I've been hearing animals (not cats) in the room next to my bedroom since early July. The room where I feed the cats is connected. I suspected that it was raccoon in the house, but didn't investigate. It's always after I go to bed. (Side note - I didn't realize that raccoon is a plural!)
Last week I hardly slept ...
Monday night (late) - woke to sound of breaking glass? Got up, turned on lights, found 2 broken ceramic dishes by the fridge, and 2 raccoon by the cat food. Opened a door and they went out.
Tuesday - woke up to a front room that looked like animals had been chasing each other across the top of the furniture.
Wednesday night (late) - woke to noises in the dining room (middle of house/bedroom at back). Got up, turned on lights, found 2 large and 1 smaller raccoon in the dining room. One large one got up on his back legs and hissed at me!
Friday night (late) - heard them but didn't get up.
Sunday - borrowed a box trap from a friend. Baited it with old cat food.
Monday morning - Caught my cat, Stoney.
Monday night - baited it with apple/peanut-butter
Tuesday morning - Caught an opossum. It died in the trap before the Elders could come by to help. They stopped by about 9 p just as it started to rain. They were able to get the body out of the trap and into a trash bag. I heard the shout, "Don't be such a girl!", at one point in the transfer :) The trap was baited with the other half of Monday's apple/no pb.
Wednesday morning - no catch. Holly heard that they like strawberry jelly. I went to the store and bought strawberry preserves. Baited the trap with 2 'fold-over' pb & strawberry preserves sammies.
Thursday morning - Raccoon in trap. "Floyd's Raccoon Removal" stopped by to take him to freedom. I went to Coshocton and had dinner/movie with a friend. She took me to Rural King and picked up 2 traps (1 large/1 mid) for $25 on a tip from Dr. Wahl :)
Cut this bouquet to take to Alex. Got back too late to set the trap.
HAVEN'T HAD RACCOON IN THE HOUSE ALL WEEK!!! YEA!!!
Friday night - Trimmed the cone flowers. Baited the trap w/pb & strawberry sammies again.
Crusty is such the diva!
Planted this beautiful rudebekia in the front.
Saturday - Caught another coon. I took it and set it free near a corn field :)
Here is a pic of where I've been setting the trap. The cat door (their entry to the house) is at the bottom right of the picture.
I think that is as scary as it can get! I hope they are gone for good!
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