The damn raccoon is back

[Aerows]

I had my gardening shoes outside and the damn thing was smelling them.

He was released 10 miles away 3 months ago, and the damn thing is back smelling my shoes.

[DJ13]

1. He can smell your shoes from 10 miles away?

[Aerows]

3. I didn't know my feet stunk that bad

Little bastard was right in them.

[lunatica]

137. Next time throw your shoes out with him when you take him 10 miles away

Maybe it's been all about your shoes all along.

[VanillaRhapsody]

151. It's those Raccoon skin shoes he wears!

Them's his Grandpappy Rocky!

[lunatica]

152. See? There's nothin odd bout that raccoon at all!

LOL!

[roguevalley]

109. LOL! I thought you were talking about the Guardians of the galaxy. :D

[BillZBubb]

2. Those things are amazing at finding their way back. nt

[BainsBane]

4. How can you tell it's the same one?

[Aerows]

5. It has a grey pattern

and a short tail. I can't believe the little shit came all this way to smell my shoes and get in my business again.

[BainsBane]

6. Wow

He's got a thing for you.

[Aerows]

9. Aren't I lucky.

LOL.

[pinboy3niner]

10. It's Aerows' animal magnetism

She has that effect on everyone.

[Aerows]

11. Oh, don't even

It's gotten bigger, too. How he or she found me again ... ugh. I couldn't believe it.

[BainsBane]

45. Is it possible it's female

and has babies in the area?

[Aerows]

52. What difference would that make?

Why would it try to run off with my shoe?

Why would it keep coming back? I realize I like women and all of that, but this is ridiculous

[BainsBane]

54. LOL. No, if it has a litter there

It would explain why it came back. I don't know about the shoe, unless it wanted it for it's nest. But females with babies with do anything to protect them.

[Aerows]

55. It was taken three months ago

It was near winter. There is no way there was a litter there. Why on earth it showed up again - I had a turtle that kept showing up. The turtle was an endangered species, and I brought it to a pond. This just keeps showing up and already bit me once.

[tblue37]

69. Familiar, comfortable territory. nt

[Aerows]

71. The turtle was beautiful.

It just kept showing up. I let it go by a pond, and I swear, if a turtle could smile, it smiled at me . I know I'm weird and that sounds weird, but it happened.

[BlueStreak]

158. Oh, he was wearing a mask, but he didn't fool me.

[uppityperson]

7. Can you terrorize it? Spray it with water from a hose while banging a metal spoon on a pot?

That's how we got one to leave us alone, but we didn't have the wonderful smelling feet thing going on.

[Aerows]

19. You could have knocked me over with a feather

to see that sucker back. It looked like it wanted to take one of my shoes. God, I didn't know my feet were that fragrant.

[BainsBane]

46. Don't mess with it

Racoons are mean, as you discovered. Call animal control.

[lunasun]

8. ammonia rags ? what do you have in the garden she/ he wants? can you mask the smell of it?

got rid of some with ammonia soaked rags around the area where they passed through last year
They were set on raiding a peach tree all season every night
bold bunch
This year because of the extra cold spring there will be no peaches

[Aerows]

13. I have tomatoes in the garden

and they were eaten and I thought it was a possum. No, it's my old "friend" with the short tail.

[ReRe]

32. Try this:

... sprinkle red pepper all around your tomato bed. That will definitely keep the critters out. If not red pepper seeds, then Tabasco or red devil hot sauce.

[Aerows]

34. I'm growing tabasco peppers

that will light you up. It got into my tomatoes all the same, and my poor cucumbers. It hasn't touched the tabascoes, but it destroyed my bell peppers.

[ReRe]

48. Dayam...

... time to call in the infantry. I wouldn't let NO animal eat my tomatoes and cucumbers! No animal control agency in the area? I know you probably don't want to hurt the little guy. I guess take him along when you go on a long road trip and drop him off along the road in a wilderness. Or spray him with something abhorrent to him, like someone else suggested. Myself... I have a mean-ass huntress cat who sleeps in the bell pepper and tomato patches and waits on them. Good luck.

[Yo_Mama]

114. It likes your garden

Unless you get a big dog, I don't know what you can do except negotiate. Raccoons are smart and determined, and sometimes take real pleasure in outsmarting anti-raccoon devices. As for smelling your shoes - it was probably going "Oh! I see the big lunk is still in my garden!"

I had one that was coming into the porch and tearing up my garbage, so I spoke sternly and reproachfully to it, and went out to clean up the garbage (this was late one night). Then it was peering at me most sadly from the corner of the porch, so I went in and got a piece of meat and left it right at the end of the porch. Since then it has not torn up the garbage.

I do put food scraps out by the woods, mostly in the winter. And if we get in a bad winter spell, I put special food out for the critters. Raccoons, unlike many other types of animals, almost seem to have a social contract in their heads. They also are very territorial, and maybe this one thinks you and it are scrapping over territory. If so, it's Total War.

