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Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Rated V For Violent - may offend some viewers

This morning we noticed that we had more green sprigs of pine tree under our house than dirt for the dirt floor. The more we looked around the more apparent it became that we had an uninvited house guest. So we baited some traps to put out later today as most uninvited house guests are more active at night.

Went down to set them up and lo and behold there was a pack rat (wood rat) that had tried to steal one and ended up with a wry neck. In case you haven't seen a pack rat before with this nearly always fatal injury - this is what one looks like. He and any family that may have burrowed into under the house have been pretty busy. They have chewed up parachute cord in manageable small pieces. They have chewed up our garden hose, pulled out much of the insulation and chewed it up and made a nice cozy nest out of it. They are highly destructive and will chew anything they can get their little teeth into.

So it appears he was pretty tired from chewing up everything under the house and went for a snack - probably thinking he would get away with a little theft. That WNS - wry neck syndrome can really deal out justice to a nasty little critter like this. We should know tomorrow morning if he has any relatives that he brought with him...


9 comments:

Barbara said...

I'm so glad that the picture didn't pull up because I don't like to see anything that died in pain. But believe me, I can understand you not wanting these creatures destroying your property or getting into the house. I live in the country as well and critters are always a problem.......well that is until they meet Amber. She has caught and killed four mice that thought it would be nice to set up house in our house! NOT! I know everything has a right to live, but not in my house......they need to go get their own place! Life is sure tough on animals. Barbara

Bruce said...

I'm with you Barbara inasmuch as I don't like for any animal to die. I make the exception when it comes to pack rats. Last time we had trouble with one I forgot to put the hood on our truck up one night and the next morning all my vacuum hoses had been chewed up and a pack rat nest sat on the engine. I had to have all the vacuum hoses replaced. They also like to chew electrical wires. They can live long lives without WNS if they just stay away from the house and vehicles. Not good when we get a foot of snow like forecast tomorrow and go to start the tractor and find the belts and hoses gone.
I did part one of a blog today on MEN and if you click on of this blog the icon in the top right corner it will take you to it. Made me sick when I learned they used rats, mice cats, dogs, rabbits to test toxic chemicals. Rats I'm okay with but not dogs, cats and rabbits. About how rabbits are blinded with toxic chemicals. Grrrr

Mountain Dream Land said...

To bad the mountain lion that was on the edge of my parking lot last time I was out didn't get this one.

Forbes Park has a wonderful eco system with from little prairie dogs to the magnificent elk and from hummingbirds to eagles, but we can really do without these stinkers.

I was showing a couple of gentlemen from Oklahoma a lot on Stinson a couple of months ago and stopped in the middle of a little meadow the one gentleman asked me if there were many snakes in the park. I answered not many, a few grass snakes but no rattlers at this elevation. He said the reason I asked is theres a snake between your feet. Sure enough there was about a 3 foot grass snake sitting right between my feet. Those guys laughed so hard they about peed themselves.

I have to admit, it was pretty funny!

Raylene said...

Perhaps, you just need to post some "No Tresspassing" signs! I hate to have to dispatch any critter--I have real issues with mouse traps! We have the cutest little house mouse critters in the garage--cute pointy noses surrouded by perky whiskers--HOWEVER, if their activity is going to jeapordize my health and/or well being---Off with their heads! My cats are pretty darn good mousers in the house and garage--they just dispatch but don't eat. Living in the woods, I have plenty of wild life--they need to stay in the woods, however!

Bruce said...

Raylene: They mice we have I usually leave alone but they are the white footed mice. I catch them in a live trap and release them far enough away where they can't come back. They are the carriers of the hantavirus a deadly virus that kills more than cured. I probably didn't spell that right but it is a local virus that is deadly in our area and carried by the white footed mouse. I'd rather have them outside where they belong. This pack rat tunneled at least 4-5 feet to come up under the house. Nest is making sure they are all gone and plugging that hole securely...

Carol said...

Ah, Mike, I just read yours and laughed out loud! We have only see a few snakes since we have been here too...non-lethal and helpful in keeping the insect population down.

Mountain Dream Land said...

That’s what my wife always says about me, “at least you are good for a laugh”. I don’t know whether she’s being complimentary or condescending. When I ask her, she just cuts her eyes at me and smiles.
Guess I’m better off not knowing.

Bruce said...

Now you have me laughing... You just described a husbands dilemma... Bruce

Carol said...

LOL!!! 2nd laugh I have had for the day!