Inappropriate Relocation

[quote author="graphrix" date=1245326285]Just FYI... I have a very high powered and accurate air rifle. I am willing to offer my services, even if it could mean being arrested. It's the sacrifice I am willing to make for BK's avocados and Cayci's famous guacamole.</blockquote>


Do not want. You'll shoot your eye out, kid.



<img src="http://tbn3.google.com/images?q=tbn:V8erPnLXKa2mgM:http://carpefactum.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/12/01/christmas_story_ralphie.jpg" alt="" />



Be sure to drink your Ovaltine.



-IR2
 
For those that are new here, my disdain for destructive small creatures (like squirrels and evil rabbits) <a href="http://www.irvinehousingblog.com/forums/viewthread/661/">came about from an awgee rant about Countryfried in 2007</a>.



Man... I miss Eff, Troop, EvaL, lendingmaestro, and the "rational" Janet.
 
[quote author="tmare" date=1245322067] Having a few miniature daschunds over the years ensures that you will have to deal with possums, like it or not. Boy, do I have some stories.</blockquote>


Ok, I'll bite.... tmare, please, do tell one of your DOG vs POSSUM stories! ;)
 
[quote author="GeorgeO" date=1245362948][quote author="tmare" date=1245322067] Having a few miniature daschunds over the years ensures that you will have to deal with possums, like it or not. Boy, do I have some stories.</blockquote>


Ok, I'll bite.... tmare, please, do tell one of your DOG vs POSSUM stories! ;)</blockquote>




One night I came into my living room and one dachshund was pushing a very large possum through the doggie door (in the sliding glass door), while the other one was in the house was pulling him through the doggie door. It was amazing teamwork since the thing weighed more than them and was completely limp. Of course, the possum was playing dead so I had to go around the house to grab one dog and put him in the garage and I grabbed the dog from inside the house and put him in a bedroom. They howled and barked while the possum remained half in and half out of the doggie door for about 15 minutes. I just couldn't watch anymore so I went into the kitchen and a few minutes later when I checked, he was gone.
 
I salute you "trap and relocate" folks. I do not like to kill any critters if at all possible. I have relocated scorpions, snakes, tarantulas, turtles, pack-rats and more. I think I will be rewarded in the end.
 
I grew up in Georgia where squirrels were the primary target for young hunters with air rifles such as myself. I can still remember how to skin one if you ever wanted to make a gamey-tasting meal... Every house with a kid in my old neighborhood had a big piece of wood out back with tacked and salted squirrel pelts drying out.



From the pelts would come these and other nifty apparel:



<img src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/images/deller_squirrel_01.jpg" alt="" />
 
My parents aren't 90 but they do the same thing back East with groundhogs. They leave the fig, apple and cherry trees alone but they love to dig under the garden fence and eat the tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. So my dad baits the catch and release trap and catches a ground hog at least once a week. He then inappropriately relocates the critters to parks in the area.



Once he and my mom were dropping off a groundhog at a big open field with a pond near an office park at night and the security guard caught them. When he asked my dad what they were doing he started stammering and the guy got alarmed and started calling for backup. My mom showed them the critter and the guy started laughing and let him release the animal. They stick to public parks now but at least a few miles away from home so they don't find their way back.
 
I am sure that people will question if this is real or not, but I know a girl who lived on the east coast. Her father caught a lobster and didnt know what it was, and drove it to the forest to release it. Can you imagine what that lobster was thinking? "WTF man... what did I ever do to you?" Probably the epitome of inappropriate relocation. I still cant think about it without laughing.
 
[quote author="acpme" date=1245366794]tarantulas??? i have yet to see one of those in the yard.</blockquote>


We live in a semi-canyon setting and it appeared in the garage one day. I coaxed it into a tupperware contained and drove out to a more remote setting and set it free! I think it was appreciative :)
 
[quote author="SoOCOwner" date=1245374594][quote author="acpme" date=1245366794]tarantulas??? i have yet to see one of those in the yard.</blockquote>


We live in a semi-canyon setting and it appeared in the garage one day. I coaxed it into a tupperware contained and drove out to a more remote setting and set it free! I think it was appreciative :)</blockquote>


Or you can keep it as a pet. I used to have one. You feed them crickets. (Hmm, another way to relocate crickets you find in the house?!)
 
There are just too many trees in the rear yards and squirrels can travel for miles leaping trees like Tarzan without ever having to touch the ground. My deterrent devices will not stop them when they can climb up other trees and leap 10' across the air like Jacky Chan and land on the top of the avocado tree canopy.



