Trapper Ron, M.A

About the end of May, Tammy awakens me around 3am saying she hears somethings on the roof.  Sure enough, somethings running around up there.  There's also this sound that we can't place, but it's loud.  I go downstairs to the breezeway in time to see the figure of a raccoon jump from the garage roof to the deck railing and out in to the backyard's darkness. 

The next morning's inspection shows the slats to our roof gable vents have been ripped open.  I bend them back in to place.  Now something has to be done to keep the raccoon off the roof.  I go to Home Depot and purchase some carpet tack strips and nail them to the deck railing.  I also nail some tack strips to some old doorway molding and place it at the corner of the house where I see raccoon tracks going up the vinyl siding. 

Two weeks later, something on the roof again.  This time I beat on the ceiling, and it leaves.  Minor vent ripping this time.  I survey the house, notice raccoon footprints up the other side corner of the house.  I go to Home Depot, buy some more carpet tack strips, and use more old door molding. 

Several days later, I'm weeding our flower bed and catch a glimpse of a raccoon scampering across my side yard into the neighbor's backyard.  Later that same evening, I'm sitting on the back deck and what hops over the fence checking the ground for fallen seed from our bird feeders -- a raccoon.  He starts approaching the deck leaving me in the quandry of staying there or getting up.  I get up and he takes off back over the fence.  An hour later, he comes to the fence, sees I'm still there, and leaves.  Fast foward several days later, I'm sitting on the back deck, and he nonchalantly strolls by the fence not even giving me a glance.

Okay, enough already!!  I'm losing sleep this whole time listening for a raccoon on my roof thinking ever noise I hear is his return.  I have to get him. 

I borrow two Havaheart traps from work.  The first night , I set one up on the deck. Nothing.  Second night.  Nothing.  Third night, I set the second one up near the other side of the house.  Bingo, but it's not a raccoon.  It's a juvenile possum.  The fourth night, there's a baby skunk and another juvenile possum but still no raccoon.  I retire the traps because I'm done dealing with every other animal but the one I want. 

You can probably guess what runs across the street on my way to work that next morning a street up from my house.  It's time to call in the professionals, and by this time next week, my roof gable vents will be pest proof at a cost of 50 dollars apiece. 

I may not have gotten the raccoon to "rest in peace", but soon I will be able to -- nightly.