant I could not thwart. Of course, that was the year of fewer dandelions, as it looks like this one will be. When I pick the heads for disposal, I will pick the greens for the hens.

eggs galore

After getting one egg a week for most of the winter, maybe two if I were lucky, this is the most eggs that have been in my egg bowl since I put the girls into their fortified pen outdoors last fall. All their energy went to staying warm after their house-warm experience for over a year. The really tiny one may belong to Pepper.  It is on the top row, left.

angry mama?

She had to be a pregnant raccoon, because of the nesting behavior in my house after being elsewhere all winter. Hopefully, there are no babies up there. I have not heard mewing for mama today, so maybe I caught her in time. The Animal Control Officer commented that I had caught a huge one.

two vehicles and two men for one raccoon?

growling but gone

Louise, Thelma, Pepper--happy, happy hens

I ate leftover, cooked-from-scratch--chicken and dumplings.

I hung clothes outdoors.

Cherry Laurel is blooming

more azaleas blooming

Yoshino Cherry blossoms

Hostas coming up

The tiny Cherry Laurel volunteer will be repotted. I don't know what the plant in the upper right is, but I like it, so it stays.

 

Redbud tree and overcast sky

mystery holes

These holes appear, more each night. I thought at first they were holes like the squirrels dig early each morning. But, these holes are six- to eight-inches deep, about two inches, cylindrical, and straight down. Raccoons dig holes sort of like this. So, maybe I will have no more holes. The policeman said that it looked like armadillo holes. He was teasing me about things, so I think he was teasing me. Have you ever seen anything like this?

My favorite umbrella, ruined

I got lime on my beautiful umbrella. Since lime is caustic, I really don't want to use this and have caustic water running down on me. It seems to have gotten little holes in it. The rain did not seem to take all the lime off.  My other favorite umbrella, a red one, tore up first. But, this looks like a huge flower in the yard. Maybe I will strip it to the ribs and make it new with a pretty fabric and recover it.

That's all that is happening at my house today, unless you count the robins that have been courting for the last three weeks.

 

Your turn

Do you have snow or grass that needs mowing like mine does? Are the wild animals under control? Are the tame ones happy? Did you cook from scratch or eat leftovers? Did you have sunshine instead of a perpetually overcast day? Are your hens prolific? Tell me something about how it is at your house today. please.

 

 

I Am Woman; Hear Me Roar

Captured!

The adrenalin rush I feel is overpowering.

You can see one of his eyes about a quarter of the way from bottom left, right at the very bottom of the picture.
In 2009, a raccoon killed one of my four hens that I kept. I caught a raccoon in the Hav-a-Hart live trap. Then, in the spring of  2010 (I think)a mother and her three babies cavorted in the space over my room where I sit, the den. A baby dislodged part of the ceiling and fell through. Cops got it out of the house.

Then, another night two babies fell through right beside me, within 10 inches or less of my elbow. The mother growled. She even tried to come in the house though the back door when the police were here, helping me.

For the last week, I have heard vague ramblings above my head. EeeeK!  On Thursday night, I heard noise on the porch and knew it was a raccoon. But, I did not want to scare it. You see, I want it to be comfortable being so close. I always have plans for raccoons. Friday night, I forgot to get the live trap out. Saturday, I did not forget. I set it and baited it with baked chicken skin....and waited. I heard noise and waited to make sure it was really in the trap.

So, you see what I caught. I presume it is a female who was making a nest above this room, the warmest in the house since the only heater is here. Plus, the picture window side faces South and the sun tracks across the window and side of the house all day. I just hope she did not have her babies today up there above the ceiling!

She growled lots at me when I got close to look at her and gloat, and I growled back and banged a pie pan that had chicken food...banged it on her cage. My heart rate soared. This is soooo scary, and there is no one to help me. Animal Control will get it in the morning. Maybe no other females will decide to make this a baby-birthing place.

Tomorrow, she takes a trip. Exbf said I sounded like Mafia with that statement. Nothing bothers my hens if I can help it. Plus, raccoons carry diseases and tear apart houses. 
Here is the beginning. What happened next. And the end, I think. At any rate, this is ongoing. Others around town deal with it, too.

Your turn

Do you ever have to catch dangerous animals? Wild animals?  Are you being brave or does trapping wild animals not even frighten you?