Death to the Varmits!

**kyratshooter** · 05-29-2012, 12:49 PM

A week ago I lost a hen to some critter. No trace of anything except for two feathers about 20 feet from the pen. I had come to the conclusion it was a cat, but now I am not so certain.

Nothing adverse for a week.

Then Saturday morning I see evidence of digging and wire being pulled on the pen.

I put landscaping timbers against the base of the wire and made sure everything was tight.

Each night the timbers are pulled away from the fence, often rolled several feet. These are the preasure treated timbers 3x3x8 and they weigh about 20 pounds each. Whatever this is has the ability to roll them uphill for 2 feet.

If you give a critter long enough they will find a way in or dig their way into anything.

Last night I left the critter a "present". This morning timbers were rolled around, digging was evident and the "present" was gone.

I really hope I have solved this problem. My next step is a snare, or a night on the back porch with a rifle and my Toys-R-Us night vision goggles.

**nell67** · 05-29-2012, 01:40 PM

Raccoon....

**Rick** · 05-29-2012, 01:43 PM

Yeah. (cough, cough) Raccoon. (hack). What was in that? (sputter).

**Onidah** · 05-29-2012, 03:34 PM

I don't know whether it is a raccoon that is causing your problem or not, but we sure have a lot of them up here in Ohio this year. I think that it is due to the mild winter that we had. I've trapped and disposed of 8 nuisance raccoons in our back yard over the past week. They were eating the cat food and getting in fights with our dogs at night. I used the Duke dog-proof raccoon traps baited with small marshmallows dipped in anise oil. I knew that there were at least 3 raccoons, but I'm surprised that I'm at 8 and counting.

Onidah

**hunter63** · 05-29-2012, 03:40 PM

They can be pesky destroyers of hens, as well as dog/cat food.......had one steal a ham wraped in foil from a picnic table while we were sitting there.

Sounds like a reason to justifiy a night vision capable scope to me.......just saying.

Got a story about racoons.......

**crashdive123** · 05-29-2012, 04:08 PM

Rifle and night vision. So much more fun than a snare.

**Ken** · 05-29-2012, 04:19 PM

I thought that political discussions were off limits. This thread is about politicians, isn't it?

**crashdive123** · 05-29-2012, 04:56 PM

Nah. I was going to say it was about lawyers, but if I did, 2d2k would think I was trying to weasel in on his territory....so I won't say that.

**Ken** · 05-29-2012, 05:14 PM

2dumb just phoned me and called you every vile and vulgar name imaginable. Most of his comments were directed at your manhood and heritage.

I defended you with the highest degree of personal loyalty known to mankind.

**crashdive123** · 05-29-2012, 05:20 PM

Thank you very much counselor. Still waiting on your offer, and more importantly receipt of the gold shipment.

While not quite the same as banning, I've moved him to call waiting.

**Ken** · 05-29-2012, 05:22 PM

The precious metals brokers are buying as we speak.

**Ken** · 05-29-2012, 05:24 PM

Guests can not see images in the messages. Please register in the forum.

**crashdive123** · 05-29-2012, 05:30 PM

Now we're getting someplace.

**kyratshooter** · 05-31-2012, 10:32 PM

!!!!Got that sucker!!!!

It was a racoon, a young one.

We are having a storm here and it got dark a bit earlier than usual. I put the birds up and fed them. I was on the proch in the near dark and the security light poped on. There he sat beside the chicken coop, staring at his intended supper.

I was already prepared. The long barrel .22 SS was by the door and I had a pocket full of Aquilia sub sonics. He saw me moving to load and turned tail and ran, I beaned him in the butt at about 50 yards and he caught high gear up a small maple tree. My second shot dropped him out of the tree like a rock. He was dead when he hit the ground.

Those subsonic loads sound like a hand clap out of that long barrel. The neighbors did not even stick their heads out the door. The thunder probably had a lot to do with that too.

I am sure the girls will sleep better tonight without their visitor.

If it were winter I would eat this critter. He appears to be about a year old, young and tender. I left him where he lay not wanting to deal with the fleas and ticks of late spring. It was starting to rain pretty good by then too. I will deal with the carcass tomorrow.

**Rick** · 06-01-2012, 04:04 AM

LIGHT
Raccoon: "Uh. High there. Just checking the fence for ya. Nice job on the pen by the way. Well, gotta run."

**roar-k** · 06-01-2012, 09:20 AM

I was changing out the water to my koi pond and it started getting dark so I decided to wait till morning to finish. Well, later that night I heard movement out on the deck and turned on the lights and saw about 5 - 8 raccoons near the pond. Didn't think anything of it after I scared them off. Next morning I got up and was missing 4 of my fish.

I believe due to the water being low the raccoons took advantage. This was the second time I have found fish missing. The last time I found 1 up on a rock partial eaten.

**cowgirlup** · 06-01-2012, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by roar-k

I was changing out the water to my koi pond and it started getting dark so I decided to wait till morning to finish. Well, later that night I heard movement out on the deck and turned on the lights and saw about 5 - 8 raccoons near the pond. Didn't think anything of it after I scared them off. Next morning I got up and was missing 4 of my fish.

I believe due to the water being low the raccoons took advantage. This was the second time I have found fish missing. The last time I found 1 up on a rock partial eaten.

Koi pond? I bet they thought it was the sushi bar.