My cat has been getting a bit scratched in fights lately, so when I saw a raccoon in the back yard, I knew something had to be done about it. I called Animal Control, and found out what to do. Then I picked up a raccoon trap at the city and set it outside where I saw the raccoon. The first night, the raccoon had set off the trap door and got the food out of it without getting caught. The second night, it got caught, and all it's family (3 others) came over to try to help it escape (and get as much of the food as they could). I could watch them from a window and feared that they would be able to get it out before the animal control officer could come in the morning. They dug lots of holes around it, but it was still there in the morning. I didn't like having that many raccoons hanging out in my yard most of the night!

The next night I caught another one, and there were more in its company than before, 4 or 5. They're cute, smart, good climbers, and a danger to our pets and us, as they are fierce and harbor many diseases and parasites that can infect pets and humans. Each morning, the officer came and took away the raccoon, to take it to the shelter where I presume they will put it down. I have 4 or 5 or more yet to catch! Needless to say, I've missed a little sleep this week worrying about the critters. At some point they may decide to stop coming around and I won't be able to catch them all, but I'll persist as long as necessary.

They have no natural predators here, so their numbers can really grow out of control, I've never been much of a hunter, but it has to be done. They're quite frightening since they don't show any fear of us. I can open a window and yell or growl at them, and they just back up a few feet and stare at me. They can look at me right outside my window, just a few inches from me, with no fear.

So that's my excitement this week!