Home Intruder part 2

[Can_of_corn]

This one isn't as amusing as the Gopher Turtle.

Just a few minutes ago there was a commotion outside, the dog, a minpin/dachshund mix and something else with barking and high pitch wails. Next thing you know in through the doggie door comes our dog, Magoo and a youngish Raccoon. I grab the little BB gun by the door and load a ball while my elderly father chases the raccoon around the living room trying to keep the dog safe.

I hand it off to my father and dart to the closet of the guest bedroom, there to find the obsessions of my youth. Freshly armed with an old Calvary sword and "wall hanger" metal shield I proceed to raise a ruckus and eventually chase the raccoon out the back, after the raccoon took a refreshing dip in our pool.

Unfortunately my father was less then successful in corralling his dog and Magoo was not about to let the Raccoon escape unharmed. Frightful wails erupted from the raccoon as my father tried to get off a shot in the darkness with the BB gun.

I quickly run to the front of the house, get in my car, start it, hit the high-beams and tear into the backyard to illuminate the situation. There we see the dog with the clearly larger raccoon, on its back, in serious trouble. The raccoon takes advantage of the diversion I provided and makes limping retreat.

I immediately hop on Google looking for 24 hour vets while my father looks over the dog. Not a scratch on him.

Shame I didn't have time for pictures.

[Bosibus]

Good read.

[Dipper9]

This one isn't as amusing as the Gopher Turtle.

Just a few minutes ago there was a commotion outside, the dog, a minpin/dachshund mix and something else with barking and high pitch wails. Next thing you know in through the doggie door comes our dog, Magoo and a youngish Raccoon. I grab the little BB gun by the door and load a ball while my elderly father chases the raccoon around the living room trying to keep the dog safe.

I hand it off to my father and dart to the closet of the guest bedroom, there to find the obsessions of my youth. Freshly armed with an old Calvary sword and "wall hanger" metal shield I proceed to raise a ruckus and eventually chase the raccoon out the back, after the raccoon took a refreshing dip in our pool.

Unfortunately my father was less then successful in corralling his dog and Magoo was not about to let the Raccoon escape unharmed. Frightful wails erupted from the raccoon as my father tried to get off a shot in the darkness with the BB gun.

I quickly run to the front of the house, get in my car, start it, hit the high-beams and tear into the backyard to illuminate the situation. There we see the dog with the clearly larger raccoon, on its back, in serious trouble. The raccoon takes advantage of the diversion I provided and makes limping retreat.

I immediately hop on Google looking for 24 hour vets while my father looks over the dog. Not a scratch on him.

Shame I didn't have time for pictures.

Thank God......I thought this was gonna be another snake story! I watched a show recently where they say now there are pythons and friggin COBRAS in the Everglades. What's up with that man???

[RevOlution]

Dang, you just can't make that kind of story up. Sounds like another "wild" night at the homestead. I know raccoons can be down right nasty when cornered. It's a shame a "little" dog had to take care of your business for you. But thank goodness, you had you trusty, rusty shield, just in case he didn't.

I don't know where you live, but I sure as heck don't hope it's anywhere close to me.

[Can_of_corn]

Thank God......I thought this was gonna be another snake story! I watched a show recently where they say now there are pythons and friggin COBRAS in the Everglades. What's up with that man???

Dang, you just can't make that kind of story up. Sounds like another "wild" night at the homestead. Raccoons can be down right nasty when cornered. Thank goodness, you had you trusty coat hanger.

I don't know where you live, but I sure as heck don't hope it's anywhere close to me.

The little snake stopped coming around Dip. Three times in a week was plenty.

We are about an hour north of Tampa/St Pete it is back in the sticks on 1.8 acres but the house is set way back off the road and we have woods on either side and a lake in the back. We have all sorts of critters around the yard but they mostly stay out of the house.

[RevOlution]

Great read. Seriously though, I'm glad Magoo is ok, and of course, you and your dad.

