BS: Animals Wanting In

Subject: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Mickey191
Date: 21 Apr 04 - 09:55 PM

Anyone know of a deterent that works to discourage an unseen (but heard) animal from actually entering my home. He comes at night & gnaws loudly into the daylight hours. I've no idea what it could be, my neighbor guesses a groundhog. Could that be? There is a groundhog who lives under a steel shed on my property. If he is the little pest, I'm really ticked-cause I give him 2 apples a week which cost 60 cents each. I have no basement-just a subfloor.So he is able to scoot around on the subfloor. My dog cries & growls as this thing scoots from vent to vent. ANY help would be appreciated. Does a ground hog do this type of thing--I've tried mothballs.

Thanks, Mickey191

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Amos
Date: 21 Apr 04 - 10:01 PM

Chicken wire?


A

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Deckman
Date: 21 Apr 04 - 10:08 PM

Where are you? Which planet, continent, country. That might give us a clue! Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 21 Apr 04 - 10:16 PM

A shotgun.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Rt Revd Sir jOhn from Hull
Date: 21 Apr 04 - 10:19 PM

i reccomend a Purdy "over and under".

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 21 Apr 04 - 10:20 PM

What ever happened to that other noise under the floorboards that someone else was dealing with last fall or winter? Maybe that critter moved?

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Chief Chaos
Date: 21 Apr 04 - 10:42 PM

Chicken wire should do it. DO yourself a favor and make sure the critter is out from under before putting it in place. And if you live anywhere sub-urban you might want to use a small hole wire so that snakes don't adopt the vacated space. They go after the small rodents that find such spaces to be great homes.

Run Corridus!

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Mudlark
Date: 21 Apr 04 - 11:24 PM

My dad swore by one of those electronic gismos that emit a supersonic sound for ridding his attic of squirrels. If you are in US it could also be ground squirrel or wood rat. Both love to get under houses, muck about and drive householder mad.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: LadyJean
Date: 21 Apr 04 - 11:28 PM

You might try some used cat litter. I'll bet whatever it is isn't into kitty smell.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Mickey191
Date: 21 Apr 04 - 11:45 PM

Thanks Folks so much. I'm in beautiful Dutchess Co. in N.Y.--Real Country. I neglected to say I found a whole in the earth-behind some spreading taxis plants. I just laid a paving block over it. But in two days he dropped by again. Now I cannot see how he made it in. I'm alone & help is hard to get - the chicken wire would be impossible for me to do.

What is a Purdy? Strict laws about firing a gun within 500 ft. of a home. Besides I've never seen it. Wood rat? Egads!

Mudlark, I like the of the gizmo, but I bought one a few yrs. ago when I had a mouse. I plugged it in & he shit right under it!!! So much for sonic blasters.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 04:50 AM

I suspect that if a sonic gizmo went off in my ear, I'd probably drop a load too!

There are some wildlife parks or zoos that sell lion poop to ward off unfriendly animals from floor spaces, gardens, that sort of thing. Which is fine if you like the smell of lion poop. Of course, in real country, you may just end up with a randy lion sniffing round!

Citrus smells are usually unwelcome to feline animals, they don't like them too much, so try some orange cleaner, or fruit peel around the holes.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Allan C.
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 05:57 AM

Years ago I had a groundhog to do the very same thing. He came to an early grave. Some folks have had luck spreading mothballs.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 06:31 AM

' Purdy ' the worlds finest shotguns.
eric

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 07:30 AM

Well, first of all, stop feeding that groundhog! If he is indeed the culprit he has already interpreted your gesture as "You're welcome to chew here anytime" which, under the circumstances is no longer the case. And even if this critter isn't the same one who is nibbling away at your house, you should still be discouraging him from hanging about.

But if you are a kind-hearted soul who insists on feeding any furry looking creature who ambles your way, you might consider sticking a few cloves of peeled garlic into those apples. It's a bit of a love/hate message to sent its way, but might work. If nothing else, you will have so confused him that he'll spend his evenings trying to analyse your behavior...which will give you the time to try all those other suggestions...;-)

..xx..e

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Midchuck
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 09:05 AM

Multi-gigawatt X-ray laser.