You can try putting a container of some sort out past one corner of the garden, and leaving a share - a cucumber or two, a fallen tomato or so, some bread with a little peanut butter on it - most nights. Then, watch, and if the critter comes into your garden and tears it up, go out, yell at it, and don't leave the offering the next night.

It's wise to start this before you plant your garden. Often enough, your raccoon will come to know the rules and obey them, and I'm pretty sure that your raccoon will then drive off other raccoons. If your raccoon is female and has kids, it's considered civilized to up the offerings when they are small. Try to put the rac share out at a pretty consistent time after dusk each night. It will be there observing you, and it will realize what you are doing and then feel guilty if it misbehaves and you scold it.

I know it may sound dingbattish, but it has a pretty good chance of working. If the raccoon thinks that you and it are sharing the territory in a cooperative manner, it will act in one way. If it's turf war, it will be a very different matter.

[RKP5637]

117. That's really interesting! Wildlife often relates to humans. I've had birds that know me and

dropped by when they saw me outside. A huge one used to fly up and visit me when by the pool. I never fed him (her?) or anything, he just seemed to like me. The guy across the canal was was a fisherman and used to toss bait scraps off his boat into the canal. Two wild birds resided over there, but one of them took a fancy to me and used to fly over and sit by me. He was huge, so I was cautious, but he (her?) seemed friendly.

Now I have geckos. I had always thought they just run around all over the place, but I've noticed some hang around in the same place. I can recognize some of them ... I think ... because they go to the same place all the time. ... they usually run away, but I swear, some of them come to get to know you. I've had a couple like that, they just stayed by me.

Well, and then a wild rabbit that seemed to adopt us, he lived under the bushes in the front yard, used to come over and sit by us. I never tried to pet him, never fed him, just seemed to like the company. There is a sad part to this, I came out one morning and he was dead on the lawn by the front door by the bushes. He had gotten hit by a car during the night and looked like he tried to make it home. We had a little funeral for him (her?) and buried him by his favorite bushes.

So much wildlife can be fun and very interactive if given a chance. We also had a dove that loved company outdoors ... used to sit for hours by the bird feeder, used to lie in the seed catch tray too. You could walk right up to them and seemed so happy!

[Yo_Mama]

119. Birds are really very smart - the word "birdbrains" is just wrong

Even small species seem to recognize individual humans and change their behavior according to whom they're dealing with. And larger species, such as geese and other waterbirds, are really astonishingly social and do interact with other species.

I would never want to tame a wild animal or bird, but it does fascinate me that even wild ones are so very likely to adapt to us. Sometimes it does seem to be curiosity. Sometimes we are useful.

There was a wren that I was watching around the house in the NE, because it was a wren that didn't seem to belong here. Most mornings I go out on the porch here really early and sit with my coffee and just watch the action. Eventually I figured out that this wren just had to be a hybrid between a species that is supposed to have its range limit several hundred miles away and the local species.

We first got acquainted because it would fly into the porch and look for insects, and it was getting cranky if I was there when it wanted to work the place. So it would squawp at me very indignantly and then scold. Well, I talked back to it. Wrens seem to have an astonishingly broad vocal range. Eventually we worked out kind of a dialogue, and then it accommodated to my presence and would fly in and work the perimeters of the porch while I was there with my coffee watching the other birds, rabbits, fox, groundhogs, squirrels, deer and so forth. It's an active location, which is one reason it's so fun to be out there.

The next year we had a series of bad storms in the spring, and in very late spring Wren appeared again with a normal-looking wren whom I will call Spouse, and they started building a nest in the porch. It was close to the interior roof and in the middle of the porch, built on a rack on the interior wall about a foot from the house door leading into the porch. I always sit on a stool right next to the door, so this nest would literally be about two feet above my head.

Well, Spouse did not like me being there at all. Spouse would have hysterics when she would want to come in with nest stuff and find me there. So it got noisy for a while, and eventually Spouse would just fly into the dogwood that's right outside the porch on one side and make an irritated announcement to tell me not to be too long about it. Wren would just fly in and hop around waiting for me to go so it could fly into the Top-Secret nest location right above my head. And we would chatter to each other pretty companionably. I tried to move the stool to a less obstructive location in the porch, but Wren did not like it. Wren would fly in and dance around it and holler. So after two days I moved it back to the original location, at which Wren calmed down.

They had gotten the nest about half done when another huge vicious storm with really high winds hit unexpectedly. I remember looking out there thinking "I hope the wrens made it in okay."

The next morning I went out to survey the havoc (there were tree branches down all over) with my coffee, and discovered Wren sort of huddled on the porch floor. Wren looked stunned, and when I whistled to Wren no reply. I was greatly distressed and I thought I heard Spouse sort of calling to Wren from the dogwood with this strange sort of cheeping, so I immediately went inside. Well, I watched, and poor Wren stayed just sitting there. By afternoon Wren was hopping around a little, but not much, and Spouse was outside on that side of the porch calling and hopping around in a frenzy.

