Last week, I halfheartedly set the Havahart trap down by the pond willows with a tiny chunk of dog biscuit in it.
I hoped to find a ticked off Nemesis in the trap the next day. If so, I would give him a good long shower with the garden hose while the dogs barked and lunged at the trap.
I wouldn't harm him physically, but I have no qualms about scaring him so he might stay away for a few days.
Instead of Nemesis, I found a really ticked off raccoon.
Dang it.
Releasing a coon from one of these live traps is never a simple thing in the land of rabies where you must, must, must assume every raccoon carries the virus. You simply can not risk a scratch or bite from one of these cute, sharp toothed critters.
He was royally ticked off so I gingerly set the trap vertically against an oak and rigged a bit of rope to secure the trap and allow me to remotely open the trap door.
(I videotaped his escape, but numerous attempts at uploading it have failed so ... use your imagination.)
I stepped back about ten feet and slowly pulled the rope to open the trap. He peered out at me, studied me for a few seconds, and then clambered up the oak like I hoped he would.
No harm done to either one of us.
Success.
24 comments:
Good to have you back.
I would loved to see you treat the cat to a nice shower, ha ha!! I would also like to see the video of that coon. They sure can be irritable sometimes.
Heck, a hydrophobic coon sure could use a blast from the hose, too. "Old FoamyMouth" wouldn't be back.
Mockinbird
You then coulda let the dogs have a good barkeroo before sundown. Just to keep in practice.
That raccoon does look a bit PO'ed. Good that you took your time and set him loose in a way that both of you were safe and could get away unscathed.
You must get the video uploaded... we have to see it! (if you need any help just email me and I'll try to help). He looks very mean and angry...
Glad to see you back again. Jane
You, my friend - are an amazement.
I've always fantasized getting one of those infrared sensing sprinkler heads to give prowling cats a jolt.
Never got around to it.
Reminds me of the time I was trying to trap an elusive gray fox to replace the batteries in his telemetry collar. We found mountain lion tracks in his home range and didn't want him to be stuck exposed in a leg trap if the lion came along. When we got there the next morning we heard noise coming from the live trap much like the one you used. Great!, we finally got the gray fox. When we got to the trap there was a bobcat in it. You think it was interesting getting a raccoon out, try getting a large bobcat out of one.
Silly. A cat wouldn't stoop to a dog biscuit.
This is a wonderful post- I like these naughty buggers even while I keep my distance. Interestingly enough, the cats seem smart enough to leave them alone as well.
It is good to have you back and I'm so sorry your family has had such a terrible loss. Have a peaceful and sunny Easter, FC.
Reminds me of the time we were surprised with a skunk in our Havahart.
Thinking of your family on this Easter weekend.
Good to have you back as well, I've been thinking about you all these past few days.
And....erm, I was also thinking the same thing that Vicky mentioned, LOL! You tried to trap a cat, with a dog biscuit??!!!
I needed that laugh tonight, FC. :)
On the other hand, you're right about the legendary raccoon temper. Look at that face! He looks like he's about to bite your camera lens in half.
I've been chased by them before, and I wouldn't want to relive that memory ever again.
Be careful when you're out there at night, he might come back with his cousins.....
I was at the grill one day, working on some prime pig, slow cooking over Red Maple coals, and heard a little "chirk chirk" sound. I looked around, about 3 feet to my side was a little coon, standing up, trying to see what was on the grill. Yeah, I tossed him a bite, I ain't ever had good sense! I don't think he had been on his own very long, he was hungry, and that pig did smell fine!
Glad to have you back.
did anyone tell you - cats are alot smarter that a "dog bone"
hope you post the video soon.
bet it's a hoot!
I'll echo everyone else's sentiments...glad you're back, really curious about whether or not a cat would go for a dog biscuit, and really hope you are able to load the video. Like you, I have a slooooooooow internet connection and my success rate with videos is not impressive. I wish you better fortune with that!
Great photos, though. :)
It always amazes me how much you know ;)
What kind of camera do you use ?
I took a piece of your pain away today.
In the hopes that some light will find it's way to brighten your day.
knit ya later
carrie
try "kitty treats" for bait. something in them lures cats, altho the label warns that they are not real food. modern life is confusing.
nice jury rig to release the raccoon.
Personally, I think that coon is smiling at you. Probably wondering where his Easter Basket is.
Blanket answer to Why I Used A Dog Biscuit To Catch A Cat:
It was a spur of the moment thought to set the trap and I happened to have a dog biscuit in my pocket, because the pig loves them ...
HT,
Clean cats are happy cats.
:)
Mockinbird,
Good idea.
Hoss,
You should hear them howl.
Robin,
He was lunging and snarling ... not happy at all.
I don't blame him tho.
Jane,
Thank you. I'm not sure why one video from the same camera loads and the rest do not.
Cathy,
:)
I love that sprinkler idea! Do they make them with lasers?
VA,
I don't know if they make rope long enough for a bobcat release.
Vicki,
We had a very nice Easter at my parents house.
Thank you for thinking of us.
Linda,
I'm wondering who had release duty on that one!
Thank you :)
Laura,
Thanks.
It didn't occur to me when I typed that post that I had admitted to using a DOG biscuit to trap a CAT.
Now the whole world knows ...
Tsiya,
Red Maple?
I've never BBQ'd over that.
LEJ619,
Now ... you just used the words cat and smart in the same sentence.
Kimberlee,
Dialup is the price of remoteness I guess, although my remote doesn't compare to yours.
Danielle,
Thanks, but ... is it useful stuff?
Jury is still out on that one.
Carrie,
Thank you for that.
I use a Sony Cybershot DSC-H5 and I love it.
roger,
that is confusing. the rig was simple but effective.
Cathy S,
It's the same smile I see on gators and bull sharks.
:)
Hey man cats are people too, or is it cats hate people too! I get that mixed up sometimese! ;-)
Hey though it's good to hear from you again, I was cracking up at the vision I had in my head of you releasing the coon and it taking off in a dead run straight at you. I'm glad he went up the tree instead!
Dave,
All part of my master plan.
Your cat is clearly an alien being.
*shaking head*...must continue plan to create a cat lover outta the youngest FC...
Cats are animals, too, FC... they gotta eat just like all the other critters you don't trap and scare away. :) If you want us to not kill snakes, maybe we need a little something in return on the feline front? Hehe. (I'm just biased because we have the cutest kitten in human history and she as stolen my heart.)
Mel,
We love cats.
They are delicious.
Alan,
It's more cat owners than cats that gall me Alan. Too often, they exercise no control over their cats hunting instincts while making excuses.
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