Randy

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Username:: solitaire
Name:: Randy
Location:: Rossville, IN
Birthday:: 03/24
Status:: Single
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Par For The Course

Life & Events > Relationships > Doghouse Blues

Doghouse Blues

When you live alone, it's difficult to be in the "doghouse", but I am--sort of.
I made an error in judgment when I complained to Lynn (the gal I'm trying to date--if we ever can find a meeting time) about raccoons devastating my sweet corn, and I mean wiping every last ear out (first planting).
I mentioned to her that I've been forced to put out poison. Big mistake. She and her kids are major raccoon fans (and don't call them "coons"). She sent pictures of them all holding and cuddling them as pets. Brother. My method "upset" her. Double brother.

I apologized for "upsetting" her, but didn't back down. I defended my position as if raccoons were house invaders. I will protect my property, even if it means shooting someone (although I don't own a gun). My garden has been invaded by these masked bandits, "cute" or not. This is war to me. (I didn't say that to her.)

She just said "don't talk about killing them again". Don't worry, missy m'am. But it's not like 'coons are becoming extinct! They did $5000 worth of damage to my sister's (Dad's) house (attic) this Spring. They ain't no friend of ours.

So this may be the beginning of the end, perhaps mercifully so, of a brief relationship. I'll let you all know in Act II.

posted on July 25, 2011 1:45 PM ()

Comments:

Wow, lots of negative response. Hey everyone, come harass me too because I kill mice and gophers with both traps and poison and cats.

As cute as coons are (and mice and gophers are cute too), they are pests and you have the right to protect your property from them. Fences are expensive and don't always work.

comment by crazylife on July 29, 2011 2:05 PM ()

There are two glaring things here that Stephen King used to write the nice horror story Cujo. Rabies is easy to catch and it's fatal to both dogs and humans. And raccoons "act as reservoirs of rabies in the U.S."
As a farmer with such proximity to an animal for whom vaccination has been tried and found, so I've read, anyway, not to always "take," I really can't blame you for using extreme methods to get rid of some. You've got some rabid animals running around in your corn.
The other thing is, a dog bit you that hasn't had its shots. I'd keep visiting that dog. The countryside is dangerous, isn't it?

comment by drmaus on July 27, 2011 2:35 PM ()

After reading some of the other vitriolic responses, I appreciate your take. While golfing yesterday, I saw a rabid raccoon staggering around in circles.

reply by solitaire on July 28, 2011 4:18 AM ()

whoops, my sentence was wrong. Should be "As a farmer ... etc... you shouldn't really be blamed for ... " As it stands I seem to be saying I'm a farmer.

reply by drmaus on July 27, 2011 2:37 PM ()

Build a better, more secure corn field next year or don't grow the stuff. Don't blame the racoons for your own failings. Get some perspective on what is really important in life, for crying out loud. Get your head out of your ass. My sister-in-law is dying of ovarian cancer. That's important. Your corn.... not so much.

comment by marta on July 27, 2011 6:51 AM ()

CL, you can do what you you want, but Randy is a scientist and a science educator. I expect better ethics from him, and he shouldn't be falling for unsound answers just because his ego is in a funk.

reply by marta on July 30, 2011 8:29 AM ()

reply by crazylife on July 29, 2011 2:00 PM ()

Read your latest about cats killing birds, etc. What say you put poison out for hunters who kill animals and birds for sport? Must be a way you can get them to take it. Build a higher fence, Randy. It's the humane thing to do. Killing things is not a solution. It is a misplaced sense of entitlement.

comment by tealstar on July 27, 2011 6:27 AM ()

Randy, I know it seems like you would be encouraging them but what if you put out some dry dog food away from your corn perhaps they would eat that and leave the corn alone. I could not do it but shooting them would be more merciful and quick than poisoning them. That is a really slow agonizing death where they bleed internally.

comment by gapeach on July 26, 2011 4:50 PM ()

This poison is "merciful". Takes 2 minutes or less. What gets me is animal lovers allow their cats outdoors to kill thousands of birds, not to mention rabbits, etc. That's okay, but not this.

reply by solitaire on July 27, 2011 5:00 AM ()

Killing for corn??? Ridiculous!!! You are a better person than that, or so I thought.

comment by marta on July 26, 2011 8:47 AM ()

Yep, that's me. I'm a blood thirsty, corn lovin' maniac.

reply by solitaire on July 27, 2011 5:02 AM ()

Razor wire? A pet python in the corn? I.E.D.s?

comment by jondude on July 26, 2011 6:38 AM ()

Now we're talking!

reply by solitaire on July 27, 2011 4:56 AM ()

Anything but poison which impacts so much other wildlife and, I may add, human beans. And it's a terrible death. Please research more humane ways to protect your #$%$#$ corn. Sorry. I don't even eat it. It doesn't seem as if this relationship as anywhere to go.

comment by tealstar on July 26, 2011 5:40 AM ()

I respectfully disagree.

