Well last night Operation Rocky Drop was again called into action after a long period of inactivity. But before relating what transpired, I would like to inform you of the rules of engagement for this operation. Since we live on a canyon with many wild animals living behind our back fence, Operation Rocky drop is called into action only when these perpetrators venture out of the canyon and up to the back deck or garage. Otherwise, we love seeing these animals and we even feed table scraps to them but only beyond the back fence. It is kind of “you stay in your territory and we will stay in ours” type of deal. Now when said perps do venture on the deck or into the garage to steal the cat’s food that is considered grounds for relocation. A fairly minor offense if you happen to be a Raccoon ( AKA “Coon”). Now if you are an Opossum (AKA “Possum”) that is considered a capital offense. You ask “why different punishment for same offense”? Well have you seen what a possum looks like? Not sure what God was thinking when he made those hideous things! So, they just die.
Now Raccoons that damage other things like chewing into boxes or containers or knocking things down is another story. That is grounds for capital punishment. Also, complete lack of respect for humans can be a deciding factor in determining the punishment to be handed out.
So here is how the operation went down last night.
Fairly quite night at home, by myself, suddenly I hear a ruckus coming from the back deck. I stepped out the back door just in time to see two coons dive off the window on the covered part of our deck and they knock down a flower pot and dirt goes all over the deck. I screamed at them and they scattered. That was not good, but not enough to activate Operation Rocky Drop. Thinking they learned their lesson I proceeded with the things I was doing. Shortly, I heard another noise and they were back, only this time one was on the deck and the other was rolling in the grass trying to bite through a plastic container that he had gotten off of the deck. I turned on the lights and they had absolutely no reaction. Just kept on with what they were doing, a complete lack of respect for humans! So Operation Rocky Drop was activated. Trap was set and plans were made.
Maybe 5 minutes later, I look out and one perp is in the trap and the other is rolling in the grass with the container in his mouth. I again turned on the lights and he didn’t even notice. That triggered (no pun intended) capital punishment. The trusty Benjamin pellet gun was located but no pellets were to be found. A quick call to my wife and they were located. The gun was loaded and pumped, I stepped out on the deck and the perp in the grass was no where to be found. The container was torn up. As I was standing on the deck surveying the damage, the perp walks out from the cedar tree just off the deck maybe 5 yards away and he proceeds toward me until he is directly under me just off the deck. That was the last straw, a blatant lack of respect! Execution was swift and sure for perp in the grass. Operations were then asked to stand down overnight until captured perp could be relocated. With the morning light the damage was all visible. It looked like a battle field, torn up container with the lid off scattered in the yard, one dead perp and two flower pots knocked over and dirt all over the deck. Sorry no pic as my wife had the digital camera with her.
Jump to relocation operations-.
This is always tricky since no one living in the country wants the perp in their yard either. It is always difficult to find a suitable release point. Since I didn’t get up early enough this morning, it was decided the park & ride lot on 337 would be the designated release point. While not perfect it is near the dry Comal River and should have been a suitable relocation point. Well things do not always go as planned. The trap can be tricky getting the door open. You have to stand the trap on its end with the perp in the bottom of the trap and then pry the catch open to let the door fall open. All the while the perp is growling and snapping at you. Once the door falls open you lean the cage toward the direction you want them to go and they usually proceed in great haste in the direction you point them. This morning for some reason the door had been shifted and the catch would not release. So I am on the back of my truck in my work clothes wrestling with the trap while the prep is trying hard to get to me. Finally after shifting the door and getting it open, I dropped the cage and it points more toward IH35 than the dry Comal River. The perp exited left and proceeded to go toward the other cars parked at the lot instead of the open field toward the Comal. Thankfully, no one was outside of their car. He then headed toward the warehouse building which is near the lot. He went right up on the steps of the building and thankfully no one was on the steps. He was last seen headed around to the front of the warehouse. I hope no one was walking around there cus he was not too friendly towards humans after being in the trap all night.
He was the lucky one and his partner is buzzard bait!
Another successful mission for Operation Rocky Drop.
Thanks for listening!!!
Now Raccoons that damage other things like chewing into boxes or containers or knocking things down is another story. That is grounds for capital punishment. Also, complete lack of respect for humans can be a deciding factor in determining the punishment to be handed out.
So here is how the operation went down last night.
Fairly quite night at home, by myself, suddenly I hear a ruckus coming from the back deck. I stepped out the back door just in time to see two coons dive off the window on the covered part of our deck and they knock down a flower pot and dirt goes all over the deck. I screamed at them and they scattered. That was not good, but not enough to activate Operation Rocky Drop. Thinking they learned their lesson I proceeded with the things I was doing. Shortly, I heard another noise and they were back, only this time one was on the deck and the other was rolling in the grass trying to bite through a plastic container that he had gotten off of the deck. I turned on the lights and they had absolutely no reaction. Just kept on with what they were doing, a complete lack of respect for humans! So Operation Rocky Drop was activated. Trap was set and plans were made.
Maybe 5 minutes later, I look out and one perp is in the trap and the other is rolling in the grass with the container in his mouth. I again turned on the lights and he didn’t even notice. That triggered (no pun intended) capital punishment. The trusty Benjamin pellet gun was located but no pellets were to be found. A quick call to my wife and they were located. The gun was loaded and pumped, I stepped out on the deck and the perp in the grass was no where to be found. The container was torn up. As I was standing on the deck surveying the damage, the perp walks out from the cedar tree just off the deck maybe 5 yards away and he proceeds toward me until he is directly under me just off the deck. That was the last straw, a blatant lack of respect! Execution was swift and sure for perp in the grass. Operations were then asked to stand down overnight until captured perp could be relocated. With the morning light the damage was all visible. It looked like a battle field, torn up container with the lid off scattered in the yard, one dead perp and two flower pots knocked over and dirt all over the deck. Sorry no pic as my wife had the digital camera with her.
Jump to relocation operations-.
This is always tricky since no one living in the country wants the perp in their yard either. It is always difficult to find a suitable release point. Since I didn’t get up early enough this morning, it was decided the park & ride lot on 337 would be the designated release point. While not perfect it is near the dry Comal River and should have been a suitable relocation point. Well things do not always go as planned. The trap can be tricky getting the door open. You have to stand the trap on its end with the perp in the bottom of the trap and then pry the catch open to let the door fall open. All the while the perp is growling and snapping at you. Once the door falls open you lean the cage toward the direction you want them to go and they usually proceed in great haste in the direction you point them. This morning for some reason the door had been shifted and the catch would not release. So I am on the back of my truck in my work clothes wrestling with the trap while the prep is trying hard to get to me. Finally after shifting the door and getting it open, I dropped the cage and it points more toward IH35 than the dry Comal River. The perp exited left and proceeded to go toward the other cars parked at the lot instead of the open field toward the Comal. Thankfully, no one was outside of their car. He then headed toward the warehouse building which is near the lot. He went right up on the steps of the building and thankfully no one was on the steps. He was last seen headed around to the front of the warehouse. I hope no one was walking around there cus he was not too friendly towards humans after being in the trap all night.
He was the lucky one and his partner is buzzard bait!
Another successful mission for Operation Rocky Drop.
Thanks for listening!!!