It would not be so bad if he took the trash out

[cstocks]

We've got a coon that visits our front porch every evening at feeding time for our outside cats. The l'il booger has gotten quite bold and barely runs off when we open the front door. My wife discovered that he is hanging out under our 8x12 portable building... she fed our cats one evening and the coon came shooting out from under the building as soon as he heard the food hitting the pans. Yesterday she called me to the door to watch him in action. He bebopped up on the porch and proceeded to drag one of the food pans across the porch and down the steps and knocked the food out under the steps. Then he attempted to drag the water bowl down the steps as well! Obviously he does not like sharing with our cats. The cats don't seem to be too bothered by him but back off and give him right of way when he arrives. I want to haul the freeloader off but my wife thinks he is cute. Since there have been no reports of rabies in my area for many years I guess we will just allow him to enjoy his free meals for the time being. However, we will be moving to our new home in a couple of months and he will be on his own after that!

 

[bgott]

You're better off dumping him. Those little bustards will get nasty once they figure out they can get away with it. A buddy of mine and I moved to Florida years ago and we were staying at a state park in my travel trailer. We barbequed every night and we had one that would get up on the table and get closer and closer while we pretended he wasn't there. After about four nights he got about two feet away from our plates and started growling and showing his teeth. I backhanded him off the table and it didn't take him more than fifteen minutes to get back up there. They would push our five gallon bucket trashcan out from under the trailer every day, we were jacking the trailer up and putting the bucket under it and then letting the trailer down on it to give them a challenge. When they started trying to eat through the door and through the floor I decided it wasn't fun any more and started soaking things down with ammonia and it stopped for a while. We finally moved to cheaper property ( behind a topless bar /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif). I wouldn't let a 'coon get a foothold around my place, they seem to get bored and find stuff to do to your detriment and if the grubs good you stand a chance of his buddies moving in, too.

 

[cstocks]

Yeah, Brad. You're probably right. Maybe I will catch him in my live trap one evening when my wife is gone and haul him off. That way I'll be shed of him and wifey won't ever have to know what happened to him. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Von]

Re: It would not be so bad if he took the trash ou

Andy, Same thing and same type of dog happened at home as well. Only the dog killed two raccoons during the day. All four of us had to get the shots. Thank god the county paid for it as rabies is an epidemic here. Health insurance will only cover if bit by an animal and started within 24 hours of bite. (By the way it takes 48 hours for test results! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif) Can you say loop hole! Cost of shots were $2000.00 per person! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif But like you say, only need a booster shot if bit now.

 

[Boone]

What you need is a mule, when I got the mule no more little furry wild animals come around. He hates any little thing with fur, I find dead mice stomped in the barn. No more coons getting into the hay. No deer grazing in the pasture. No skunks stinking up the place. Oh, he hates dogs, so my dogs give him a lot of space. They say a donkey put in with a herd of sheep or cattle will kill coyotes and wolfs. From what I've seen of the mule I can believe it.

 

[cstocks]

That's a thought for after we move out of this dump and off this tiny lot onto our three acres in the next few months! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Spanky100]

As expected this group has provided great information and entertainment at the same time. To update the group. We kept the food related trash in the garage until trash pickup day and the raccoon has not been around. Will go back to normal operation and if Ricky the Raccoon returns we will help him to his last trash can meal. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Thanks again group.
Wayne