Small Two Car Operation

[HSpencer]

Herb, I feel for you. A squirrel chewed through the screening on a soffit vent and turned our attic into her nursery/sauna. I put a black sunflower seed buffet out for her and while she was gorging on that I installed welded 1/4" mesh in the hole before covering with a new soffit screen. It's amazing how much damage they can do. I'm feeling much better about sending Bob Jr. to meet his maker.

Bob

I have also been through the squirrel in the soffit thing too. One got in the exhaust vent on my spa house and I had to weave hard strong wire in the vent pipe to defeat his entrance. He chewed up some soffit trying to get out. It is a pain to deal with them!!

Best Regards
Herb

 

[HSpencer]

Herb: yep Squirrels are just rats/mice with fuzzy tails that have not been killed on site like rats/mice have. they usually do damage to roofs and houses exteriors, but not surprised that one likes your basement. since you showed a mouse that you'd caught it sounds like a party was going on under your house.

i agree with your process of closing it up and then putting on better screening as you are doing. WELL DONE!!

not sure if you are using bird feeders or leaving food out for birds or other animals, but squirrels are the bi product of excess food supply as are rats/mice and flying rats (crows & starlings up here in the PNW) so we are reluctant to feed the birds. i'm planning on hanging some hummingbird feeders cause we've got them all over the place here and not sure how they survive in the winters. if you do have bird feeders making them inaccessible for squirrels isn't easy, but cleaning up spills and excess on the ground can help.

good luck


ANY FISH STORIES??

drives

Thanks for your encouragement and comments. Fishing report will be somewhat delayed as it has "been backburnered" to the home needs. I do feed birds and that may have to be adjusted somehow.

On the progress, so far so good.

Best Regards
HS

 

[sean Buick 76]

Keep up the great work, we are enjoying the ride and appreciate the nice pics as you go !

 

[HSpencer]

sean

Thank you that is very encouraging! Today I bought a roll of wire and screen, several treated 1X6's, a new Dewalt Hammer Drill, and a lot of screws and anchors to make the 12 crawlspace vents. I will also make covers for the winter when I want to close the vents.

I will fix this PROPERLY and the little critters will be locked out for good!!

Best Regards
Herb

 

[HSpencer]

The POS Squirrel

Last night the little jerk decided to rip up the screen on my newly made crawlspace box door. I learned quickly that I have to "sandwich" the screen between two pieces of heavy rabbit wire. I heard him last night ripping on it around 1:00 am and I went out with a light but no sign of him. He was inside, so that is good as the heavy wire held him. I will get in two squirrel traps from Amazon on Monday. His days are numbered!!

I repaired the crawl space door and made another frame for the other door.
This time I did sandwich the screen, so hopefully either side he tries the screen will hold.

Best Regards
Herb

 

[1/2 Cup]

Herb, great work on your screen.

IMHO I do not think you will have an issue..

Just going over your pictures again, your shop would be a pleasure to work in..

Regards

 

[HSpencer]

Crawlspace Door

Here is the finished crawlspace door I made for the larger door. It has doubled 1x2 Cedar, and sandwiched screen in between two layers of rabbit wire.

My new Dewalt Hammer Drill went though the brick like butter. It has already paid it's way!!

Best Regards
Herb

 

[HSpencer]

1/2 Cup

Thanks I think I have the barriers down now. It will come down to:
Catching the jerk in a squirrel trap. (1)
OR
Me going in after him. (That would be a Spec Ops mission). (2)

Number two does NOT set well with the wife.

Best Regards
Herb (aka "Noble 6")

 

[bj383ss]

That is quite an adventure you are on Herb. My dad has a lot squirrel problems at his house. They like to chew on his siding and soffit boards. One got in the attic and feel into a crawl space behind the toilet room and died. My dad had to get up in there and careful fish it out with some kind of contraption he made. It stunk awful.

Another incident at their lake house he locked a skunk is his workshop for 2 weeks. When he got back it ran out and sprayed him. It took almost a year for his shop to not stink. It also tore up a bunch of the insulation on his walls.

Hope you catch the critter.

Bret

 

[ajohno]

Great work on the screens Herb.

 

[taumac]

Herb, I say you go on "seek and destroy" on the unwelcome visitor.

One question I have is with your crawl spaces like such do you have to worry about bugs entering your home from the crawl space? Down here we have cement foundation and block homes and found out we have enough issues trying to keep them out. Its even worse with the raining season when everything is looking for a dry place.

 

[HSpencer]

That is quite an adventure you are on Herb. My dad has a lot squirrel problems at his house. They like to chew on his siding and soffit boards. One got in the attic and feel into a crawl space behind the toilet room and died. My dad had to get up in there and careful fish it out with some kind of contraption he made. It stunk awful.

Another incident at their lake house he locked a skunk is his workshop for 2 weeks. When he got back it ran out and sprayed him. It took almost a year for his shop to not stink. It also tore up a bunch of the insulation on his walls.

Hope you catch the critter.

Bret

Bret

I hope the thing does not have to die under the house. Hopefully, I will get him in one of the squirrel traps I have coming in. My plan is to tie a rope to the trap, and when I get him in it, I will pull it to the door, and load him in my truck. We will then take him way out in the bojacks and let him go. If he tears up the trap and I can't open the door, I may just pitch trap and all in a remote lake near here.

Thanks so much for your visit!!

