WORSE THAN SKUNKED

Here in the End of the Rainbow this gardening season has been a  disaster as we have been inundated by chipmunks, squirrels, bunnies, deer and raccoons. This critter population explosion happens when one's sentry ie dog is too old to pursue the creatures wreaking havoc. 

Destruction in the vegetable garden has included decimation of the peas, beans, broccoli, cauliflower and greens. It doesn't take much for a deer to jump a 4ft fence nor for raccoons to scale that same fence/ for bunnies to find enough space to crawl under the fencing to help themselves to the buffet line. 

Then take one evening when both a big and small trap were set by the chicken coop as we had discovered a dead chicken that morning. Upon checking the cages's status the following morning, the small trap had been sprung and the large trap was missing. After scouring the area there on the opposite side of our large garden bed was the missing trap. Obviously the captured soul had dragged it, determined to escape. She was successful both in escaping and trampling an entire row of greens. 

Now I don't mind sharing but destroying my favorite flower planters after knocking them over looking for grubs is plain rude. Don't you agree? There's not one planter left that hasn't been glued back together. 

Well, after one week 5 raccoons have been captured at the coop and relocated together.  We don't believe in separating parents from children. Just saying.

Mama Raccoon and her 4 offspring have been relocated together.

When you live in the woods you always know you're on someone else's turf.  You have to adapt ie taking in the jelly for the birds and getting to the corn before those four legged creatures beat you.  Sometimes you may lose the entire crop. Well, maybe those working cats will help a bit after they are acclimated. 

Never a dull moment here in the End of the Rainbow Valley.