Now I'm doing construction work for critters?

lihpster

lihpster

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Along the lines of the fix-it myself threads, I had to MacGyver something up. I have an old in ground swimming pool we converted to a fish pond years ago. There's a leak in it somewhere, the level fluctuates. At the moment it's far enough down that it's dry in the shallow end. Theres about a 15X8 foot area of dry area before you get to the water. That means that anything that falls down there is surrounded on 3 sides by a four foot sheer wall and water on the fourth side. I've left a couple of six foot boards leaned against the sides, and most things get themselves out. But not everything.
Yesterday evening I was at the sink doing dishes and I see something moving in the pond on the dry side. I look out and I see the one animal that can't or won't get out. Seriously, a couple of them have died in there in the past.
Now, what animal is it, you ask? A skunk. In fact, closer inspection reveals it is actually 2 skunks. I guess when one fell in the other couldn't bear to be alone and jumped in as well. Now if it were another animal, I might net it, or noose it, or just get down in there and wrassle with it, but a skunk? Two skunks?
Woke up this morning and sure enough, still there. What to do? What to do?
So, as soon as Home Depot opened up I'm off for a 10 foot 1X6 and some furring strips, plus screws. I then come home, cut the furring strips into 5 1/2 inch lengths and screw them to the board crossways to act as climbing cleats. A skunk ladder.
I slide it in, carefully, and wait to see them scamper away to pursue a life of religious fulfillment.
Nope they just huddled together, taking a nap. Completely ignored the new construction, crafted with great skill and surely costing the skunk taxpayers a bit of money. I decided if they're too stupid to see their salvation, let 'em die. Natural selection at work.
Just went and checked and success! Empty pond. No skunks. little muddy footprints on the skunk ladder. Pulled the ladder out and set it aside, just in case it's needed. Tomorrow it's time to spray coyote urine around. Hopefully that is enough to keep them from coming back.
Anyway, it felt good to have something I did work out perfectly. Seems to be a rare thing these days. Smells very much better now.:)
 
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lihpster said:
Along the lines of the fix-it myself threads, I had to MacGyver something up. I have an old in ground swimming pool we converted to a fish pond years ago. There's a leak in it somewhere, the level fluctuates. At the moment it's far enough down that it's dry in the shallow end. Theres about a 15X8 foot area of dry area before you get to the water. That means that anything that falls down there is surrounded on 3 sides by a four foot sheer wall and water on the fourth side. I've left a couple of six foot boards leaned against the sides, and most things get themselves out. But not everything.
Yesterday evening I was at the sink doing dishes and I see something moving in the pond on the dry side. I look out and I see the one animal that can't or won't get out. Seriously, a couple of them have died in there in the past.
Now, what animal is it, you ask? A skunk. In fact, closer inspection reveals it is actually 2 skunks. I guess when one fell in the other couldn't bear to be alone and jumped in as well. Now if it were another animal, I might net it, or noose it, or just get down in there and wrassle with it, but a skunk? Two skunks?
Woke up this morning and sure enough, still there. What to do? What to do?
So, as soon as Home Depot opened up I'm off for a 10 foot 1X6 and some furring strips, plus screws. I then come home, cut the furring strips into 5 1/2 inch lengths and screw them to the board crossways to act as climbing cleats. A skunk ladder.
I slide it in, carefully, and wait to see them scamper away to pursue a life of religious fulfillment.
Nope they just huddled together, taking a nap. Completely ignored the new construction, crafted with great skill and surely costing the skunk taxpayers a bit of money. I decided if they're too stupid to see their salvation, let 'em die. Natural selection at work.
Just went and checked and success! Empty pond. No skunks. little muddy footprints on the skunk ladder. Pulled the ladder out and set it aside, just in case it's needed. Tomorrow it's time to spray coyote urine around. Hopefully that is enough to keep them from coming back.
Anyway, it felt good to have something I did work out perfectly. Seems to be a rare thing these days. Smells very much better now.:)
Click to expand...

Sir, you tell a very fine story, and I must admit that I laughed out loud quite a few times, or as the kids say these days LOL! Thanks for the late night humor and for your compassion:rolleyes: for the little smelly varmints!
Larry
 
boykinlp said:
and for your compassion:rolleyes: for the little smelly varmints!
Larry
Click to expand...

Larry, I look at it like this: It's not their fault that their only defense against predators is to release Satan's flatulence. They aren't aggressive, in fact, they seem to have adopted their battle strategy from the French.:D
In any case, they aren't hurting me and I'm sure as hell not going to eat them, so why kill them? I mean they're just doing their thing, not bothering anybody and they get hassled by the man. Literally the man. Just don't seem right.



Edit: P.S. I'm just kidding about the French.:D
 
Years ago I got a call from ma about a terrible smell coming from the stove hood. I took it down and sure enough a squirrel had crawled in the vertical vent and had died in there. Several weeks later they heard scratching in the vent! I took the cover off and dropped a length of towel down it and he climbed out lol(.They’ve also been known to get trapped on a second story window sill with a partially open casement window so they chew through the screen and come on in !)
 
A few years back I was catching kittens in a live trap at the the dealership I used to work at. Of course I managed to catch a couple skunks too! I always had an audience when I would catch one wanting to see if I would get sprayed when I released them. On both occasions the skunks raked a bunch of grass into the trap made a bed and went to sleep. I would make sure they were awake when I opened the trap so as not to startle them, they would patiently wait for me to open the trap, then saunter off without a care in the world. Much mellower then the cats were!
 
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You could wait until the skunks drowned and then dip netted them out. No worry about spraying then.:D

Only slight sarcasm intended.
 
glenwolde said:
I've had to deploy a similar solution. Only it was raccoons. That couldn't get out of the dumpster.
Click to expand...

Saw that with 3 bear cubs in a dumpster, with a nervous mama nearby. Backed up to it in a pickup and the moro.... idio.... test subj.....scrotally enhanced individual in the back of the truck lowered a ladder in and the truck pulled away. Cubs climbed out and went off with mama. Pretty slick.
 
Good for you a small act of kindness will carry you far.

Seems like that wisdom comes with age, I was a shoot first and ask questions later guy in my younger years.
 
Quite a few years ago, my secretary had a descented skunk as a pet. She loved that skunk, and it followed her around like a puppy. And it loved to eat all sorts of insects, especially scorpions. They were fairly abundant in the area. It would sort of squeal in delight when it saw a scorpion.
 
How about deer in the pool ?
We had 42' L inground w/nice cover, as the covers would age/wear out over
time the deer hoves would slice and bam, wet and under the cover.
The deer would panic, it took a bit to direct them toward the steps.
10F and snow on the ground, bet it was a cold night for em.
and another $$$ cover.
 
Looked out at the pond and guess who's back? Just one this time. Glad i kept the Skunk Ladder. I guess it's time to reapply the coyote pee. Seems the rain may have washed it out. Anyway, put the ladder in there for him. Stupid little creatures.
 
So, as soon as Home Depot opened up I'm off for a 10 foot 1X6 and some furring strips, plus screws. I then come home, cut the furring strips into 5 1/2 inch lengths and screw them to the board crossways to act as climbing cleats. A skunk ladder.
Click to expand...

I knew this as a chicken walk.

While not always essential, ramps or ladders can be beneficial for chickens to access nesting boxes, especially for older or less agile hens, or when boxes are higher off the ground.
Click to expand...

bekeart
 
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