Happy Acres seems to have turned into a playground for raccoons. Just five days after trapping one in the Havahart trap, and losing the bluebird babies to a predator, I found another one in the trap this morning.
I was out for a morning stroll around the grounds, snapping photos for a garden update, when I noticed the wooden nest box was open. The bluebirds have started building in one of the PVC boxes, so I wasn’t too worried. It looks like English sparrows are trying to build in this one.
open nest box (click on any image to enlarge)
When I looked a little closer, I found the raccoon in the trap, no more than 10 feet away from the nest box. This one wasn’t as covered in mud as the last one, but it had been digging in the ground beneath the trap.
another masked bandit
I think we now know for sure that the raccoon(s) are the ones getting in the nest box. They are amazingly adept. This one managed to remove the handle from the top of the trap, which forced me to load it into a wheelbarrow to haul it out front to my truck. The door to the nesting box is secured by a small nail, which seems to be no match for the wiley raccoon.
nail holds door closed
This raccoon, like the last one, is ready to get out. He didn’t have long to wait. I got in the truck and took him to the secluded place where the last one went, about 4-5 miles from HA.
if I could just get to that latch, I'd be outta here
Still, I can’t really get mad at the raccoons. They are doing their raccoon thing, and living up to their reputation as bandits. And this one was more photogenic than the last one that was covered in mud.
look at me, aren't I cute?
Ironically, while I was dealing with the raccoon in the trap, the big rabbit I am trying to catch scampered off nearby. It seems to be saying “na-na-na-na, can’t catch me”. HAH! I don’t give up so easily. We will meet again, wabbit. I’ve got more apples, and plenty of patience.