Vintage vehicle winter storage

maple_leaf_eh · #1 18-10-10, 04:24

Rot-tawa is feeling the effects of a resurgent rat population. Mild winter, wet and humid summer, new city-sponsored curbside compost pickup, low price street drugs, the return of Parliament, etc. Added together, we have more critters than even last year. I have gray and black squirrels in my immediate area, a skunk fell in a window well, and ... a family of raccoons that prowl the garbage cans. The mono-coloured beggars get killed in traffic and avoid the Jeep shelter. But the stripey ones have free run of the yard, to the point one crapped on the back porch right beside the back door.

Before I have to argue with a raccoon for drivers' seat privileges, any suggestions on how to 'deal' with them? A fresh pan of anti-freeze and a half-dozen apples? A few bricks of mouse or rat poison?

RHClarke · #2 18-10-10, 04:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

Before I have to argue with a raccoon for drivers' seat privileges, any suggestions on how to 'deal' with them? A fresh pan of anti-freeze and a half-dozen apples? A few bricks of mouse or rat poison?

Don't call the city's pest control organization (easily found by calling the number in the city directory and being transferred at least seven times). Some politically correct dingbat will inform you that you will have to "humanely" trap the offending beast(s) and transport them one kilometer away from your home where they should be released. Now, if you live in a built up area, the release point for pepe lepew will be in someone's neighbourhood...When I trapped a racoon, I called the animal control knobs and spoke with a pablum-puking save-the-whale type. She gave me firm directions as mentioned above. I indicated that I would only be transporting the critter to someone else's yard, and that made no sense. It replied (in a snotty, talking down to an idiot voice): "Sir! They were here first." I replied that I didn't think the racoon was 50 years old, but who am I to argue with an "expert". After some polite thank yous, Jesse and I loaded the less-than-pleased racoon into the trunk of the car and headed out of town. I looked for the first liberal election campaign sign and released the racoon in their yard.

Now I have a skunk residing under my shed. The next trick is to get the bastard out without getting sprayed, and keeping him out. Can't poision him, can't shoot him, don't want to transport a stinking skunk in the car, so I will have to wait until he comes out at night and seal off his front door. Hopefully the neighbours won't call the tactical squad out while I tackle the lil runt...

Bob Carriere · #3 18-10-10, 15:15

You can catch a skunk quite eaily with left over chicken meat/bones using a Coon trap...... the trick in moving the trap is to cover the trap carefully with a heavy blanket or tarp........ pick up gently..... don't trip on the way to the car.... put him gently down the back section...... if you wish you can drive with the rear hatch open...... nearest city ball park..... again remove gently the blanket and fromone end only and open the trap....... you will no doubt have to coax the little sucker out of the cage by big lifting one end to slide him out...... once inside a darkened area they will be slow to move out........

If that does not work or backfires don't come to the barn for a few days...

Boob

RHClarke · #4 18-10-10, 16:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Carriere

You can catch a skunk quite eaily with left over chicken meat/bones using a Coon trap...... the trick in moving the trap is to cover the trap carefully with a heavy blanket or tarp........ pick up gently..... don't trip on the way to the car.... put him gently down the back section...... if you wish you can drive with the rear hatch open...... nearest city ball park..... again remove gently the blanket and fromone end only and open the trap....... you will no doubt have to coax the little sucker out of the cage by big lifting one end to slide him out...... once inside a darkened area they will be slow to move out........If that does not work or backfires don't come to the barn for a few days...Boob

All rightee then, will do. May I borrow your "humane" critter trap? I will follow your instructions, but be aware, if the striped rat farts, I will be residing at the barn until the persistent agents disperse...Not to worry, you get use to the stench after a few days...

Don Dingwall · #5 18-10-10, 16:38

Rob:
If the skunk is in a burrow, get the garden hose, run it into the hole and fire it up till the burrow is full....then whip the offending carcass out the window as you speed by Ottawa city hall....

RHClarke · #6 18-10-10, 17:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Dingwall

Rob:If the skunk is in a burrow, get the garden hose, run it into the hole and fire it up till the burrow is full....then whip the offending carcass out the window as you speed by Ottawa city hall....

Don, I don't think the liberal candidate for mayor will appreciate the competition, but I do like the flooding out part...

Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP) · #7 18-10-10, 17:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by RHClarke

All rightee then, will do. May I borrow your "humane" critter trap? I will follow your instructions, but be aware, if the striped rat farts, I will be residing at the barn until the persistent agents disperse...Not to worry, you get use to the stench after a few days...

Just shoot the bloody thing. Use a .22 and if you need a silencer, you can find the plans for it on the bloody internet. Pests are pests.

Of course, if you wish to be humane, trap it and then release on Bob's property. He will probably appreciate your gesture......

cletrac (RIP) · #8 18-10-10, 18:57

Out here in the wide open West, I still use strychnine to get rid of skunks. Take a hypodermic needle and inject the liquid into an egg and cover it to keep dogs away. Skunks can't resist eggs even if they've been in the sun for several months and they'll die within a few feet of the egg. This might not be politically correct but I don't really care. Like Geoff says, a pest is just a pest. One year I killed 22 of them in my yard using this method.

Alex Blair (RIP) · #9 18-10-10, 19:55

Bob can't hit the side of the barn with a rifle,that is why he has subbed out the job to his cats...anyway ..
If you want to keep critters off your property use Meekers Magic..
It is a fish based compost manufactured in the Manitoulin Islands and one of the unexpected by products of this compost is that it repels all kinds of critters.
Squirrels..skunks..raccoons hate it..slugs..rats..mice..Canada Geese..deer..cats and dogs..
We don't know why./.there are chemists now from Lambton University that are working on it now ,but it works..
I am in involved in a Goose repel project right now on Petrie Island in Ottawa,and we did a test patch of 75'X75' square ,cleaned completely free of goose poop..and the after we applied it the geese were waiting to feed on the grass where we set out the patch and we watched as the geese landed on the sand beach,walked onto the grass and started to feed..they continued to walk forward and feed until they came to the edge of the treated patch..and then the heads all came up..they turned left and right and worked their way around the square like it was an invisible fence //amazing to watch..
The city roads and grounds people had their maintenance person check the patch daily and the patch was almost completely free (95%) of goose poop..
I went back after two weeks and there was not a goose to be seen anywhere..and a month later..went back again and the same thing..and the patch is still free of goose poop..so it is quite possible that one patch has rid Petrie Island on Geese..
Not saying 100% sure but I haven't seen any sign of them since we laid down the patch..

Check out these links..

http://www.orleansstar.ca/News/Local...and-of-geese/1

http://www.emcorleans.ca/20100923/Ne...to+repel+geese

http://www.meekersmagicmix.com/index.html#

I can't sell it but if you want some in Ontario,Home Hardware handles and it OR can order.. if you want some PM me and I will give you the information to get it..
In Northern Ontario they stock it.
In Southern Ontario it is available from the warehouse,but it has to be requested at this time of year..Hopefully next year it will be in stock year round..but call your Local Home Hardware and ask for it by name..
Should be around $15.00 for a fourty litre bag +tax..

RHClarke · #10 19-10-10, 00:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball

...Of course, if you wish to be humane, trap it and then release on Bob's property. He will probably appreciate your gesture...

Geoff, Since this thread will forever exist in the ether of the internet, I choose the humane method of disposal. I do like the idea of catch and release at Bob's cathouse, but I don't think Bob's cats are that desperate for some cross-species breeding...yet.

RHClarke · #11 19-10-10, 00:34

Perhaps we can adapt the "Cat Carrier" for racoon and skunk removal?? We could call it the "Carriere Carrier"...

maple_leaf_eh · #12 19-10-10, 01:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff Winnington-Ball

Just shoot the bloody thing. Use a .22 and if you need a silencer, you can find the plans for it on the bloody internet. Pests are pests.

Of course, if you wish to be humane, trap it and then release on Bob's property. He will probably appreciate your gesture......

If I lived in Bob's neighbourhood I'd have an OP on the rooftop with a .22 and a silencer. But, I live with a professional musician on one side and a retired Mountie on the other. One would freak out at the sound of gun shots, and the other might overreact.

I saw the story about Alex's fishy goo. So I'll give that a try. The politicians have almost finished their door-to-door work, so I won't be able to report on its effectiveness on them.