The Ballad of Rocky Raccoon (parts 1 and 2)

Several months ago, I would come into the office in the morning to find that our work cat had had a very exciting night. Her food would be mostly gone, her water bowl filled with a gritty dirt, and generally things in the office were askew. At first we gave the cat the credit for this, thinking her appetite had increased, that she'd lost her table manners, or was trying to tell us something.
About a week later, a neighbor at the office mentioned seeing a possum coming around at night. AH! so that's what's going on! The possum was coming in through the cat door in the middle of the night and wreaking havoc.

After much research about the proper and humane way to dissuade a possum from partying in your office all night, i ordered something online called Shakeaway. This magic brew was supposedly concocted of fox urine, and the predator's scent was enough to keep the possum away from the area. When the Shakeaway arrived, the label showed the active ingredient as garlic extract! No joke! this stuff smelled like my mom after she's been eating a hummus and pesto sandwich!

Shakeaway was a bust. Blocking the cat door each night was impractical. Stronger measures were needed. Enter the Hav-a-Hart trap. This is essentially a cage that snaps shut once the animal takes the bait. No bodily harm is done to the animal. He just finds himself in a cage. The idea being, you don't hurt the animal, you relocate him and everyone is happy.

Imagine my surprise, one fine June morning, when, in the Hav-a-Hart is not the 'possum I anticipated, but a snarling, stinking, raccoon!! With the help of 2 firemen whose station shares an alley with the office, I got the rabid beast into Ben's car, drove him up to Temescal Canyon, and released him into the miles of trees, open spaces, creeks and surely a welcoming committee of wildlife.


Rocky Raccoon in the back of Ben's car

Two months of raccoon-free living later, this past thursday, i walked into the office to find:
-muddy water bowl
-cat food everywhere
-sloppy tracks on the floor

NO! The raccoon returns!! I really don't think it could be the same varmint, but I did not waste any time. Rented the trap, set the trap that night, and asked the neighbor to please call when he woke up to give me the raccoon report. at 6:30am on friday morning, my phone rang. "Kara? The raccoon is in the trap!" Ben was a real peach and agreed to drive with me to the office to retrieve and relocate the raccoon. By 8am Rocky 2 was the newest resident of Temescal Canyon. Whew.


Ben bravely escorts Rocky 2 from the property


Rocky's release into Temescal