reply by solitaire on July 27, 2011 4:55 AM ()

Maybe you could borrow that dog that bit you when you've got corn ready for picking.

comment by troutbend on July 26, 2011 5:24 AM ()

Funny you should mention that. The dog's owner came over last evening to apologize, and that subject came up (dogs keeping coons at bay). By the way, his dog hasn't had "shots" for 6-7 years! I'm not a happy person.

reply by solitaire on July 26, 2011 5:29 AM ()

Squash bugs devoured my two plants and laid their eggs under the leaves.
Seven dust and spray had no effect on them. I am reluctant to use any
kind of poison. The birds and the cats dally in my yard, much less Rex.
Raccoons are cute and clever but I don't want one. Squirrels are the bane
of my existence. They get all our pecans.

comment by elderjane on July 26, 2011 4:50 AM ()

I sparingly spray my veggies and trees. If not, disaster lurks. I even concocted a garlic/ammonia/pepper spray for my corn silks, hoping the odor would detract the raccoons. Nope. For all animal lovers, believe me, I've tried everything. I've found the solution, as ugly as it seems.

reply by solitaire on July 26, 2011 5:33 AM ()

Poison is not a sound ecological solution and I'm surprised you would even consider it. It puts raptors and other birds and animals at great risk. My late husband and I had a fenced corn plot. We live trapped the raccoons and moved them to a park. We were happy to share our crop with the squirrels.

comment by marta on July 25, 2011 7:41 PM ()

Urban folks dump all kinds of animals (including raccoons) out in the country, like its okay. For me, desparate times require desparate measures. I don't mind sharing, but when they take 100%, I draw the line. Now I AM on the outs with you!

reply by solitaire on July 26, 2011 5:26 AM ()

Pests are pests. Yes, they have adorable faces and look great in pictures of the wild- but your garden is not part of the wild. They are invading.

comment by dragonflyby on July 25, 2011 7:19 PM ()

It's the same with deer around here. They are adorable, but my do they cause trouble! Still, I could never shoot one.

reply by solitaire on July 26, 2011 5:18 AM ()

hmmm I am kinda with her...

comment by kristilyn3 on July 25, 2011 6:39 PM ()

That's okay. I understand. But just wait 'til they get into your attic or something nasty.

reply by solitaire on July 26, 2011 5:16 AM ()

It sounds like she forgives you provisionally: she said not to mention it again. So you do just that: put anything about raccoons and probably your corn crop on that list of taboo subjects - the one that already has the state of your digestion and religion.

They really are nasty animals, and I don't like them, either.

comment by troutbend on July 25, 2011 6:31 PM ()

I call it the "Bambi" affect. And like so many issues, there are two sides. I just hope this isn't a "deal breaker".

reply by solitaire on July 26, 2011 5:14 AM ()

There goes the wedding--and I was waiting for my invitation!

comment by greatmartin on July 25, 2011 3:31 PM ()

And my best man was going to wear a coonskin hat.

reply by solitaire on July 26, 2011 5:11 AM ()

Use humane, live traps to catch the sweet, little, darling raccoons and take them over to Lynn's house. Just kidding......unless, of course, you never want to see her again. I also dislike those vicious, dog teasing, fruit stealing, cat killing varmints but you have to admit, they have such cute little faces.

comment by nittineedles on July 25, 2011 2:54 PM ()

How could you tell?

reply by nittineedles on July 26, 2011 6:40 PM ()

Not cute to me--like I said, they look like bandits. You have them up your way, I assume?

reply by solitaire on July 26, 2011 5:09 AM ()

wow!!!!!!!!!!let it rest.If she is interested in you and then it is up to her to make the first move.If you get this kind of feedback and sorry to say maybe you should think twice on this.You are right to protect your home and garden.Sure they are cute,so are chipmunk and they can cause havoc to your house etc.I know the feeling and the same with wood chuck that cause so much problems in the garden.
We try to trap them and released them in the woods.Sometime it does not happened.You have a choice there and hope that you sort out the right one.
I am with you.

comment by fredo on July 25, 2011 2:03 PM ()

My neighbor traps coons, then shoots them. I couldn't do that. Poisoning is "out of sight, out of mind". They just go off and die.

reply by solitaire on July 26, 2011 5:07 AM ()

When I lived with wife#1 in Peninsula OH we had a huge garden with about ten rows of sweet corn 75 feet long. The entire garden was fenced-in with 6 feet of chicken wire, double wrapped. I had to make a gate out of slats and chicken wire to get access. The deer, raccoons and other critters never got through and bothered it, but the worst predators were the squash bugs and moles. No defense for those.

comment by jondude on July 25, 2011 1:52 PM ()

But you did protect your stuff without killing anything. I find that admirable.

(P.S. Bugs is another story.)

reply by tealstar on July 26, 2011 5:42 AM ()

The buggers climb over my fences. I think a dog would solve my problem.

reply by solitaire on July 26, 2011 5:04 AM ()

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Doghouse Blues