Woodchuck Bait

[DocHeb]

Just a note to all you trappers - check with your animal control or county health department regarding rabies prevelance in you area. Rabies is endemic in racoons in some areas, and in some areas woodchucks (despite being herbivores) can carry rabies. Rabies can be transmitted by animal saliva into open wounds. Be careful out there!

 

[Dozernut]

When you paper punch that racoons ear, I would pay for the privilege of watching that performance, it could get real interesting./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Be careful I think they carry knives!

 

[dmccarty]

Wow,

This big long thread on how to get rid of these critters and no body
mentions tractors! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

The farm I worked when I was a teenager had plenty of these varmits.
We hated 'em. The would dig their holes in the middle of our fields,
better than near a house or barn, I'll admit, but it was not fun when
you hit a hole with the tractor.

The worse holes where the old ones that had washed out a bit. If
the rear wheels hit the hole it was not really a big deal. But if the
front tire found a washed out burrow it was dangerous and hurtfull.
I can't tossed forward more than once. This was prior to ROPS and
seat belts. You had two choices. Keep your seat, hold on and hope
you did not find a hole or stand up, look for the holes and hope you
did not find a hole.... /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Not real fun!

Later...
Dan McCarty

 

[patrickg]

Dozernut,
You planning on driving, hitching, or do you want me to get you some bus, train, or airline schedules? You show up and I will "forgive" any payment AND I will loan you a camcorder and digital still camera to document it.

If your "handle" is within the truth in advertising guidelines and you are a dozer kinda guy, would you share any dozer sizing/buying expertise, tips, tricks, or hints? If yes, maybe that would warrant a separate thread. Would probably be pretty popular.

Patrick

 

[patrickg]

Dan, the right on man! A friend and long time farmer/rancher recently broke the steering on one of his tractors when he hit an armadillo hole. I figure that is approximately equivalent to hiting a 'chuck hole. Hmmm chuck hole, chuckhole. Probably so, whatcha think? Words like chuckhole had to come from somewhere.

Patrick

 

[Dozernut]

Patrick; Yes I am a dozer owner, but I am in no way an expert about that particular piece of equipment. I have hundreds of hours working them and quite a few hours repairing them. They are expensive and labor intensive. Most of my experience is with the smaller end machines, so I can not tell you very much about the larger dozers. I will try to answer any questions you might have, but I am not all knowing and might have to defer to someone with that knowlege! My wife has raised orphaned racoons in the past and I used to coon hunt with my father. So my experience with them has taught me that they can get mean. No offense intended, just having a bit of fun, but I would still like to watch!/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif By the way your columns, here lately, have been quite entertaining and educational.

 

[dmccarty]

Patrick,

You know it never hit me on the "chuckhole" source but you maybe right!
/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

We never KNOWINGLY busted a tractor on one of the chuckholes but I
don't know how. The boss did have a wheel fall off his MF 165 one fine
day and who knows maybe running into a chuck hole loosened the nuts.

/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Actually, the more I learn about tractors and safety I'm suprised we did
not get seriously hurt. I don't remember any work being done of the
tractors. No oil changes, no greasing, so lug nut checks, nothing. No
real warnings about the dangers of the PTO either...

Later...
Dan

 

[Golfgar4]

When I was a kid, my grandfather operated the International Harvester dealership in a little town west of Madison, WI. The lot where all the equipment was parked was right next door to where my grandparents lived, so it was the natural play yard for all of the grand children! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

The ONLY safety thing I remember grandpa telling us about tractors was to stay away from "that spinning shaft" if it was spinning. That was all. He used to take 2 kids at a time for rides on the tractors, and a kid had to be at least 8 years old before he could drive the tractor by himself! /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif I sure don't remember being scared - but maybe I should've been!! /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

 

[patrickg]

"No offense intended, just having a bit of fun, but I would still like to watch!

Absolutely no offense taken, Yet another case of no body language, eye contact etc. I was humorously serious about the schedules and camera loan. I am aware of how nasty 'coons can get (they can drown a dog). These were not THAT big. I figure I could open the trap and let them out into a net and wrap them up with all my extremities and body parts I may be fond of at a safe distance from claws and teeth. Step two, wrap in cloth like a burlap bag except for head (to leave ears exposed). Step three, pin the head (mouth part) with a pad of cloth, leaving an ear exposed. Kerpunch! Reverse the steps except NOT put the 'coon back into the trap, just release. All this to see if it is a problem 'coon. 20 years ago anyone would have shot it and gone on but... well they are cute when they aren't destroying the garden and there are some much less populated areas not far from here to deport them to so unless it becomes a volume operation, I'm trying to be nature friendly.

Patrick (note the 'coons strong tail, look closely it is his only means of support his feet are in the air)

 

[MossRoad]

Man! You guys are nuts! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Racoons are notoriusly infected with the rabies virus from the East coast to about the middle of Ohio. Each year it moves farther west. Even a small scratch or bite and you'll be in for it. Be careful.