Dealing with Unwanted Neighbors.....
I had heard their racket in the middle of the night - they carry on doing whatever it is they feel like doing- snarling, growling, making cooing noises.... Mostly it is an annoying gnawing sound. Initially, I thought - hey, maybe it's some kind of a ghost or spirit sending me a message. Then, I thought better of that. Spirits don't gnaw on things.
So, I called Vermin Control (a friend of mine with a big flashlight and a trap). Sure enough, under my back porch are two HUGE racoons (I'm assuming mom & dad) and two babies (which are obviously theirs - it wouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure that out). They've made themselves quite a home under the porch.
I immediately began to worry if Spike and Carley would, at some point, look like breakfast to them. Even if racoons are nocturnal, they still venture out in the daylight - especially if a Spike burger looked good to them.
I am doing the humane thing - live trapping them, then sealing off the areas where wild vermin get into places that aren't real conducive for a household... like my back porch. My biggest worry is splitting the family up. What IF only dad gets trapped; what IF only the mom gets trapped; what IF both parents get trapped, leaving their youngsters to forage for themselves? Gee, I feel so guilty!
Well, Trapper John has assured me that they will be kept in a "holding area" until the whole family is together, and then released in the "wild" somewhere up the mountain. I have these visions of them getting their little home together (under my home) and thinking that it's all nice and warm and a good neighborhood to raise the children in, probably worrying- as all parents do - if they will be able to go to good schools, who their friends will be, tucking them into their little dirt beds at night....
You know, when I moved up here, it never occurred to me that forest animules would actually take up residence with me. I guess now is as good of a time as any to trust that they will all get out safely.
Well, the sun's up now, so the Furry Family is probably sleeping. I have to go let the dogs out.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Make it a GREAT Tuesday!
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Sending you angels,
Jane