It's the only answer.

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 09:34 AM

I'm betting possum or coon.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: SueB
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 10:52 AM

In my limited experience, kitty litter frightens rabbits but doesn't bother skunks in the least. Your choices are to trap or kill the animal, or to fence it out, or to discourage it from thinking of your place as a nice safe comfortable haven.

Radio Shack sells a little battery operated motion sensor alarm that works great to discourage dogs from countersurfing or turning over the garbage can, not very expensive - maybe you could rig up something like that.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Mickey191
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 10:52 AM

I appreciate all of your suggestions. LTS-too funny!
Allan C. How did your creature croak? And Ellen, I will no longer be playing "Apple Annie." No,nay,never will I do that again. Sounds like you've read books on groundhog psychology.

Thanks Folks, Mickey

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Allan C.
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 11:11 AM

Mickey, I'd prefer not to reveal the details of his untimely demise - the gory flashbacks, you know. I would have never believed that I could outrun a groundhog.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: el ted
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 11:16 AM

Interesting.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: JenEllen
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 12:35 PM

I like Peter's answer! LOL A friend of mine got so upset with his unwelcome guest that he built a contraption that he calls "GROVER" (I thought it was an acronym, but it's apparently named after the guy who told him how to build it!)

Imagine a slab of concrete about a foot square, with a jerry-rigged mousetrap in the center. When the dirt around the trigger is aggitated, the trap shuts onto a compartment with a shotgun shell in in. Kablooey. If the shell doesn't get them, then the blastwave does (that concrete ain't going anywhere).

He has no plans on patenting the schematics, so anybody that wants a GROVER....

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 12:40 PM

Not mothballs, please! Those are so nasty to so many other things in the environment. They should be outlawed.

Human hair in the "whole" hole should work. Or you could pee on the spot yourself to mark it as "already taken." :)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 12:45 PM

And folks, be aware we have our own little nibbler skulking around all the threads. He is of the Humanus Arithimaticus Obsessionus Species, and he feeds upon numeric postings of the Centennury-type.

DO NOT FEED HIM!

If you see his posting..."interesting", send a really high voltage through your computer and stop him in his tracks. If you don't he'll leave his scat everywhere!!!!..xx..e

(PS-He has admitted to not reading all the postings on the theads he attacks, so beware his "hit and run" tactics. I, for one, am preparing my applets with garlic to scatter around in hopes of catching him in the act ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Allan C.
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 12:56 PM

Thanks SRS for the thoughts about mothballs. I had no idea they were as bad as they are.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Nerd
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 01:39 PM

Ellenpolly,

what are you talking about? Is el ted some kind of virus? What are "numeric postings of the Centennury-type?"

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: open mike
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 03:38 PM

mothballs contain either
Para dichlorobenzene
or Napthalene.
My dad used to put them around the yard to
discourage rabbits. We soon found the
grackles picking them up in thier beaks
and rubbing their feathers with them..
possibly to get rid of mites?
i hope the critters (birds) did not
come to any harm from them.
Ha! (music link) while searching i also
found that there is a band called
mothhballs

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: GUEST,Shlio
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 03:55 PM

Ellenpoly - having traced the creature's spoor over the last day, I am inclined to agree with you

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: ranger1
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 06:29 PM

Try a Havahart live trap. They can be rented from many hardware stores. Once trapped, take the critter for a long ride and release. If not inclined to do this yourself, ask around, there are often people who take care of nuisance animals for a fee, and many times people who are licensed wildlife rehabilitators will do this for free. BTW, there is a good chance that you could have a porcupine instead of a woodchuck. Check for strong urine odors. Porkies really reek.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Mickey191
Date: 22 Apr 04 - 11:46 PM

SRS, Didn't know that Moth balls were bad. I didn't use them anyway. As for peeing in the hole--it would run down my leg & into my shoes!!! WE ladies cannot do artistic things like write yellow sayings in the snow.

