Critters Be Gone! Pass & Fails

 

After dealing with an invasion of unwanted garden guests: rats, gophers, and raccoons (which I've posted many times about and tried everything imaginable)  I pulled out some new "remedies" I found.

Rats :

YUK and UGG!

I found a dead sparrow they tried to pull under the deck!

They don't like the smell of Ammonia.

So poured Ammonia around different places that would get beneath the deck.

You can see the hole they've chewed in the photo.

Since the Ammonia, we haven't had any issues with Rats!!

It WORKED!

Gophers:

Years ago when the neighbors had gophers, we had a Basset Hound that would keep the yard free of these PIA's!

Our dogs now could care less.

The gophers started along the right side of the yard at one end along the fence line.

Went to the end of that section of fence, 

turned left to proceed along the entire back of the yard along the fence line.

When the gopher got to the end of that section of fence it stopped.

Thank goodness! I was hoping it would go to the section where my pond is. Last thing I needed was gopher holes in my pond liner!

I read they didn't like Onions.

I cut some onions in quarters, 

found a hole and stuck one in, 

then covered it back up and placed a "marker" on top.

More mounds appeared. I uncovered the hole to find the onion gone! 

FAIL!  I guess they like onions :(

Next I tried flooding the hole. Something Dad always did.

We had all areas staked out waiting for it to pop up somewhere. 

The water ran for about 20 minutes

Then flooded back out. Never popped up anywhere.

FAIL!

The reason I think we didn't have a chance with the flooding, is I believe the Gophers have holes in our neighbors backyards - the other side of the fences.  Neighbors on each side and behind us have dead lawns/weeds/grass perfect for escape routes.

Next was Juicy Fruit Gum. Not sure how it's suppose to work....

I think they can't digest it.

I made sure to hold it by the package as to not get any of my scent on it.

Cut the Juicy Fruit into small pieces

then marked it.

I found a couple more holes and placed Juicy Fruits pieces in those also.

Smoothed all the mounds out.

No Gophers since! 

WORKED!

As for the Onions.....

they are popping

 where ever I placed an onion for the Gopher! LOL

RACCOONS:

No idea how this is suppose to work either -

WD-40

I bought a can for each side of the fence where they come over

and soaked each side of the fence.

No more Raccoons!

It WORKED?!

I also read Raccoons don't like Blood Meal.

I purchased a bag and spread it along the ground in front of the 

fence they come over.

No more Raccoons!

It WORKED?!

Was it the WD-40 or the Blood Meal?

Or both?

I don't care, I'm just happy the Raccoons aren't visiting anymore!

More here

End of 2018 and No Break in Sight

Dec. 23, 2018 sure won't let go without a hand grenade aimed at us!

We've been taking it easy trying to be calm since the fire next door 3 days ago. It's very unnerving and takes longer than you think when you have a history of PTSD. You feel very unsafe. 

We had another big scare yesterday, 12/22. Around 2pm we heard Tora barking and what sounded like fighting in the backyard. Couldn't imagine what was going on. She was at the fence which looked at first like she was fighting with our neighbors dogs through the fence. There's not a hole in the fence and besides they don't fight, but we could hear their's going crazy acting the same way.

M walked out to check and screamed RACOON!! About that time I saw it climb our small tree. Yelled for Tora to get inside, locked her in. Went looking for our other 2 smaller dogs, they were shaking under the table. OK all dogs locked in.  I and M cried as we immediately checked Tora for wounds. Searched and searched ~ couldn't find any this time, even though it was on top of her as it fell from the tree.   In the meantime, T & C had gone after the coon with a shovel and claw cultivator my Dad had made. The coon finally headed out but not before stopping and charging them even after they had stopped hitting it. They thought they were done, had turned to come in and luckily saw it coming from about 8 feet away. Had to defend themselves, it finally turned and left. 

This was 2 in the afternoon, what was it doing out??? It took a while for all of us to compose ourselves. We checked our security cameras ~  the 40 ponder nonchalantly walked down our sidewalk, used the stepping stones to the street curb then strolled across the street and went into the neighbors yard.  Never ran, just calmly walked.

We went next door to see if their dogs were OK, which they were. They're on board to get rid of the six that think these are their homes not ours. They have to be careful when they come out their front door because coons sit in their front tree and will jump them.

Not sure how many of you have followed my blog and the terrorism from these raccoons since '09. You can see blog 11/22/09, 11/25/09, 11/27/09,  10/08/12, 10/19/12, 12/12/12, 3/25/14, 5/16/16,  5/24/16, 12/26/18.........

