When Wildlife Intrude into Homelife
By L. Jenkinson
@MarymargII (12422)
Toronto, Ontario
June 19, 2018 10:13pm CST
At my daughter's house, which is in a little more of an out of the way part of the city, the trees are huge and old and the area is well established. It's quieter there but she also has a lot more noticeable wildlife living alongside her.
There are tons of squirrels, some rabbits and their constant neighbour and sometime house guests: raccoons! These night wanderers have gotten into their garage and caused damage a few times so far. My son-in-law has plugged their entries, etc. and tried some homemade remedies but NO they keep coming back for more.
Their latest trick was just lately when they ate his brand new goldfish in his new pond and wrecked his entire fountain. How they reached them in such a deep pond is hard to imagine. He didn't see any scuba equipment anywhere. LOL! Well, they certainly live up to those burglar masks they're wearing---haha!
I told him to call in the city animal catchers but he thinks it will only be a temporary fix. He thinks more will come later and he's probably right. So right now it seems the raccoons are definitely winning.
Well, at least they're not coyotes- that would be a worse problem. And there is the odd one of those in the city neighbourhoods too!
8 people like this
10 responses
@LadyDuck (457918)
• Switzerland
21 Jun 18
@MarymargII I have seen the mess that some of them made after entering inside a house.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
26 Jun 18
@LadyDuck Yes, often they break through walls or ceilings.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
21 Jun 18
Yes, they would move right into your roof if you didn't stop them. And they can bite as well!
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
21 Jun 18
Same here- He may just try the City Animal Control guys if he gets desperate enough.
@allknowing (130066)
• India
20 Jun 18
They have an inbuilt scuba diving equipment
2 people like this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
21 Jun 18
Haha! And there was no fishing rods either--lol!
1 person likes this
@marlina (154166)
• Canada
23 Jun 18
A few months ago, a squirrel entered the house apparently from the fireplace chimney.
I was doing the dishes in the kitchen, alone in the house, and suddenly I heard "someone playing the piano", Turned my head and it was a squirrel doing it.
I screamed so loud that I though the entire area had heard me.
Called a pest control and the came (he had gone upstairs, hiding in a bedroom) they removed it and put a new mesh up on the roof.
Total cost: $395.50 Cdn.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154166)
• Canada
27 Jun 18
@MarymargII Terrifying moments for us ladies for sure!
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@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
28 Jun 18
@marlina Haha! I'd scream and hurry to get help.
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@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
25 Jun 18
Oh Lordy who knew that would be the price. Made me think of the time birds flew down the chimney- flying birds in our house was awful and I screamed too. Called the ASPCA and not sure how much I paid. My husband had to put a net on the roof at the chimney!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118425)
• Gainesville, Florida
23 Jun 18
I have read recently that coyotes are becoming urban wild animals now, living in big cities including New York City! It's an example of how wild animals are adapting to an ever changing world.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118425)
• Gainesville, Florida
28 Jun 18
@MarymargII I wouldn't want to come across one of those hybrid animals while out walking the neighborhood! haha
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
25 Jun 18
True and as an offshoot of that there are even
"CoyWolfs" too- a combo of wolf and coyote!
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
29 Jun 18
Yes, they are a pain for homeowners and Pond owners too!
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
4 Aug 18
@cintol Often here they end up living in our garages, sheds, below our decks and even in our attics! :(
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
21 Jun 18
ohhh what a pity about their Goldfish... They are a nuisance... I hope he can find a solution ...
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
21 Jun 18
And you do want to remain humane about it- but very annoying problem for sure.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (79671)
• United States
20 Jun 18
Raccoons are pesky creatures. Can't believe they ate the goldfish and wrecked the fountain. Hope he finds a way to deter them from his property.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
21 Jun 18
He even tried spraying hot pepper juice everywhere cause he read that would chase them away--Nope- didn't work.
@MarshaMusselman (38652)
• Midland, Michigan
21 Jun 18
Hopefully, any coyotes are or stay outside the city limits. We have them in the woods surrounding our smaller city too.
I heard a story about someone that has a critter in his attic. I don't remember whether it was a squirrel or raccoon or what but the homeowner took it and dropped it outside the city limits.
In a short amount of time he found another one and took that one away. The next one he found he painted with a yellow stripe and removed it from Town and guess what. Another one showed up again.
Can you guess what he discovered? Yep, it was the same one finding it's way back into his house. I don't remember what he did then.
1 person likes this
@MarymargII (12422)
• Toronto, Ontario
22 Jun 18
Ha you see and that is what is happening. People try to be as humane as possible but it certainly is quite the undertaking and the time waster for sure.
1 person likes this