I'm going to call Cooperative extension & see if I can rent or borrow a have-a-hart trap. Online the price is $60.00 plus shipping--a bit much. There is an item called "Giant Killer" which is supposed to be put in the animals track-This fellow has not burrowed (That I can See).This thing is like a giant match w/ a fuse. The smell is poisonous, but then how do I get him out from under the shed? I'd rather not kill the little bugger. I just learned that a woodchuck & ground hog are the same thing -Thanks to Ranger1.

Thanks a million people.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 12:08 AM

Squat, Mickey, squat! Or pee in a cup and pour it there. Geez!

:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 03:58 AM

Nerd, I'm not being hugely serious here, but I am fascinated by someone who admits to not reading threads and only seems interested in being the 100th, 150th, 200th..etc poster.

Maybe some people are accused of having too much time on their hands on mudcat, but I for one, enjoy reading as well as writing according to what is sparked here...but really, what is the point of just posting "interesting" to mark a certain number on a thread one doesn't even read?

I think I'd prefer the groundhog..xx..e

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: el ted
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 05:48 AM

EP,
   Sorry, but that last post of yours was interesting.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: 42
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 07:19 AM

not exactly on topic but I have been hosting a rather persistent (if not yet productive) skunk in my garage/barn for the last year or so. He's becoming quite comfortable and I'm not sure how to discourage him from hanging around. Can you live trap skunks?

j

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Allan C.
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 10:58 AM

42 (Your name wouldn't have anything to do with a very cool game played with dominoes, would it?) Yes, you can live trap skunks. But then what? There's that tricky matter of transporting the trapped and probably rather irritated skunk to another location. Think this through carefully!

Nobody has brought this up and so I thought it might be worthwhile to point out why Mickey's groundhog is gnawing. The front teeth of most rodents grow almost constantly. Unless they are consistently worn down by gnawing, they will become quite long and in some instances can even get to the point of being unuseful. Rodents will sometimes gnaw some rather unlikely things because of this. I've seen evidence of gnawing on the underpinnings of wooden decks and even on cinderblocks!

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Mickey191
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 11:01 AM

Folks, Will I be forgiven if I put a joke in here??? I believe it is the funniest joke I've ever heard. It Fits right in with Stilly River Sage's sage advice. I did put it in one of the joke threads-but perhaps some of you didn't read it.

There was this guy who really took care of his body. He lifted weights and jogged six miles a day. One morning as he looked into the mirror to admire his body he noticed that he was suntanned all over, with one exception, his penis. He decided to do something about. He went to the beach, completely undressed and buried himself in the sand, except for his penis, which he left sticking out.

Two little old ladies were strolling along the beach, one using a cane. Upon seeing the thing sticking out of the sand, she began to move it around with her cane, remarking to the other old lady, "There really is no justice in the world!"

The other old lady said, "What do you mean by that?" The first old lady said, "Look at that.
When I was 20, I was curious about it.
When I was 30, I enjoyed it.
When I was 40, I asked for it.
When I was 50, I paid for it.
When I was 60, I prayed for it.
When I was 70, I forgot about it.

And now that I'm 80, the damn things are growing wild and I'm to old to squat."


Slainte Mickey191

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Mickey191
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 11:18 AM

Thanks Allan C.-Maybe if I get him in a trap I could take him to a dentist. I went on a search & found an excellent site that advises to take the trapped animal atleast 5 miles from my house. So these fellows must be darn smart. This site also has recordings of ground hogs & their different "Voices"

Allan C, you seem knowledgeable-is their any chance from what you've read here-that this might be a rat?
The first time I heard it's rhythmic Gnawing - I stomped & made noise. He kept it up-I then made the loudest Meow I could manage. He stopped dead, but returned the next night & it didn't work anymore.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: 42
Date: 23 Apr 04 - 10:43 PM

actually 42 has more to do with being the answer to the question of "life, the universe and everything" as appropriated from Douglas Adams and the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

the skunk problem (not so major) remains. How do you move a skunk in a "live" trap?

quandary? you bet.

j

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 04:10 AM

If it was a rat, it would have heard the meow, gone for a sniff round and when it didn't smell cat, would have moved back in. Rats aren't stupid!

