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aemeijers

LouB wrote:
wrote:
Frank wrote:
wrote:
On Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:57:31 -0500, Bert Byfield
wrote:

Apparently some raccoons have taken up residence under our deck,
we see the kids poking their heads out. I am thinking about
letting them hang out, but my wife is concerned that they may
destroy things. Any comments? Best way to get rid of them if
needed?
I'd get a Hav-a-hart trap, their largest, and trap and relocate
them. They will at least be a pain trying to get in your trash or
bird feeder.
The trap won't work if someone has already trapped them and
relocated them to your neighborhood, thus teaching them how traps
work. I had a trap and the raccoon reached underneath it and clawed
the bait to bits and let it drop out the bottom of the trap where
he could get it without going inside.

Trapping and relocating wild animals without a license is against the
law in many places.

Did not know the law at the time. I had actually released a trapped
squirrel in the park in the presence of a county cop in the county
substation near the park and he said nothing. Later I read in the
paper that you can trap and kill an animal but not release it
elsewhere. Kinda stupid isn't it?

Depends on the animal and where it is. Bald eagles and gopher
tortoise take an act of congress and have delayed many construction
projects in FL. Having vultures crapping all over your house is not
excuse to kill them. OTOH, folks invite all kinds of problems with
leaving food sources for wild animals.....neighborhoods that go to war
over feeding wild birds, etc. Heron and egrets can spot a fishing
pole from a mile away and show up before we get bait on the hook,
ready for handouts. I had a seagull swipe a hot dog from the bun in my
hand at the beach one day - didn't see it coming. They grabbed a
cookie from my grandsons hand, without touching him.

Those two birds "earned" their chow:-))

Lou
Go to any waterfront park, and get out of the car with a breadbag in
your hand. Ducks or gulls, depending on locale, will swarm you before
you get to water's edge. As soon as the bread stops coming, they show
you their backside, and either move on to next newcomer, or go back to
what they are doing and ignore you. Kinda sad, really. Almost like
watching the goats or whatever at a petting zoo, fight for space on the
little ramp up to the Rube Goldberg food dispenser where people put in a
token, or dump the little cup of feed they bought from the attendant.

Yeah, they learn quick, just like squirrels and 'squirrel-proof' bird
feeders.

--
aem sends...