I took out a very shallow bowl of water and some tiny fragments of hamburger and noodle, and then I scouted around and found a couple of insects and dumped those right outside the porch. I didn't think there was much hope. That night I shut the sliding doors almost totally (leaving a wren-sized slit) so nothing could get Wren on the floor, and when I went out in the morning Wren was moving around more. I opened up the doors and that afternoon when I came back Wren was gone.

Well, in a couple of days they were both back in action building the nest. But now when Wren would fly in, if I were there, Wren would hop around the floor and chatter quite a bit to me. Spouse still didn't like me, but would fly in past my head. About a week and a half later they stopped the frenzied flying in and out with building material, so I figured eggs. Wren took to sitting right by me in the morning (there's a chair right next to the stool) and chattering. I mean, LIKE SIX INCHES FROM ME. And talk? It was this whole huge discussion. I bet I heard every bit of hot wren gossip on the whole East Coast.

Then the eggs hatched, and I thought I'd leave them in peace. The first morning I didn't go out there wren flew up on the screen door leading into the porch and hopped all up and down it calling and hollering. I thought Wren just wanted to know where I was, so I took my coffee to the chair next to the door and did the whole whistle recognition call thing, but Wren would not get off the screen until I went out there.

So now I was drinking coffee with two wrens flying into a nest just a couple feet away from my head. They were pretty busy of course, but Wren would pause for a bit to talk to me.

About a week later I heard a whole lot of bird squawk, and I went out in the afternoon to the porch to see what the matter was. It had been getting noisier the last few days, and I had heard other wrens in the dogwood. I figured they might be the first family, which often helps to raise the second family..

I sat out there for a bit, Wren was flying through the porch and around giving alarm calls, and then I saw a feral cat hunkered down in the vines on a steep slope about ten feet from the porch door. Light dawned. After thinking about it for a minute, I got up and headed slowly toward the cat. The cat hunkered down, thinking that Dumbass couldn't see it under the vines (it's a real thicket).

About four feet away from the porch, I heard this large flutter of wings and and explosion of wren hollering, and I glanced up. Wren was zooming around my head, Spouse was bringing up the rear, and there were at least four other wrens rounding the corner of the porch from the other side where the dogwood was. The large flightless emu-like creature and the Wren Defense Squad continued toward the cat, who got the oddest look on its face and finally burst from cover and fled when the collective defense forces (ground and air) were about four feet from its hiding place. Pursued, mind you, by a zooming screaming air-squad of righteous wren fury, and the strangest looking bird ever seen by feline eyes.

No matter how much I think about it, I can't interpret the whole sequence as not having been planned by Wren from the first. That's why Wren got so upset when I moved the stool. Wren's carefully planned nest defense fortifications were being disrupted. This makes me contemplate my own native hideousness - I must be a sort of emu-gargoyle in the eyes of a wren.

[Aerows]

122. A wren crouded up on the porch and hatched her eggs.

She landed on my shoulder the day that she and her brood left. I left her peanut butter while she was sitting on her eggs.

I had a heater on the back porch and she literally took over it. Phenomenally intelligent bird. She would just sit on her eggs and look at me. Obviously, I never made an aggressive move toward her.

[Yo_Mama]

164. Tiny little very bright birds, as you say.

There is something about some contact with the natural world that just changes the entire perspective.

Being gnawed on by raccoons and having your garden eaten out doesn't have the same effect.

[F4lconF16]

128. I really enjoyed reading that.

Thank you for sharing

[RKP5637]

129. Here is a picture of the wild bird that decided we were best friends.

Sadly, I had to move on.

[Aerows]

153. Little bird that lived on my porch.

[ErikJ]

157. Looks like my Bewick's Wren living on my porch

[Aerows]

159. They are sweet as pie

have a nice voice, and are lovely.

[ErikJ]

161. Yes, it nested and hatched 5 chicks! They all flew the coop

about a week ago. She and partner? built nest in a small box high up on a shelf on my back porch. I looked in there one day and saw 5 eggs then thought she had abandoned them cuz of me going into garage frequently.
But she stayed and had 5 chicks which I photographed one day. Parents were flying in with bugs every few minutes for a few weeks. Now theyre all gone. Audubon Society told me they are a rare native species so I was lucky. Great experience.

[Yo_Mama]

165. Wren appeared to be a cross between a Carolina and a Bewick's

Spouse was a Carolina.

[RKP5637]

169. Cute!!!! n/t

[Aerows]

154. That's no wren

it's a beach bird. I don't know which one yet, but it's toes are long.

[RKP5637]

168. Yes, definitely not a wren, lol, stood about 18" high. n/t

Last edited Sat Jul 19, 2014, 09:12 AM - Edit history (1)

[Yo_Mama]

166. How large and where?

The shape looks like a sandpiper or a heron/egret type, which matches feathers better.