Unfortunately, if it was a rat, pretty soon you're going to have a whole colony of them. No such thing as a single rat.... Do you have any food outlets near you? We have a couple and our rodent population has increased, luckily we have several cats in the area so they aren't a problem (10 cats decimate the babies on their first outing usually!).

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Allan C.
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 07:09 AM

Mickey, it is difficult to say, without actually seeing the gnaw marks, scat or the animal, itself, what manner of critter you've got. Dependant upon the resonance of the item being chewed, a rat can sound as big as a hippo.

Some careful looking around the perimeter of your house should reveal a path of some sort - more obvious if it is used by a larger animal, of course. The pathway may be little more than matted grass; but my guess is that you will find more than that.

42, I've been told that if they are approached v e r y   s l o w l y, skunks won't really mind your presence *usually*. I have managed to get very near a few different skunks on occasion. However, it is not something I have ever been inclined to try again. I'm just a little wary after having been sprayed once. Once is quite enough.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 06:57 AM

Can I switch the subject to WASPS ??? How do I get them to not like coming into my flat? And once they're in, how do I convince them to leave??? Helppppp!!!..xx..e

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Allan C.
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 08:19 AM

Usually the wasps are just looking for a place to nest, EP. Since they build their nests in crevices, it is only natural for them to discover one that, when followed, leads to the inside of your flat. Often these potential entrances are difficult to detect. Worse, they are sometimes gaps that you wouldn't want to chink because to do so would interfere with the opening and closing of a window, for instance. I guess what I am trying to say is that you may need to accept that you are unlikely to be able to find and block all the potential entries.

Wasps dislike disruptions in air currents. You can use this to your advantage when trying to get rid of one. Just open a window or outside door and using a magazine or newspaper, gently fan the wasp toward the opening. Gently is the key word here. What you want to do is to give the creature an urge to be elsewhere. "Hey, little one. Wouldn't you rather be outside?" (Yes, I talk to wasps. Wanna make something of it?) If you are too vigorous, the wasp will become agitated and will fly in something other than the desired direction. Be patient. Just remember that wasps tend to fly in circles - small ones when they are just moving about normally; but large ones if they feel agitated or trapped.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Scoville
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 10:21 AM

We poisoned the rats, patched up the holes where the birds and squirrels got in, turned the dog on the possums, and, for a while, we were literally shooting raccoons off the side of the house with the sprayer jet on the garden hose (they still come back to visit but they don't rip our shingles off any more).

Maybe you could stop giving him apples for awhile and then bait a live trap with one (if it's your groundhog, although I suspect a lot of other varmints will go for apple).

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Sorcha
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 10:48 AM

Move a skunk in a live trap with a long pole? Don't know really. Only moved possums, coons and bats.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 11:06 AM

Speaking of the constantly-growing front teeth of rodents, someone mentioned that if they're not ground down they become useless. That's true, but there's much more than that!

If not ground down, the teeth can kill the animal. They grow in a curve, and if through some accident the incisors are allowed to grow they will actually re-curve and drive back through the head and skull! I've seen a photo of the skull of an animal that died this way.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Mickey191
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 12:10 PM

Dave, that is a sad story. I've stopped with the apples. I had a wild thought-since I'm only suspecting that the groundhog from under my shed is the "The Gnawer" & I can clearly see where he enters & exits, What do you think would happen if I placed a mirror at that spot? Would he be traumatised enough to go to a new location? Someone is supposed to loan me a Have a hart trap next week.

Was speaking to a neighbor and she said she had the same problem last year. One morning she put 2 pieces of bread in the toaster, & before pushing it down, she went to the bathroom. When she came back-one piece was gone! Of course there is the possibility she's delusional. Her gnawer just went away.

Thanks once again folks.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 12:59 PM

So. . .from this story, may we presume that if you place a slice of toasted bread at the spot where the gnawing is happening that it will stop?

