Skunks Wage Turf Battle Over New Homes

The first possum I saw running across the floor was cute. Caught, dispatched to more appropriate possum turf. End of problem, right? WRONG! The next night, one is scratching at the trash can next to my computer chair. Neighbor came over and chased him into hiding. The following night, same scratching next to the my chair. Caught and relocated. Not 10 minutes back into my FReeping, instant replay. Caught another one and took him down the road a ways, too. Didn't see any for several days and thought I had it licked. No such luck. I heard some rustling around in the kitchen. Went in just in time to see one scoot into my bedroom. Caught the little bugger in my stocking drawer, and took him to the woods to join his siblings.

I didn't see any the next night, but there was evidence the next morning. When I got up, the trash can next to the computer was turned over, the mouse had been moved, the control panel folder was open and the "accessibility options" icon was highlighted. (No; I'm not kidding!) So I got some electronic repellent devices. The noise only annoyed them and drove them to higher ground, apparently.

So anyway, last night I got up to get something out the kitchen. I opened a drawer, and there was a possum in it. I opened the two drawers next to it, and there was a possum in all three, including the silverware drawer! That totally grossed me out. So, I snatched one of the possums and took him for a ride. When I got back, one of the others was still sitting in a drawer staring at me. I grabbed everything out of the silverware drawer and put it in to soak in a bleach solution. The possum disappeared into the wall somewhere.

Well, by this point, I'm starting to feel like I'm in the Twilight Zone. Then, I got up this mornning and was in the bathroom getting ready for work. When I opened one of the bathroom drawers, there was not one, but two possums in it...and not only in the drawer, but they had stuffed themselves into an almost full bag of cotton balls, with only their heads sticking out. I grabbed a box and tossed the possums, cottonballs and all in it, weighted the top and finished getting ready. I drove the little devils clear to the other side of the next county. Haven't seen or heard any tonight, but I'm not declaring victory just yet.

Did I mention that I'm moving next week? LOL! Actually, the possums had nothing to do with it, but it works out pretty well. I just hope I don't have any stowaways in the packing. Time to get another cat.

I wouldn't reccommend throwing anything at them.

They got the edge and they know it. One time I was on my way into work at about 8 or 9 at night. Although my company's office was located near a ravine and a large park, I must say I was suprised to look up and see a rather large cat.. er.. or is that a skunk munching flowers three feet in front of me! Needless, to say I backed up real slow, and went home. The skunk didn't even flinch. I hadn't startled it at all. It just went right on dining as if it hadn't a care in the world.

Those skunks know that we know better.

Oh no! I thought it was bad that they were living in boxes in my garage! They never got into any of my drawers, thank goodness.

I saw the first one in the den. Thought it was a giant rat until I saw her face. She was preggers. My neighbor down the street had a raccoon in her attic. Animal control took their sweet time coming over.

Don't seal your boxes until they're ready to be loaded onto the truck, just in case. Those are some crafty critters. Get a cat and a terrier at the same time, so they get along. Those little terriers are great at catching varmints : )

Time to check the mouse traps...

No, no dogs for me. Too high maintenance for my lifestyle. I've always had cats up until last August when I had to have my 18 year old cat put down. Been wanting to get another one, but the time wasn't right. Packers are coming this morning. I will warn them about the possums. There was no evidence of them when I got up this morning, so I am hopeful that the ones yesterday might have been the last batch. The current owner and the prospective buyer are aware of them and I will strongly suggest that they locate where they were getting in and take care of it to avoid the problem in the future.

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