As a matter of fact, I enjoyed your evening fiasco so much, I'll rep you when I can.

[weams]

Great read. Seriously though, I'm glad Magoo is ok, and of course, you and your dad.

As a matter of fact, I enjoyed your evening fiasco so much, I'll rep you when I can.

Ditto Ditto.

[Can_of_corn]

For the record, the shield isn't rusty, the sword is tho.

More of a long sword then a saber now that I look at it in the light, straight edge, 30" of blade, basket hilt. I never thought my old collection of melee weapons would come in handy.



http://s1128.photobucket.com/albums/...t=DSCF0357.jpg
http://s1128.photobucket.com/albums/...8.jpg&newest=1

Magoo is still doing fine and have not seen any more of the Raccoon.

[allstar1579]

Hide yo kids, hide yo wife!!!

[sangar]

The other day I was reading that Raccoons are becoming so adept at defeating humans it is actually speeding their evolutionary process.

[mweb]

There was actually a PBS Nature show on raccoons the other day. Interesting fact of the day: they have collapsible spines which they put to use to fit in spaces you'd think would be impossible for them.

[Pedro Cerrano]

One time I was drunk outside of an apartment building. Two raccoons came over and I fed them beer and pet them like dogs.

Probably not my best idea.

[allstar1579]

A couple months ago I thought I found the stupid stray cat (remember my horror story with them a couple years ago?) that had been getting in our trash every night. I watched him climb out of the sewer at the bottom of our driveway (I just happened to be looking outside for some reason) and watched him stroll right up the driveway. I ran to the kitchen and grabbed an orange that was almost bad and came back to the door. I was going to scare him off the trash for good this time. I hear him get to the steps, and I SPRING the door open, arm cocked and ready to bean him with this orange. As I adjust to aim at my target, he stands up on his hind legs, and I realize I'm not looking at a fat stray cat that's been eating my trash, but at a 4 foot tall, 100lb RACCOON!!

He stared at me, I stared at him. He gets back onto all fours, and slowly walks back down the hill to the sewer. I was like, yeah...good talk, you BETTER run, as I closed the door and just shook my head in disbelief. I named him Rocco. He comes back to visit every couple weeks or so, but when he comes, he eats the neighbor's trash instead. Respect!

[sangar]

A couple months ago I thought I found the stupid stray cat (remember my horror story with them a couple years ago?) that had been getting in our trash every night. I watched him climb out of the sewer at the bottom of our driveway (I just happened to be looking outside for some reason) and watched him stroll right up the driveway. I ran to the kitchen and grabbed an orange that was almost bad and came back to the door. I was going to scare him off the trash for good this time. I hear him get to the steps, and I SPRING the door open, arm cocked and ready to bean him with this orange. As I adjust to aim at my target, he stands up on his hind legs, and I realize I'm not looking at a fat stray cat that's been eating my trash, but at a 4 foot tall, 100lb RACCOON!!

He stared at me, I stared at him. He gets back onto all fours, and slowly walks back down the hill to the sewer. I was like, yeah...good talk, you BETTER run, as I closed the door and just shook my head in disbelief. I named him Rocco. He comes back to visit every couple weeks or so, but when he comes, he eats the neighbor's trash instead. Respect!

I have a pack of Raccoons that patrol my yard about once a week. Pretty cute actually. There is also a Skunk (Matilda) who has lived here for maybe 10 years, her babies play in the yard every spring.

[ScottieBaseball]

Thank God......I thought this was gonna be another snake story! I watched a show recently where they say now there are pythons and friggin COBRAS in the Everglades. What's up with that man???

I found a copperhead near my garage last week. Probably 2-1/2 feet long. On Sunday I found a baby corn snake in my shed. I thought it was another copperhead at first because it was all balled up, coiled to strike, and it did when I poked it with a stick. Once I looked into its eyes, though, it was obviously a corn snake.

Want to come up this weekend and help me with some yard work, Dip?