headexpress
New Member
An overnighter out on the boat with just me and my girlfriend, was spoiled by, yes, a raccoon. He is holed up in the "tunnel" between the starboard side rear cockpit storage shelf and the cabin stereo compartment.
First sign of a problem was Saturday before departure there was a pile of fresh poop on the cabin floor. My mechanic came to the boat at 6 am. to do some work and left the sliding cabin door open when he left around 9 am. Got down to the boat myself around noon, cleaned up the poop, loaded up for the day, and headed out into the South River around 1 pm.
Got up on plane for about 2 minutes then backed down to idle again to raise the VHF antenna I'd forgotten to do earlier. After coming to a stop I get up, turn around and this furry SOB is staring right at me while standing on the 2 step boarding ladder. After dropping a few "F" bombs and almost pooping myself, the bastard goes back into hiding in the tunnel.
Of course I turn around and head back to the dock.....or is it pier. Get home, get a neighbor to try to help flush him out from both ends. No luck. He actually pulled a lacrosse stick out of my neighbors hand that was shoved back into the stereo compartment.
Called county animal control. Officer shows up within an hour and helps to try flushing him out too. We got him to pop his head out of one of the speakers I had removed, but not long enough to get the noose around his neck. Officer gives up, advises calling a trapping service. Local company wants $300 to set a trap and check it for up to 5 days. Ended up buying a trap myself for $70, and setting it up on cockpit floor around 6 pm. with sardines as bait. Checked it many times before going to bed, then woke up at 5 am. Still no luck.
Torrential rain washed out the can of sardines....I think.... while I was sleeping. So today I start the process over again and just wait.....hoping he's not chewing through wires or causing any hidden damage.
My patience is wearing thin, and even though the trap I bought is the "humane" type I'm not so sure I'll be so humane when I finally get him.
Waste of a weekend.
First sign of a problem was Saturday before departure there was a pile of fresh poop on the cabin floor. My mechanic came to the boat at 6 am. to do some work and left the sliding cabin door open when he left around 9 am. Got down to the boat myself around noon, cleaned up the poop, loaded up for the day, and headed out into the South River around 1 pm.
Got up on plane for about 2 minutes then backed down to idle again to raise the VHF antenna I'd forgotten to do earlier. After coming to a stop I get up, turn around and this furry SOB is staring right at me while standing on the 2 step boarding ladder. After dropping a few "F" bombs and almost pooping myself, the bastard goes back into hiding in the tunnel.
Of course I turn around and head back to the dock.....or is it pier. Get home, get a neighbor to try to help flush him out from both ends. No luck. He actually pulled a lacrosse stick out of my neighbors hand that was shoved back into the stereo compartment.
Called county animal control. Officer shows up within an hour and helps to try flushing him out too. We got him to pop his head out of one of the speakers I had removed, but not long enough to get the noose around his neck. Officer gives up, advises calling a trapping service. Local company wants $300 to set a trap and check it for up to 5 days. Ended up buying a trap myself for $70, and setting it up on cockpit floor around 6 pm. with sardines as bait. Checked it many times before going to bed, then woke up at 5 am. Still no luck.
Torrential rain washed out the can of sardines....I think.... while I was sleeping. So today I start the process over again and just wait.....hoping he's not chewing through wires or causing any hidden damage.
My patience is wearing thin, and even though the trap I bought is the "humane" type I'm not so sure I'll be so humane when I finally get him.
Waste of a weekend.
