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DMiller 
Orange Level Access
Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Hermann, Mo
Points: 33716
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 Topic: Critters
Posted: 25 Jul 2025 at 1:44am |
Sumpin Weird going on. For the last couple years have had Coons on the House Deck(three at One Time, Momma and two cubs), Skunks attempting to nest under the walk to the Front Porch, TWICE now. Then yesterday as was washing hands for dinner look out front window, a Ground Hog sitting just feet off the front walk, acting as if Owned the Place, munching on sumpin staring out across the lawn and as opened front door startled it, arched its back, high pitch growl and darted back to a burrow, AGAIN, Under the Front Walk. Will be excised and forced out tonight when have plenty of 'Deal With' time of the weekend.
Why Now? Why after home has been here for several years have these decided 'Nice Place to take Residence'?
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Hubert (Ga)engine7
Orange Level
Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Jackson Cnty,GA
Points: 6450
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Posted: 25 Jul 2025 at 7:07am |
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Becoming more accustomed to people being around and therefore less cautious of being closer plus fewer predators close to the house.
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Just an old country boy saved by the grace of God.
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DaveKamp
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Joined: 12 Apr 2010
Location: LeClaire, Ia
Points: 6052
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Posted: 25 Jul 2025 at 10:34pm |
They're moving in because they smell the history of OTHER burrowing wildlife in that area. EVERYTHING leaves a scent... Mice and rats leave a trail of urine that other rats and mice follow... so raccoons, skunks, oppossums, and groundhogs are no different. They even know the cent of humanity, and follow it to find our refuse containers, garden plots, and fruit trees. A raccoon knows the scent of sweetcorn, and will follow it in for miles in any direction to hit your rows.
Groundhogs... only out in the middle of the day, when sunshine is directly overhead. Y'know the 'Groundhog sees his shadow' bit? There's actually a little bit of reality to this- groundhogs' eyesight is very poor at distances, and their primary predators are either fast-moving, very large coyotes, or raptors- avian predators... eagles, hawks, owls...
They hear and feel coyotes and other ground-running predators, but their only warning of birds of prey are the shadows coming towards them... so they avoid times of day when it's very overcast, or their shadow is far to the side.
canteloupe... a couple pieces in the yard, and one in a live trap, but tie it in with wire, all the way back... they'll usually follow them right in. IF you have a good vantagepoint from inside, however, a zap from 22mag is a good choice.
Edited by DaveKamp - 25 Jul 2025 at 10:36pm
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Ten Amendments, Ten Commandments, and one Golden Rule solve most every problem. Citrus hand-cleaner with Pumice does the rest.
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steve(ill)
Orange Level Access
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
Points: 87242
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Posted: 25 Jul 2025 at 10:40pm |
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i spray the yard for BUGS and WEEDS twice a year.... Killing all the BUGS gets rid of the food for moles and others... Snakes dont like the weed killer on their belly.... Coons only come around if there is dog or cat food out to eat..... 22 takes care of them..Never seen a skunk around here... ground hogs normally stay few hundred feet from civilization / house.
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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DMiller
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Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Hermann, Mo
Points: 33716
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Posted: Yesterday at 4:05am |
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Bought Two CTL traps, already baited and waiting. .22 with hollow points is awaiting the final journey send offs.
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Pat the Plumber CIL
Orange Level
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Springfield,Il
Points: 4916
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Posted: 19 hours 51 minutes ago at 8:27am |
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Something was taking the black plastic bait boxes that I put mouse,rodent poison in . I started weighing them down with large rocks chains, large pieces of wood. Still would pull them loose and drag down in the woods 50 60 yards from the house. Set out a #2 leg trap to see what was causing. Large ground hog . 22 buckmark did the job .
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You only need to know 3 things to be a plumber;Crap rolls down hill,Hot is on the left and Don't bite your fingernails
1964 D-17 SIV 3 Pt.WF,1964 D-15 Ser II 3pt.WF ,1960 D-17 SI NF,1956 WD 45 WF.
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Coke-in-MN
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Afton MN
Points: 41950
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Posted: 11 hours 42 minutes ago at 4:36pm |
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MICE - overran with them around house and over the winter inside , put out mouse blocks and have went through 8 pound bucket in a week . Took 2 pound plastic coffee cans and ran 2 pole barn spikes up through bottom to set blocks onto inside and pup pea gravel into them to weigh them down - 4 blocks in 2 days in each of 3 of those I have out . Drilled 7/8" hole in 3 spots in sides of plastic .
Seems bird feeders have drawn them into back yard so either feeders for birds go or have to find another solution .
Was watching you tube where they say jiffy corn bread mix mixed 1 part mix and 2 parts baking soda will do them in - NEXT to try as the dang mouse blocks (TOM KAT) are expensive for snack food for mice .
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Faith isn't a jump in the dark. It is a walk in the light. Faith is not guessing; it is knowing something.
"Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."
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Clay
Orange Level
Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: Udall, Kansas
Points: 9817
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Posted: 11 hours 7 minutes ago at 5:11pm |
Here at the "Story Cat Ranch and Home for Wayward Cows, we have no rodent problems. Just enough cat food to keep the cats around but not too much. A hungry cat will earn its keep. I tell my cats....If I find evidence of mice or rats in the barns or around the grain bins, they WILL BE REPLACED. So far, the cats understand their job description.
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