Pogo The Possum
We had the “Pogo” comic strip in the local paper from early in my newspaper-reading days. The artist, Walt Kelly, had been a reporter for that paper some years ago and it never let us forget it. Pogo was a quiet, philosophical sort of possum, taken to sitting at the pond with a fishing pole.
Which brings us to his cousin, many times removed, who has taken up habitation at the school. He’s not Pogo, he’s not philosophical and he’s not gentle. He’s got these sharp teeth, a nasty temper and likes to wander at night. They will not make a comic strip character out of him.
We think his nest is in a tree near the Campus Center and we hope none of the students will be emboldened by hops & barley to the point of engaging in what they feel are mere social events with our not-cute, not-cuddly neighbor.
They didn’t do anything of the sort when we had a family of skunks in the lower-level courtyard a few years back. Nor did anybody mess around when Mr. and Mrs. Skunk decided to increase and multiply in the bushy area by the dorm.
You see? Students *can* be smart when necessary.
We have squirrels which are fairly tame to us, or at least don’t give us a second look when we go by. The rabbits, by nature, do run, but not that far. The birds just pick at seeds and poop on our cars; they don’t mind us at all.
Which brings us to his cousin, many times removed, who has taken up habitation at the school. He’s not Pogo, he’s not philosophical and he’s not gentle. He’s got these sharp teeth, a nasty temper and likes to wander at night. They will not make a comic strip character out of him.
We think his nest is in a tree near the Campus Center and we hope none of the students will be emboldened by hops & barley to the point of engaging in what they feel are mere social events with our not-cute, not-cuddly neighbor.
They didn’t do anything of the sort when we had a family of skunks in the lower-level courtyard a few years back. Nor did anybody mess around when Mr. and Mrs. Skunk decided to increase and multiply in the bushy area by the dorm.
You see? Students *can* be smart when necessary.
We have squirrels which are fairly tame to us, or at least don’t give us a second look when we go by. The rabbits, by nature, do run, but not that far. The birds just pick at seeds and poop on our cars; they don’t mind us at all.
posted by Tom Carten at 10:42 PM
1 Comments:
''Controlling the Polecat Population'' ( and pay off time if it is so warranted)
Get a cage trap, 7'' high and bait it with pieces of fish, smoked herring works great. the next morning you'll have yourself a skunk. No problem. Cover the cage with a blanket ( Iuse a garbage bag, then slip the covered cage into another garbage bag), put the thing in your car and drive over to ''pay your respects'' to someone who might be on your s*** list, or eve nKirby Park. Bring the wrapped cage int oa brushy area, near water, gently open it and open the trap door BEFORE taking off the blanket/garbage bag. Back off a few steps and freeze. The skunk, now as mixed up as ca nbe, will exit and wake up and take off into the brush. BTW, if you see one skunk, there are others as the yare family people. Figure anywhere from six to eight in a den.
Think I'm putting you on? Been doing this for years! Want pics? When I see your brother I'll have him send a few to you.
If you find their point of entry, sprinkle human hair there and they won't be back.
CJV
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