Ringo's Tale

Some might say I have bats in my belfry, and that is yet to be confirmed.

But I do have critters in the attic.

Or did.

The roof situation made the small portal that the squirrels used big enough for bigger creatures.

Earlier this week, Thing One went into the attic to spread the magic concoction of Critter Ridder and moth balls that seems to keep the squirrels at bay and came face to muzzle with a raccoon. I'm not sure who was more spooked, but the ensuing shriek frightened the poor beast away. (The raccoon that is, not Thing One.) To add insult, when she posted her experience on Facebook, her friends had a 'name the raccoon' contest.

Ringo was the winning entry.

We knew he'd be back.

Fifteen years ago, when we purchased Our Humble Castle, it had been home for three or four years to various wildlife. Sam, our first cat, and Buster, the next cat, dispatched of the smaller rodents efficiently. Traps removed the bigger ones, and Simba, our 130 Black Lab had fun with the mid sized ones. Some sheet metal and nails sealed up the accesses in the eaves.

So we've had this experience before.

I rounded up a trap easily enough, baited it with kitty food, turned off the light and barred the door.

Earlier today M.D.B. sent the following text messages: "we have coonage" and, "hes not happy"

It took three days, but Ringo came back.

I came home and could hear Ringo trying his best to extricate himself from his unfortunate situation. Kelsey D. Puppy was going bonkers trying to figure out the noise from the attic. Pied, the wal-cat (part walrus, part cat) was extremely indifferent about the whole ordeal. He even raised his head as I stepped over him with the trap full of Ringo.

When I brought him outside, Kelsey couldn't figure out what it was, and if it would play with her. After Ringo lunged at her, she decided it would be best to keep her distance. (video below)

I have been told that you should not remove wildlife more than a kilometer or two from where you trap it. Fortunately, within that range in my geography, I have a canal and a wide river. I took Ringo for a pleasant ride to a nice wooded area across the road from a corn crib. When I opened the trap, he propelled himself from it as if he'd been shot from a cannon. I'm not sure if the look he gave me from the tree was, "Thanks for the ride and for getting me away from that dog", or, "You rat b***ard!"

In either case, I have new found, unique knowledge: raccoon urine smells worse than squirrel turds.

DJW

The roofing party is planned for the first week of April.
All the critters have been served eviction notices.