Maybe a Night Heron?

[RKP5637]

167. South Florida, stood about 18" high. ... was beautifully groomed. Also had

a long tassel down its back from the top of its head ... Yes, something like a egret just looking a photos on Google like I posted below ... The tassel was similar, but much thinner, practically laid on its back. It was beautiful, the color contrast was so sharp.

He used to see me and would swoop down right at me, first time out back I was scared, but he did not seem threatening, so I stayed put and he landed on the table right next to me. Then, that was the pattern from then on. I saw him coming ... looked like a plane landing headed right at me.

One day I was out front working on the car, I had no idea he had been on the roof watching me for a long time, then he swooped down at me, I almost broke my head on the hood when I jumped. That, was my first encounter with him up close. From then on it became a pattern of behavior. He just liked to sit around with me. I never fed him or anything ... he had lots of feeding sources.

[RKP5637]

170. This is beautiful! Thanks for writing and posting it!!!

[Sunlei]

12. someones feeding it. this time take it 200 miles away

[Aerows]

15. I think it ate in the garden

I was thinking it was possums, but the cat regularly kills them. Sigh. Maybe it will feast on some of my hot peppers, because they just about bring tears to my eyes, and I LOVE hot peppers.

[Sunlei]

23. set out a night cam? really though I would not have one around that has no fear of humans.

someones hand feeding it, way to bold to come up to you like it does.

[pinboy3niner]

16. And dump it along with a bunch of shoes from the Goodwill store

Maybe it will develop a fetish for someone else to stalk.

[steve2470]

96. yep I agree with the 200 miles nt

[pinboy3niner]

103. I recommend one too many mornings and a thousand miles

A Dylan song, but here's a cover...

[steve2470]

105. hm never heard that song !

On his 1000 mile journey hitchhiking lol

[roamer65]

14. Trick or treat...

Smell my feet...give me something good to eat.

Apology, I just couldn't resist.

[Renew Deal]

17. This belongs in the guns group.

Just kidding. How do you know it's the same one?

[Aerows]

20. It has a distinctive grey pattern

and a tail that is partially amputated (I didn't do it, I just recognize it).

[aikoaiko]

30. Its time for Aerows to get practicing.

[IMG][/IMG]

[Aerows]

33. I do have a bow

I hate killing things, but this particular thing is pissing me right off. Eating my tomatoes, damn.

[aikoaiko]

41. You must defend your tomatoes.

[PearliePoo2]

102. No...NO..not a bow. Messy and not precise, nor quick.

If you decide to trap the bastard again and you don't want to give him a 5 minute underwater swimming lesson, then you shoot him. On most live traps, on the top, there is a square opening that is a little bigger than the rest of the mesh. There's a purpose for that larger square...the barrel of a .22 fits in there nicely. He will attack the barrel and bite it with his teeth. When he attacks the barrel and gets it in his mouth, squeeze the trigger. Instant fatal head shot.
This is what my neighbor always does.
Just remember the nightmare you went through and do you want to go through it again?
Given the chance, he will try to bite you again..guaranteed.
The longer you wait, the more emboldened he will become and once more, you, your cat and your guests are HIS prisoners in YOUR own house.

[Aerows]

126. I didn't know that about traps

But yeah, mine has a hole like that.

I'm sorry if I seem like an asshole, but I don't want my cat getting eaten up, and I already went through an $18,000 painful rabies vaccination. Judge me after you have endured it, your plants are getting eaten and the damn thing is back again.

Judge me.

[dem in texas]

18. they are very destructive, they tore holes in our roof and several others in my neighborhood.

I had a large male raccoon who would perch on my window sill and look in at me sitting at my kitchen table at night. We got a live animal trap and caught him. We took him out to a state park and let him go, it was about 20 miles away.

We have woods all around us , so I know we still have a few that stop by, we have water out for the cats on the porch and sometimes it is very dirty, like the raccoons are washing things in it.

[Renew Deal]

21. Racoons will go for a dip in clean water

I've had them eat through garbage can lids.

[Aerows]

22. Dad trapped this guy and took him 10 miles east.

and he's freaking back again. And bigger.

[Jenoch]

26. Try putting mothballs throughout your garden and on your porch.

Buy a can of wasp spray (the kind that shoots a stream out to qbout 20') and spray him with that. You don't need to hit him in the face, a body shot will send him running and unlikely to return.

By the way, a shot of wasp spray to the face of an armed intruder will send them running away as well.

[Aerows]

25. They certainly love to wash things

I wish it would leave me the hell alone. I know now that was what was eating my tomatoes.

[pinboy3niner]

24. So what did you name him?

Sorry, couldn't resist...as usual.

[Aerows]

27. Clip

I have no idea what gnawed off part of his or her tail, but I can see it. Why me?