;-D

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Mickey191
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 11:28 PM

SRS, I do not know where he was gnawing in her abode. Just that the bread took a walk-another neighbor suggested she may be senile. Yet another neighbor volunteered that she may just want to scare the bejeebers out of me. Funny thing- it's been quiet last 24 hours & I did not spot him today-maybe the dog scared it. Then again it rained a bit-maybe he didn't want to get wet.

BY the way, it gnaws in 5 or 6 different spots.

Slainte Mickey191

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Gypsy
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 11:39 PM

Call up your agricultural department.......they will be able to identify your critter. If your department is anything like ours (ours is the top!) they will also put you in contact with the state trapper division, and they can help you get the beastie trapped. Ag department is at no expense (in CA, anyway) trapper can vary. We had the trapper out for dogs in our sheep, and that was no cost. Or, the ag department might loan you a trap.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 03:49 AM

Allan C. thanks for the advice!!..xx..e

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Allan C.
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 08:45 AM

On the other hand, EP, you could simply ask him if he'd consider changing his religion.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: SueB
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 01:13 PM

My husband left a trap set on the place one time, then went away for a few days. I went down to check on it and found a frantic raccoon in the trap, and no husband to deal with it. Let me just say that before you trap the wild animal in the cage, it would be good to have a plan for what to do with it once you've got it. Thick leather gloves are a good idea, so are burlap sacks or a tarp or something to wrap around the cage so you can handle it without being bitten or scratched by the occupant. They're very frightened - they don't get that your intentions are good. Also, they can find their way back from farther than 5 miles, sometimes - my husband trapped a family of raccoons, mom and dad and two little ones, and released them eight miles away at Whiskey Creek. They were back in a couple of days. (He used chocolate covered donuts for bait.)

With animals that chew, I've had good luck using furniture polish as a deterrent. I cured a house rabbit of chewing on the electrical cords by spraying them with lemon pledge, and cured a passel of puppies of chewing on the garden hose also by spraying it with lemon pledge. They sell a product at pet stores called Bitter Apple which is supposed to be non-toxic but very bad tasting and smelling for that purpose, but it doesn't work.

Gypsy's suggestion is the best, if your county extension agent is a good one. Our county agent out here isn't worth the price of the bullet to shoot him with.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Nerd
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 01:20 PM

Thanks, Ellenpoly. Since the number of messages in a thread is of little import to me, it never occurred to me that a practice like el ted's existed. Takes all kinds to make a forum, I guess...

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Gypsy
Date: 26 Apr 04 - 10:12 PM

Another one for chewie animals.....cheap perfume. the stuff that your 1st grader gets you by the quart. Makes a good dog repellant, too. Spray on whatever article, or your wrists, if repelling an overly friendly slobbery dog, and they will run. Non violent, too

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: GUEST,Lilyfestre
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 02:13 PM

We have such a critter in our walls. I can hear him scamper across the ceiling and from time to time he starts making noise in the walls...sometimes even right near the computer. One time I banged on the wall to frighten him away and HE GROWLED AT ME!   LOL...I about fell out of my chair laughing!

Silly beast!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: SueB
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 03:46 PM

Funny, yes, until he chews on your wiring...

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Apr 04 - 05:49 PM

So instead of laughing at a situation that has been so for more than 2 years (not due to lack of trying various things to get this creature out), you would suggest what? Panic? Fear? Worry?

There isn't much more we can do except to laugh about it.

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: GUEST,noddy
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 04:57 AM

have you tried asking him to leave or puuting up a notice telling him to be quiet!

Otherwise NUKE HIM.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: LilyFestre
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 06:28 AM

LOL...nope..haven't tried asking him! I wonder if I sent him a nice little note with a clip of the local houses for rent/sale, if he'd take a hint?!?!?   :)   However, I do have a shotgun by the door.........if I ever see the litter bugger, he's toast!

KA-BOOM!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Chief Chaos
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 01:36 PM

My wife's grandfather used to trap the squirrels (he hated them with a passion) and take them across the river. They always seemed to come back. Then we watched someone at the church on our side of the river get out of his car and let loose the squirrels that he had trapped on the other side of the river. It was too funny! they had probably ben trading squirrels for years without ever knowing about it.

