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.

Snake in the Window!

Gray Rat Snake?

I was very disappointed when I figured out someone was eating her eggs. Of course, I blamed Pepper and had decided to return her to her home in the country if it continued. The snake is in the basement window where it has slid down just a bit on one side.  

Two women and exbf were in the backyard when one of the women said, "There's a snake!" Everyone but me moved away. I whipped out my camera that stays in my pocket and took a picture. I was not satisfied, so I stepped closer and held the camera a foot from the snake. They were all screaming for me to get back. I told them I had a blog and readers who depended on my stepping into the face of danger for the sake of a good story.

I yelled for exbf to come look, even though I could see him moving away. Then, I yelled for him to get me the hoe with tiny head and long handle. Of course, I almost broke the window with the first whack and hit the snake a sissy glancing blow with the second attempt. I hurried down the basement steps just in time to see it dangling and dropping behind things.

It's a Grey Rat Snake, according to my thoughts and those of the County Agent. It is not poisonous. It can bite. Snake bites can be dangerous because of the puncture wound nature of the bite. Infection is a problem. If you have a different thought, please share with me.

Now, for story exbf tells unashamedly.~~~~~

He was watching Raiders of the Lost Ark when the hero fell into snake pit. Exbf screams and perches on the back of the theater seat.

When the women left, I asked exbf if he would have screamed like a little girl if he had been closer to the snake. He laughed and assured me he would. No, he has never had a bad episode with a snake, no close encounter.

Uh Oh! He retrieves things from the basement and puts other things down there, turns on the water hose from there and turns it off. I told him the snake did not WANT to bite him, so don't surprise it, just take a stick and tap the floor and sort of use it side to side like a can that a blind person would.

An hour or so later, I heard strange taps, even and muffled. I was baffled until I remembered him and snakes!  He had gone to the overgrown part of the yard and gotten a stick that looked about 5 feet long, like a hiking stick. He propped it by the porch, so he is planning on using it forever.

I have told him to never pick up anything without poking the object with a stick...just remember a snake could be sleeping anywhere. So, I suppose he will wear the leather gloves I always offer him and probably the headlight...lol. I don't blame him.

There is a plan in place. Stay tuned. I respect snakes, but I am not afraid. Did you see the snakes round eyes? It is not poisonous. If I heard a rattler, I would rise up and walk, yes, run.  You do know I can barely rise from a chair and barely walk?

Yes, it can get into the house from the basement.

Your turn

Share a good snake story. If you do, I will share my mother's story. It is a doozy. Have you ever been bitten by a poisonous snake? I do NOT want to get into religion, but did you hear about the Tennessee snake handler who died from a rattlesnake bite just like his Daddy? If the goddess had wanted me to handle snakes, she would have made me in the likeness of Medusa. Just kidding, so you don't have to say a prayer for me. Are you afraid of snakes? I am not.