[d_b]

28. hahahahaha

oh that's funny

[Archae]

29. My parents had the same problem, after the 2nd return, my Dad shot the raccoon.

Raccoons can be notorious for carrying rabies and for destroying property.

[Aerows]

31. I'm highly familiar with going through the rabies vaccination

It hurt like a bitch and cost 18,000. Yes, I am very familiar with that whole situation.

[Drahthaardogs]

43. Pepper mace it.

If it comes back after that, I dont mean to sound cruel but then lethal control time. Your raccoon problem is dangerous.

[valerief]

35. I'll bet a pet alligator would scare it off. nt

[Aerows]

39. I need a big dog

My cat regularly drags home opossums, but this dude is too big for even her.

[PearliePoo2]

87. Big dog? That's asking for heartbreak too!

My neighbors full size Collie (think Lassie) tried to run off a raccoon that was destroying their garden and trashing their fruit trees. The raccoon tore him to pieces and the vet had to do 200 stitches. It was brutal and oh so expensive. It tore into their cat too. Raccoons will easily kill a cat. They are fucking terrorists. Do a Google search if you can stomach the results of raccoons on barn cats. Warning: the cat's heads were chewed off.
When a marauding band of raccoons cornered my little Border Collie under the house and I heard her screaming in fear, that was enough for me. I got a live trap, baited it with cat food and each one I caught got a swimming test off the dock on my pond, trap and all. Body went on a bone pile in the field where the eagles feasted. (A 50 gallon drum of water also works if you don't have a pond)
No matter how far you take them, they WILL come back..or others will move in...and they will bring their babies and friends. Count on it.
There is only one proven, foolproof method.
It was difficult for me at first, but all I had to do was re-live the cries and screams from my little dog to harden my spine. Do it.

[Aerows]

89. My baby comes in at night

I adore my cat. I've posted pictures of her here, she is lovely. She dragged home a possum. I don't think she could take this raccoon, for a minute.

[RKP5637]

132. Please be careful your kitty as we know you will be (and yourself too)! I love cats! n/t

[Aerows]

134. She is piled up in her chair on her blanket

as we speak. It's the chair she took over, and this stupid pink blanket she loves.

[RKP5637]

141. I found out this afternoon I have armadillos that wander in the yard at night! Nothing

to be concerned about as far as I know, I think armadillos are nice to have around. I wondered what rooted around in the wood chips of my garden sometimes. I thought is was dogs playing, but my neighbor told me about the armadillo that lives here. No, I don't want a pet raccoon!

[Aerows]

148. I WISH for possums

The Virginia Opossum is the only NA marsupial, and it's body temperature is so low that it cannot contract rabies. It also eats ticks that carry Lyme disease. It's absolutely the ugliest creature on earth, but it is benevolent, too.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_opossum

I'd take a thousand of them over a raccoon.

[Orrex]

36. Old man Johnson had troubles all his own.

[Orrex]

37. How can you tell it's the same one?

Isn't he wearing a mask?

[Aerows]

40. He has a distinctive grey pattern

and a partially amputated tail.

[Orrex]

42. That's a pessimist's attitude.

Think of it as a partially not-amputated tail.

And call animal control!

[hunter]

38. Yep, they do that.

Sort of like the cat in the classic short film...

[pinboy3niner]

44. Facebook is following this closely...

Top-trending Facebook cover:

[Aerows]

49. I love nature

I really do. But not this part of it. The SOB ate my tomatoes.

[Skip Intro]

47. Don't terrorize it. It thinks it's home. You should feed it.

Maybe sit by the door and read a story to it as it eats, or possibly sing to it - a much better option, because you can also dance around in the doorway as you sing, and give the little critter a show - a dinner show and he might even freak you out and clap at the end - they do that sometimes.

Lol, sorry, I couldn't stop myself.

Seriously though, I have some cats that feed at my back door and they're only out there for like an hour and then they move on until the next night. Does this one hang out at your place or just stay for a few while out on its rounds?

[Aerows]

50. It was TRAPPED and brought 10 miles away

and the little bastard came BACK three months later, helped himself to my garden, and tried to run off with one of my shoes.

[pinboy3niner]

57. LOL!

It's all 'Kumbaya'...until Aerows ends up in the hospital again.

By this time, maybe Aerows should be thinking about making a nice hat...

[Go Vols]

51. Its prolly a male,

and you wont get rid of it unless you kill it or live trap it and take it further.A sow coon would still have little ones following it this time of year.
I had a sow coon a few years back that would come up at night with her little ones and would come in an open back door and eat cat food,she never came in,but the little ones did.I would just sit and watch them.

[Aerows]

53. They are dangerous

Do NOT feed them. They seem sweet, but they are nothing to play with.

[Go Vols]

56. I had a few pet coons

as a kid.They are cool till they get about a year old and nothing like a possum.You can grab a possum by the tail and deal with it,a coon will eat you up if you get close enough to grab it if its over a couple months old.