Anyway, dog door is locked up - can't let dogs out day or night on their own.  Need to pre-check for safety.

Frustrated, exhausted mentally which has affected us physically. Scared to even take trash out.

Wasn't even able to finish this post before #3 bomb was thrown.......next post.

Rabid Raccoon?

Aug. 12 -
Spent most of the night at Taylor ER Vet. The boys were going out to get into the car with Tora. A raccoon jumped out of our tree onto Tora. 😱They had no idea it was even there. Luckily she didn't get torn up as bad as Cyndar did, she was able to grab it off her shoulders and toss it. But it kept coming back for more. T was able to finally get a good kick in and get Tora in the house. The vet said there was something wrong with it for it to attack without being provoked and to report a rabid raccoon. Will do come Monday. She also said we have every right to shoot to protect our property ~ our dogs are our property. Out come the guns. We've seen 6 - 8 HUGE raccoons in the front yard the last few weeks. Scary. It could have jumped on T! They are out of control and SO aggressive. Tora is cleaned up, on antibiotics, got another Rabies shot and the cone of shame 😥 We finally got home about 4am, she's stopped shaking and is at last asleep. Wish I could say the same, I had just fallen asleep when the alarm went off. No worries tho, we've been drinking to calm our nerves. Feeling pretty good 😋 Gonna be one of those liquid or sleeping days.....😴



Aug. 13 -
Tora is doing better, Thank God.
Attact reported. NPD Animal Control wish more would report attacks due to rabies epidemic.
Tora is quarantined 45 days per vet even w/3 yr. booster, 8 mths.after reg. 3 yr. vaccine. She's still on antibiotic & pain meds, but now walking on injured leg. 💖 Been up with her the last few nights. Hoping to sleep tonight 😴

Don't Beleive Everything You Read #coontrap #amputation

If you're a regular reader of my blog you know
that from time to time we have major issues
with nasty varmints called Raccoons, like
here, here, here, here, and here.

I'm old enough by now to know this.

But sometimes after researching products,
upon products because you are at your wits end.
you feel you have finally found something
out of desperation that will hopefully work.

Enter ''The Dog/Cat Proof Coon Trap
features a fully enclosed dog, cat proof design''.

Note: dog, cat proof.

Yes we bit - after reading all the reviews, watching You Tube videos, researching the manufacturer and anything else we could find to be sure our pets would not be harmed.

Coons could get in while going for the bait,
trigger trap. Then you relocate.

Unfortunately, we paid the ultimate price.

My sons cat somehow got her leg tangled in the trap.

M was the only one at home at the time.

Heard her and tried to untangle her only to be bitten.

Bynx was writhing and of course hysterical, as was M.

She called us, just happened we were already on the way home from getting T and C's xrays, but were still outside Turlock.

I flew as fast as I could home.

We divided and conquered in a matter of minutes -

T untangled Bynx, C wrapped her in a towel,

I got the carrier down and called the vet while

M tended to her wounds.

We were told to bring Bynx right in.

Hung up and called Dr. Canga re. M.

She has received the TDAP shot last year,

so she didn't need a tetanus shot,

but was told they called in an antibiotic as a precaution.

Got to the vet, thank God it was Dr. Woultee's day to be there. Xrays were taken.

To make a long story short, amputation was decided.

Due to the amount of physical and mental trauma she had gone thru, it was decided to wait until May 24th to amputate.

She was kept comfortable over the weekend

with pain meds and an antibiotic was started.

She went through the surgery well.

Once we got her home, she was back to her old self.

She wanted to be petted, she even purred later that night.

What aggravated her more was the E-collar not her missing limb.

She had already been walking on 3 legs since

being tangled in the trap,

so for her that wasn't the issue.

She drank water, ate, and peed ~ ALL great things!

As I write this I have mixed emotions.

I'm relieved and pray that all goes well with her recovery.

She'll stay in one of our dog kennels for the

time being to limit her activity.

But now something is wrong with Katie.

She's lethargic, not eating and bloated.

I was so focused on Bynx' drop off yesterday

I didn't watch the dogs eat.

I think she ate hers, Bella's and Tora's breakfast.

There was still food in Tora's dish, that means

she was so full she couldn't eat anymore.

Sometimes Bella and Tora just aren't that hungry,

I put their dishes up so Katie can't get to them.

So I'm waiting to call the vet as I write this.

I'm hoping that is all it is.

She has been monitored for sometime due to her age.

