Here goes the second attempt to post this. The last try was at 4:45 this afternoon, and all of you know what happened then. Anyway...

The racoon has exited the building.

After he decided to invite himself to Thanksgiving dinner, at about 9:00, I contacted a friend at the county extension who put me in touch with the state animal control folks. They, in turn, advised me of a local trapper, who turns out to be living just down the road a piece..

On Tuesday morning he came by and after a survey of the cellar, determined that the racoon was out. He advised me of how to better set the trap and a way to discern whether or not the racoon had returned to visit.

This morning, having determined that the cellar was critter free, I screwed a piece of plywood over the favored, and only, entrance, thus reclaiming the cellar for ourselves.

The fee for this consultation was $85.00, but would cover a return visit to retrieve the animal if necessary. While he was here, he was able to locate the place where the flying squirrels are coming and going, and allowed that when the new roof was being attached (in the next couple weeks) that the hammering would scatter the lot and the roof crew could then nail up the loose board. All in all, a happy ending.

Thanks to everyone for your support, suggestions, dire warnings and levity in this matter, and for the same in the future -- Tom & Linn