[Shrike47]

58. We remember what you went through before. This must be kinda scary.

[RKP5637]

59. Be careful, don't get bitten again. I know you will be, but just mentioning it. n/t

[Aerows]

62. I can't believe the thing came back

At least the freaking turtle would go to a pond. I brought that thing back twice. I knew which one it was because I marked it's shell.

This isn't a small turtle, though, this is dangerous.

[RebelOne]

143. Yes, please be careful.

We have had numerous reports of rabid raccoons and foxes here in North Georgia.

[grasswire]

60. DOG

Yes, get a dog now. One that has had its rabies vaccination.

Big enough to be useful.

[Aerows]

64. I do indeed.

I'm fed up with raccoons.

[easychoice]

61. 10 miles is a nights walk to a grown 'coon

Once they find their happy place good luck,they eat cats,rats,possums,dogs and produce.They are indiscriminately destructive to property too.You ought to see the helluva mess they can make in a hay loft.

Trap it and dump it by a river about 100 miles away.
It is that or make a hat and some stew.
Sorry,I am an old farm boy and that's just how it is...

[JohLast]

63. Give it your shoes, just dont hurt it.

[Aerows]

65. It has already hurt me

I won't think of hurting it, but it is back again.

[suffragette]

66. Ok, I couldn't help but think of this film

http://m.

[tblue37]

67. How can you be sure. They all look pretty much the same, don't they?

Actually, though, you are probably right. He is from the area and probably has a homing sense for his familiar territory. (But I couldn't resist saying it.)

[Aerows]

72. His tail is amputated

I would recognize him anywhere.

I wish I didn't. I don't know why he has to come back to me.

[winter is coming]

68. It took 3 months to find its way back?

It must be hell, trying to hitchhike when you're a raccoon.

[steve2470]

99. yep this little guy knows !

[Go Vols]

70. :)

[Aerows]

73. They look cute

but they are wild. I learned that the hard way.

[Archae]

74. If it steals your car and then flies an airplane or a fighter, you're in really big trouble.

[Aerows]

77. It isn't Frodo

It's just annoying. And dangerous.

[pinboy3niner]

75. Next time, have your Dad drop him off at a thrift store shoe bin

He odor forget about you in no time.

[Aerows]

79. I truly don't get why

the little idiot is that attached to me. Hell, I've lost weight recently, he practically weighs more than I do.

[flvegan]

76. Like others here, I think you should just shoot it. Yeah, damn the ignorance full stop.

I mean seriously, the damn thing is smelling your shoes.

Fucking blast it. Obviously, the superior species should not be inconvenienced. Just because half of the assholes in the free world need a GPS to find a Starbucks within 600 feet means nothing in the face of some animal smelling shoes after a 10 mile journey based only on wits.

Yes, I'm mocking the majority of you. LOL.

[Aerows]

78. You have to be kidding

or you are just being yourself.

That's my tame response .

[flvegan]

80. Sorry, did I miss some GD worthy meme lately?

My vast apologies if I missed it and this is a follow up to that topic.

Tame response. LOL, yeah I was worried.

[Aerows]

83. I'm trying to be a kinder, gentler

person, flvegan. If that shocked you, I do hope you will get over it. .

[herding cats]

81. Maybe it's time to take him in for his shots?

A little tit for tat as the case my be. A series of animal vaccinations may be just the thing to teach him a lesson. If nothing else it may at least tick him off enough he decides to leave you alone finally.

[Aerows]

133. Wild animal

Do not mess with WILD animals.

[herding cats]

140. It was meant as humor

I was joking with you. Thus the tit for tat, in reference to your having to endure the rabies shots previously, and it would be fitting to force them on the beast. We had discussed your having to go through that back when you posted about it originally. It seemed a fitting joke in context of that conversation.

[Aerows]

156. I apologize for being angry, or appearing as such

I just think, not this again .

[herding cats]

160. No harm done

I just didn't want you to misunderstand what I said, so I provided some context. I'm not a power poster so there's no reason for you to remember our conversation!

[LeftyMom]

82. This is the weirdest performance art ever. nt

[Aerows]

84. Nope

I know you were mad as hell about me and the raccoon, but it's the damn truth. I wish it was fiction.

I can post pictures of the raccoon in the trap, my hand, or whatever you wish, my friend, but unfortunately, it isn't a performance.

[LeftyMom]

85. Bemused, really.

Perhaps slightly annoyed that the story isn't building to a point.

[Aerows]

86. There really isn't a point

unless you can find one. It just sucks. If you can find a point to this whole ordeal, you are doing better than I am.

[Ellipsis]

88. wild... a foot fetish raccoon...

...perhaps it's time to consider more serious measures.

[MannyGoldstein]

90. Send it forth

[joshcryer]

91. Time for a pellet gun.

[MannyGoldstein]

94. Or firecrackers.

Or a radio-controlled robot. I've been thinking about getting one to deal with our local garbage-grabbin' raccoon. Getting chased by an RC robot would probably scare the %^*# out of it, and make for fine entertainment for us.