Her lab work points to Cushing's Disease,

but she has no symptoms as of yet.

I'm hoping this isn't one of them.

The raccoons win again :(

A Dance Party, Shower and Raccoons - What do They Have in Common?

By now you all have probably think I've fallen off the face of the Earth, I assure you I haven't!

I'm still hanging around, just May and June

are tremendously busy months for us!

I'm happy to report Cody is doing extremely well with his surgical recovery.  Another week and his throat should be done healing.

His nose will need probably another 2 - 3 weeks.

He no longer has labored breathing, but sounds normal now,

which means you can't hear him breathing when he's at rest.

His snoring is SO quiet it's unbelievable!

So to say his surgery was a success is an understatement!

*:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•*

We had a wonderful Mother's Day/Birthday Celebration

with B&T  along with T's family.

A Dance Party with My Sunshine was the highlight!

*:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•*

Then there was Amanda's Bridal Shower (my cousin's fiancée)!

We had wine tasting at Tenuta Vineyards in Livermore.

YUM!

We had a designated driver, thanks Tanya!!

My favorite daughter-in-law ;)

We all had fun grading the wines with and

without their pairings.

What a difference. I've never had pairings when I've gone wine tasting before. Depending on the wine there were different flavors of cheeses, olives, and fruit. I was surprised how different the wine tasted after eating what they were served with.

Very interesting.

Some tasted better, then again, some didn't.

These two face's tell the story. LOL

I hadn't been out to that part of Livermore for quite some time (many, many years). VA Hospital was about it out that direction. Good thing we had directions - I recognized NOTHING!

Yes, things have changed, Vineyards have popped up all over. Enjoyed the beautiful scenery all the way there,

and Tenuta was no exception.

Everything was beautiful.....

including the Bride to be!

The haul ;)

Lunch was delicious and then came the desserts!

I was only able to get photos of two of the kinds that were served.

Bride and Groom chocolate covered Strawberries

Darling...to die for!

 Cupcakes with Wedding Ring toppers!

Too cute!

 Everyone had a good time.

We walked away with our tummys stuffed,

felling pretty darn good.

Wishing Chris and Amanda all the

Best Wishes in the world!

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The Raccoons are back.

I think they are using our roof and trees as their highway.

When Tora goes out she holds her head up in the air to catch their scent, not down on the ground. Then she jumps on an old wheel barrow I have planted with Strawberries under the Cherry Tree to get higher. We're locking the dogs and cats in at night. Don't want anyone to get injured from those nasty things, like poor Cyndar.

We have a plan in place, but we need to be home in the morning when/if it works. We've been bombarded with Doctor appointments lately, so we haven't had to put it in motion.....yet.

They're time is coming....

*:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•**:•.-:¦:-•*

I've been busy working on several projects also.

That will be for another day.

This post has already gotten a bit long and

I need to head out for a smog check.

Busy, busy, I tell ya!

Wishing everyone a great day!!

BTW, A Dance Party, Shower and

Raccoons all have one thing in common.

Keeping this Grammy on her toes!!

Happy First Day of Spring!

Time is flying by!

Good thing I took the time to take a brief walk

through the garden this morning

 or I may have missed it! ;)

The Lilacs are starting to bloom :)

Lemon Balm has reseeded itself in various

places this year. Some just may make it

into my Etsy Shop when their a little bigger.

Cecil Brunner is about to explode with blooms.

Look who I found getting warm in the Sun,

 a HUGE Moth. A wonderful night time pollinator. 

Nectarine has lots of blooms this year, 

looking forward to some yummy fruit

Queens Tear blooming in foreground

and Forget-me-nots behind.

Ladder of watering cans,

with Lady Banks in bloom.

I usually keep the Oxalis under the bench,

well, not this year.  :/

My Pittosporum has sprouted a couple new plants!

Probably rooted branches prior to pruning.

Going to try to fit the larger on in the front garden,

 the smaller might make in into my shop. 

Succulents are even blooming!

Weeping Peach too. :)

White Alyssum has reseeded in the calf buckets, yay!

Cherry in full blooming majesty

I planted Strawberries in the wheel barrow

with lettuce in between them.

The messy deck still needs to be cleaned up from Winter.

Feeding time :)

A baby from my Sister's Koi,

not much of a baby any more!

One of the little guys T, M & C 

got me last year for my birthday.

The only original I have left

after the Raccoon raids.

There's more hiding, not as friendly as my originals,

but after what they've been through

can't blame them for staying in the shadows.

 So now go out and....