I do not have a tall and stable enough ladder to secure the top of the tree from the infiltrators. Birds and other flying creatures also eat the budding avocados as well. The only way to creature proof the tree is to sit there for the whole day to guard the crop.



I guess in Irvine no one ever have to deal with these estate lot size problems. Most natural creatures would feel too claustrophobic for most Irvine yards except for the high density dwellers like fire ants.
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1245378711]

I guess in Irvine no one ever have to deal with these estate lot size problems. Most natural creatures would feel too claustrophobic for most Irvine yards except for the high density dwellers like fire ants.</blockquote>


You might be surprised. The woodbury townhome we are renting doesn't have a single blade of glass. But in our all cement courtyard we have potted citrus trees and other plants. A praying mantis has been on my orange/lemon/lime/mandarin grafted combination tree for weeks now. I see a hummingbird in that same tree every couple days since something is always flowering on it. I see lizards sunning themselves on the stone wall in the courtyard. We have a pair of ducks that lives under the mailboxes on our street. No squirrels that I've seen but Woodbury is full of rabbits.
 
[quote author="NewToOC" date=1245389250][quote author="bkshopr" date=1245378711]

I guess in Irvine no one ever have to deal with these estate lot size problems. Most natural creatures would feel too claustrophobic for most Irvine yards except for the high density dwellers like fire ants.</blockquote>


You might be surprised. The woodbury townhome we are renting doesn't have a single blade of glass. But in our all cement courtyard we have potted citrus trees and other plants. A praying mantis has been on my orange/lemon/lime/mandarin grafted combination tree for weeks now. I see a hummingbird in that same tree every couple days since something is always flowering on it. I see lizards sunning themselves on the stone wall in the courtyard. We have a pair of ducks that lives under the mailboxes on our street. No squirrels that I've seen but Woodbury is full of rabbits.</blockquote>


The ducks won't last long but the rabbits will be there forever. Asians do not have a rabbit recipe.



<img src="http://www.ecologylab.org/oxyalum/images/road_duck.jpg" alt="" />
 
[quote author="ipoplaya" date=1245367693]I grew up in Georgia where squirrels were the primary target for young hunters with air rifles such as myself. I can still remember how to skin one if you ever wanted to make a gamey-tasting meal... Every house with a kid in my old neighborhood had a big piece of wood out back with tacked and salted squirrel pelts drying out.



From the pelts would come these and other nifty apparel:



<img src="http://bikeportland.org/wp-content/images/deller_squirrel_01.jpg" alt="" /></blockquote>


I see I am not the only person here who has skinned a squirrel. I must admit after you have made your preparatory cuts, when you actually yank the skin off the animal, it is kind of creepy.
 
[quote author="SoCal78" date=1245390103]What do you mean we have no wildlife, Bk? We have plenty of termites. ;-)</blockquote>


In Irvine you can't use "plenty" you have to use the following specific term : Termite Density is 14,400 per sf.
 
[quote author="bkshopr" date=1245391787]

The ducks won't last long but the rabbits will be there forever. Asians do not have a rabbit recipe.



<img src="http://www.ecologylab.org/oxyalum/images/road_duck.jpg" alt="" /></blockquote>


I actually haven't seen the ducks for about a week. Crap!
 
[quote author="IrvineRenter" date=1245392354]



I see I am not the only person here who has skinned a squirrel. I must admit after you have made your preparatory cuts, when you actually yank the skin off the animal, it is kind of creepy.</blockquote>


I agree re: the creepy factor. I can still remember the sound despite it being over 30 years ago the last time I did it...



Those prepatory cuts are not something many Cali natives could handle I suspect either.
 
[quote author="tmare" date=1245364779][quote author="GeorgeO" date=1245362948][quote author="tmare" date=1245322067] Having a few miniature daschunds over the years ensures that you will have to deal with possums, like it or not. Boy, do I have some stories.</blockquote>


Ok, I'll bite.... tmare, please, do tell one of your DOG vs POSSUM stories! ;)</blockquote>




One night I came into my living room and one dachshund was pushing a very large possum through the doggie door (in the sliding glass door), while the other one was in the house was pulling him through the doggie door. It was amazing teamwork since the thing weighed more than them and was completely limp. Of course, the possum was playing dead so I had to go around the house to grab one dog and put him in the garage and I grabbed the dog from inside the house and put him in a bedroom. They howled and barked while <strong>the possum remained half in and half out of the doggie door</strong> for about 15 minutes. I just couldn't watch anymore so I went into the kitchen and <strong>a few minutes later when I checked, he was gone</strong>.</blockquote>


OMG, what if it came in rather than out? I would have beat that thing right out the doggy door with a broom. You deal with these issues much better than I would.
 
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