[joshcryer]

97. I'd pop that critter and make a coonskin cap of it.

Did this a lot as a kid. They are the biggest carriers of rabies, it's actively encouraged (no pelt limit) in many states.

[pinboy3niner]

104. Thankee, Davy

[joshcryer]

106. King of the Wild Frontier!

[pinboy3niner]

107. Don't laugh, but I had the whole Crockett getup as a kid

Including coonskin cap and fringed faux-buckskin shirt with Fess Parker's image as Davy on one breast. There's a family pic of my brother and me in those outfits, and I've been tempted to get it from my nephew and post it here when there's been a nostalgia thread and Crockett came up. I probably should get it so I can give you guys a real hoot next time.

[joshcryer]

112. I remember!

You mentioned it once before!

Was meaning to ask you if you still had it!

I long since had to throw mine away because they got mildew from being in basement storage for too long. I had a whole box of 'em. We'd take them to the Crab Orchard Museum and sell them during the Jefferson Civil War Reenactment weekend. Made big bucks for a kid! Always sold out! (We could only make about 20 a year, which sold for about $15-25 depending on the pelt.)

Also, it seems I brought up killing racoons to Aerows before, I hope they don't think I'm crazy! That's rural livin'! No hard feelings to the critters. Just joshing for the most part. (But seriously, I want a nice coonskin cap with silk lining and cotton stuffing like my mom used to make.)

BTW, my brother used to work at Crab Orchid and was "allowed" to be in the reenactments (much was known about the number of troops on either side and the tactics used). I was allowed to "play" one year but they made me a confederate! It really boiled me over, and my gun jammed early on (they used fake ammo but mine never went off). Darn Union killed me, first on the field. My brother was a Union guy and pretended to fall out of a window when he went down, it caused the crowd to cheer. I'll never forget that. A Don Knotts "lookalike" attended that year, and he gave out "fake autographs." Toward the end of the weekend though it turned out it was the real Don Knotts! So I met him in person. Fun damn times... still have that autographed picture somewhere, not sure why he pretended to be a "lookalike." I think he got a kick out of it.

Here's a good video of how it looked:

It's nothing like modern warfare, so I think that's why these reenactments are sort of not frowned upon. It's more like chess than it is modern death and destruction. I feel bad now knowing the stuff you endured, having, as a teen "play fought" in those "battles." It's different. I don't know. Now I'm wondering why we do it, actually. It's still war. Damn. Best wishes my friend.

[spin]

149. Or a paintball gun. (n/t)

[Boudica the Lyoness]

92. Now he's got a taste of you he'll never leave you in peace.

Might as well give up and let him finish you off.

[Aerows]

93. Well that is advice I won't be taking n/t

[Boudica the Lyoness]

98. Maybe you don't have a choice.

I'd take him.

[steve2470]

95. maybe you tried this already: a racoon trap ?

My dad used to trap and transport raccoons outside the city limits from our backyard.

eta: Ok, I see it was trapped. Maybe take it even farther away ?

[A-Schwarzenegger]

100. pics?

[Contrary1]

101. I feel that a famous quote is required for your situation:

“If you love something, set it free. If it comes back, it was, and always will be yours. If it never returns, it was never yours to begin with.”

And, there you go. This was meant to be.

Put out more tomato plants next year.

[TDale313]

110. Persistent little shit.

Sorry to hear he showed back up. It seems you have a stalker- with a shoe fettish no less.

Not that you need to be told, but be careful.

[justiceischeap]

111. If you get the opportunity, you need to watch the documentary "Raccoon Nation"

it's a fascinating look into the lives of raccoons and how they're populations have expanded worldwide. However, it also goes into their habitat and that the same raccoons will inhabit a particular area. So yeah, even though you took him 10 miles away, he just made his way back to his natural habitat--or what he considers to be his home.

One of the things I learned from this documentary is that raccoons are really, really smart and will pretty much adapt to obstacles in their paths--basically, our desire to outsmart them, actually makes them smarter. I suspect they will one day rule the world.

We have tons of raccoons in our neck of the suburbs, some so brazen they'll walk right up to you or try to come in through your doors like they own the place. We've learned to give them their space and not put trash out the night before the trash comes.

[TorchTheWitch]

113. Get thee some predator pee

Guaranteed to make icky critters go elsewhere.

For racoons it looks like you need coyote pee...

http://www.predatorpee.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=LE&Category_Code=COON

StinkyTheClown tried cougar pee to deal with his fox problem, and he said it worked. My neighbor uses wolf pee around his house to keep away varios rodent type critters. Unfortunately, they've come to the homes of those of us that don't use the pee. This year when it gets cold and if I have the money I'm dealing with the mice with whatever critter pee keeps them away. I tried every trap imaginable last year and they defied them all.

