Encounters of the Raccoon Kind When I think back there was not many encounters with these raccoons that I haven't shared before I went on hiatus from SoC but the most recent was, dun, dun, dun, dun The Water Hose Encounter It was late evening and I was sitting at my computer responding to Beth's post. I had the window open which spans most of the backyard. I truly enjoy glancing out at my backyard always remembering what it looked like 22 years ago and what it has become now. As I was responding to Beth's post I glanced out the window only to see - 'it' slowly making its way across the yard. I abruptly ended the response with Beth thinking to myself, 'Oh, yeah. I gotcha now, buddy.' The security alarm didn't go off as I yanked on the back door as I hesitated at that thought. Pushing through the screen door I quickly turned to the outside spiket, turned it on keeping an eye on the raccoon which now was aware of my presence. I grabbed the hose and cautiously moved to a comfortable and safe distance and released the level and the water blasted out. The raccoon moved quickly to the fence and started climbing as I moved in closer but... hmmm it climbed up into the tree right next to the fence. Darn it! Darn it! Darn it! I had been waiting for the chance to pulverize a raccoon with the water hose. I continued to spray into the tree for a few minutes then retreated back into the house. I sat down and started to type when I glanced out the window and that sucker was crawling down another tree and I dashed back out the door, etc. but I did manage to get it once because it yelped before it disappeared into the darkness. My intent was only to scare it away since I've experienced that yelling at it doesn't do any good. The Nail Board Encounter So I was working in the backyard cleaning out 'Sculpty', remember 'Sculpty'? My granddaughters wanted to help, otherwise to see what they could get into to play with and my grandson. I had this idea to create a nail board and place it on top of another lean-to shed with hopes that when a raccoon climbed up the tree and onto the roof of the shed Bam! Gotcha! It worked!!!! 'It' wasn't a happy camper from the shreik I heard. The next day I went over to backyard of the vacant house and cut down what I thought was a tree but was an overgrown vine. Boy, that was work. The 'Keep Out' Encounter From my nights of 'watch duty' I was able to see just where the raccoons were entering and exiting the backyard and after inspecting around the yard I got myself busy closing off even the smallest of openings with staple gun in hand and chicken wire, stone pavers, rocks, flashings, whatever I could find to close off an opening. This was before the nail board encounter. It worked!!! I was awaken by the snarling and growling at the main entry point I believe was used. If I didn't know better I thought one was chewing out another, like 'Didn't you know we couldn't get through here, dumba**?' That's just my take on it. Hahaha. I was trying to figure out just when this raccoon thing actually started. I've been telling people it's been over a year but reading the dates of posts I've written started in March 2022. Did I tell about the mating? I don't remember.
I don't think so. I believe you left off with some little ones playing in the yard at night. Was there another litter?
Oh yeah, there was another litter but I've only seen one. Much smaller than the two playing leap frog that night.
The Mating Encounters For three weeks straight I lost a lot of sleep because they where in crux of the tree which is near my bedroom window. It was awful, nasty sounding. I didn't know what was going on. I couldn't see anything because it was dark 3 or 4 in the morning. After googling I found out that those were sounds of the raccoons mating. Now get this, all the videos that I've watched on Youtube I heard nothing to the extreme of what I heard. Maybe because they were in the tree and it was uncomfortable? I don't know. It wasn't every night but it felt like it. From that point on I was on a mission to keep them out of the tree. You can't even imagine what they sounded like and I will never forget it. Hence the flashing around the tree. I have managed to cut down branches from some of the surrounding trees just one more over the neighbor's garage. Keep your fingers crossed the raccoons don't get that smart.
That sounds creepy, Von. Is that the tree you put the flashing on? Are any of your neighbors having raccoon troubles, too?
That is the tree and creepy is an understatement. Other than seeing them around in the neighborhood no one has had any problems like me. It's probably because of the trees around the back. Trees are raccoons safety net to hide from predators, I read that. Not only that everyone keeps their trash containers in the alley except me. Easy access to get something to eat. If I was sure that a tree wouldn't fall on a wire I would pull out my chainsaw and cut some down myself.
Sorry but if I catch any more raccoons, I put them down. The area is getting so populated, taking them for a ride to an empty area is no longer possible, considering the cost of gas. But I don't eat them because, well, they taste like raccoons.
I'm saying this now before I forget or get angrier. I have been having some good ideas for decorating my backyard but it always come to thinking that those raccoons will tear them up or down and it just makes me so angry.