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 01:52 PM

That's rich--trading squirrels!

Trouble with something that lives in the walls that it will eventually die in the walls, and then you'll suffer. An acquaintance of mine in Mississippi has written extensively about the attempt to get the putrification smell out of the plaster walls. They're not sure exactly which section of wall it died in. (This is a possum that had a taste for soft drinks--over time it bit little holes in all of the cans of SevenUP that had been stored in the garage.)

It really is best if you can lure or scare critters out of the attic, basement, or walls before they decide to shuffle off this mortal coil.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: GUEST,Melani
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 02:33 PM

Panther urine might work--it's said to be a good deer repellant. Of course, collecting it can be tough...

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Chief Chaos
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 04:27 PM

Factoid about Possums (or Opossum if you prefer):
They have the largest number of teeth of all mammals. 50! All needle sharp. Contrary to popular belief they do not "play dead" when a predator approaches and can (and will) bite the hand that feeds them.

We had a neighbor in North Carolina that used to keep his cat food bowls outside of the house. One of his cats went missing. One night he heard the bowl moving arouns outside and thought it was his cat. Being nearsighted he exited the house and poured more food into the bowl (the poor thing must be hungry after being gone so long ya know?). He then reached down and began petting the cat. It had very stringy hair where once it had luxurious fur. Poor cat he thought, must have been a terrible time wherever you went. Then he got to the naked, rasp-like tail with the crook in the end and decided to turn on the light to get a better look at his poor cat's problems.

He'd been petting the biggest possum in our neighborhood. The catfood bowls came inside in the morning.
Never did find the damn cat!

Subject: RE: BS: Animals Wanting In
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Apr 04 - 06:08 PM

This reminds me of a poem by Leslie Marmon Silko, of Laguna Pueblo. From her book Storyteller

SKELETON FIXER

What happened here?
she asked
Some kind of accident?
Words like bones
scattered all over thet place. . . .

Old Man Badger traveled
from place to place
searching for skeleton bones.
There was something
only he could do with them.

On the smooth sand
Old Man Badger started laying out the bones.
It was a great puzzle for him.
He started with the toes
He loved their curve
like a new moon,
like a white whisker hair.

Without thinking
he knew their direction,
laying each toe bone
to walk east.
"I know,
it must have been this way.
Yes,"
he talked to himself as he worked.

He strung the spine bones
as beautiful as any shell necklace.

The leg bones were running
so fast
dust from the ankle joints
surrounded the wind.

"Oh poor dear one who left your bones here
I wonder who you are?"
Old Skeleton Fixer spoke to the bones
Because things don't die
they fall to pieces maybe,
get scattered or separate,
but Old Badger Man can tell
how they once fit together.

Though he didn't recognize the bones
he could not stop;
he loved them anyway.

He took great care with the ribs
marveling at the structure
which had contained the lungs and heart.
Skeleton Fixer had never heard of
such things as souls.
He was certain
only of bones.

But where a heart once beat
there was only sand.
"Oh I will find you one--
somewhere around here!"
And a yellow butterfly
flew up from the grass at his feet.

"Ah! I know how your breath left you--
Like butterflies over an edge,
not falling but fluttering
their wings rainbow colors--
Wherever they are
your heart will be."

He worked all day
He was so careful with this one--
it felt like the most special of all.
---Old Man Badger didn't stop
until the last spine bone
was arranged at the base of the tail.

"A'moo'ooh, my dear one
these words are bones,"
he repeated this
four times
------Pa Pa Pa Pa!
------Pa Pa Pa Pa!
------Pa Pa Pa Pa!
------Pa Pa Pa Pa!

Old Coyote Woman jumped up
and took off running.
She never even said "thanks."

Skeleton Fixer
shook his head slowly.

"It is surprising sometimes," he said
"how these things turn out."
But he never has stopped fixing
the poor scattered bones he finds.

A piece Of A Bigger Story They Tell Around Laguna and Acoma Too
---------------------------------From A Version Told by Simon J. Ortiz