[Gothmog]

115. Be careful

[Codeine]

116. So, why is he a problem?

I missed the old thread. Responses here indicate he bit you, so obviously stay away from him.

There are ways to protect your garden veggies if that's the issue. If he's just nosing around then smile and enjoy the show -- our neighborhood has a ton of raccoons and skunks wandering about and nobody gets up in arms about it.

[Aerows]

144. $18,000 in rabies series vaccine

and hospital bills. I won't go into the pain.

[Rex]

118. Could be worse...could be this guy.

His little fella doesn't bite...he shoots you with an RPG and then steals your car!

[iloveObama12]

120. Just Dance With Him

[steve2470]

121. wow what a fat and tame raccoon ! nt

[RKP5637]

138. WOW!!!

[NaturalHigh]

123. My grandparents used to release them a few miles from home.

My grandmother swears the racoons beat them home.

[DirkGently]

124. Oh no! Your attacker has returned?

Not cool, Raccoon.

[Aerows]

125. Damn thing tried to run off with one of my shoes, this time

And I like those shoes.

[liberal N proud]

127. I have been fighting a whole family all summer.

I went out one night and they were in the garden. Most of them went over the fence, one stuck around trying to blend in with the fence. I grabbed a steel rod I had by the garden and started to prod the racoon, he slowly claimed the fence to the top of the post where he turned and started to hiss at me. I finally just pushed him off the post. I didn't see him for a week, but then he returned and has nearly every night since.

Don't know what else to do.

We put out mothballs, didn't work.
Nailed flashing along the fence in an angle it didn't even slow them down.

They like tabasco sauce.

[TorchTheWitch]

163. predator pee - seriously

Coyote pee keeps racoons away...

http://www.predatorpee.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=LE&Category_Code=COON

[Bluegene]

130. You know what they hate?

Citrus oil. We put orange oil around our cat door and they quit coming in the house. Orange oil on your shoes will save them.

[Aerows]

136. I'll try it

I'll try anything

[malaise]

131. Are you freaking serious?

How scary is that? Take care sis

[Aerows]

135. I don't know how to get rid of the damn thing

It's in my garden, was sniffing my shoes, and what on earth will get rid of this masked butthead that is driving me crazy??

[malaise]

139. I have never seen a raccoon in real life

Seek help

[msanthrope]

142. Shoot it. nt

[Savannahmann]

145. You know, there might be more than one raccoon.

I mention that because, as hard as it may be to believe, there may be a second raccoon in the area.

I have a cat that loves to be outside, and detests being brought in. Severe weather etc I have to bring her in, but otherwise I feed her outside. I have a game camera I use to check the food bowl. Specifically, who is eating there. Every once in a while, the neighbors ancient dog will walk the two hundred yards from his house and nibble at the cat food. Then he heads home at his top speed, mosey, where he sleeps his trip off for a few days.

I've caught two raccoons on my camera before. I've caught a possum and a raccoon on the camera in the same picture. So I have a trap, which I bait, and when one gets caught, I transport it to the river and turn it loose. Traps are a little expensive depending on your budget, but here is the one I use. http://www.amazon.com/Havahart-1079-Professional-Style-One-Door-Groundhog/dp/B00004RAMT/ref=sr_1_2?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1405736395&sr=1-2

A little cat food in the trap end, and the critters just walk in. Then I carry them to the pick up and away they go.

I doubt that the Raccoon you are seeing is the same one, but the answer remains the same. Trap it and carry it away to the wild.

BTW, I wouldn't carry it inside a car or van, but in the bed of a pick up truck. If you don't have one, ask a friend who does to carry the damned thing off for you. Perhaps give him something from your garden in payment.

[Aerows]

146. It has a partially amputated tail

and a particular gray pattern that is extremely recognizable.

[Savannahmann]

155. Then yes, it may well be the same one.

Which is very unusual to say the least.

I won't write what may be your only option then. I will say good luck.

[Bigmack]

147. Electric fence charger....

Get a cheap electric fence charger and set it up with a good ground.

Run the wire around the perimeter of what you're trying to protect.

Tie bacon on the wire about every 10 feet. Don't let the bacon touch the ground.

Plug in the fence charger.

[Aerows]

150. That sounds like a good idea

Shock the crap out of it. What fence charger do you recommend? Or will any of them work?

[Bigmack]

162. Cheapest one around...

Make sure the hotwire is insulated - on insulated posts that is - and place the wire about a foot off the ground. Works on coyotes and neighborhood dogs, too.

It sounds cruel, but it's certainly better than killing them. It only hurts for a second, but it really educates them. An animal educated to stay away from people always lives longer.

Works on deer, too. Soak rags in apple juice and put it on the wire.

[Aerows]

172. It has been months, he was trapped

and set free in a place where there is crawfish, berries and delicious things only a raccoon could love long ago

[trusty elf]

173. Send him to Wasilla.

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