Best Regards
Herb

 

[HSpencer]

Great work on the screens Herb.

Thanks

This thing has driven me nuts for too long. I am totally ready for a solution.
Hopefully, it will come soon!!

Thanks Again!

Best regards
Herb

 

[HSpencer]

Herb, I say you go on "seek and destroy" on the unwelcome visitor.

One question I have is with your crawl spaces like such do you have to worry about bugs entering your home from the crawl space? Down here we have cement foundation and block homes and found out we have enough issues trying to keep them out. Its even worse with the raining season when everything is looking for a dry place.

Gerard

Actually this is the first problem I have had under the house. My house is cement block foundation with crawl space, and it is very well sealed. The problem is the aluminum three louver crawlspace vents. They have a screen behind the louvers to keep out bugs and mice, but a squirrel can take one swipe at the screen and rip it right out, as you saw in the picture. Nothing before like this has happened, and I just open the vents in the spring, and close them in the winter. The louvers are aluminum and light weight. Most of them are now torn up by the squirrels.

Once over this ordeal, I will make HEAVY DUTY crawlspace vents on the manner you saw in the above pictures I posted. Cedar frame, rabbit wire, and the best screen I can find. I have 12 to make, and they will be like the door I made and posted today.

Thanks for visiting as always!! I hope to post the @@##@(@* in a cage SOON!!!

Best Regards
Herb

 

[HSpencer]

Raccoon

No photo as it was 2:00 am this morning. I heard him and went out with flashlight.
He was staring through the wire on the crawlspace door. I think he wanted to surrender.
I removed the door and slipped behind a maple tree where I could observe in the moonlight.
In about 20-30 minutes he ambled out, looking weak and ready to get out of there.

I quickly replaced the crawl door, and all was quiet the rest of the night. He/She is gone and I am glad to know what it was. Might be babies still but we will have to wait and see.

More details, if any, to follow.

Best Regards
Herb

 

[drivesitfar]

HS: well success (HOPEFULLY) and WELL DONE!!

i used to think my mortar bits were dull too until i put a lot more horse power behind them with my Milwaukee hammer drill. now i have to be careful not to blast through the cement block when before i thought digging with a spoon would have been faster.

you've been an EMPTY NESTER for a while and the squirrel ordeal might have reminded you of having roomates. well we'll be Empty nesters on Monday now that my daughter is moving out. good to hear you are empty nesters again (hopefully)

 

[HSpencer]

HS: well success (HOPEFULLY) and WELL DONE!!

i used to think my mortar bits were dull too until i put a lot more horse power behind them with my Milwaukee hammer drill. now i have to be careful not to blast through the cement block when before i thought digging with a spoon would have been faster.

you've been an EMPTY NESTER for a while and the squirrel ordeal might have reminded you of having roomates. well we'll be Empty nesters on Monday now that my daughter is moving out. good to hear you are empty nesters again (hopefully)

Drives

Yes, I can assure you I will have this place mouse, squirrel, and racoon proofed and will keep it that way. I did not realize this was such a problem until I searched the internet about it. I am still waiting to know if there are any young ones. I may have to go under and take my big light.

Thanks for your encouragement!!

Best Regards
Herb

 

[drivesitfar]

HS: did you remove the bird feeder too while you are sending the squirrel on his way down the road? now that you might have him/her not in your crawl space it might be a good time to remove any food sources to keep him/her from hanging around.

i hope you don't have babies in your crawl space so crossing my fingers for you.

good luck

 

[HSpencer]

Raccoon - 3
Herb Spencer - 0

This is what I woke up to this morning. The raccoon came in the night and ripped up my door, and eventually found his way in through the vent where the air conditioner pipes were routed. This was heavily foamed by the installer and the foam was about 8 inches thick. It is very hard and tough to even saw off once it is dried.

Well I worked all day fixing that stuff. Now the big girl is back under the house and I am freaking out.

The city sent up Chris, the animal control officer and he set out some heavy duty traps under the house. If we catch anything he will come and get it out.

I am getting pretty frustrated, but no damn raccoon is going to beat me!!
Chris is also looking for someone around here with a dog that likes to catch raccoons.

Best Regards
Herb

 

[HSpencer]

HS: did you remove the bird feeder too while you are sending the squirrel on his way down the road? now that you might have him/her not in your crawl space it might be a good time to remove any food sources to keep him/her from hanging around.

i hope you don't have babies in your crawl space so crossing my fingers for you.

good luck

Drives

We are pretty careful with our bird feeding, but some seeds do drop on the ground. It has been empty for the last several days.
Aside from having to repair all the damaged gates and vents yesterday, it has been fairly quiet last night and today.
Nothing has touched the two traps set under the house. If anything was still there it would seem they would have at least nudged the traps to get the bait.
I am in a wait and see mode right now.

Best Regards
Herb

 

[drivesitfar]

HS: I tend to agree with your bride to observe from outside the crawl space. if you have to go in do you have a tazer or some sort of protection cause meeting critters in tight spaces where they are cornered is only for the well dressed and ready.

good luck and hopefully they are gone and never coming back.

 

[HSpencer]

All and Drives

I spent this day repairing all the damage from Monday's Raccoon attack. I also designed a crawlspace vent as shown in the first photo to replace all my vents.
These are doubled 1X2's with screen sandwiched between heavy rabbit wire.

I will have all vents done this week.

I now have gone under the house to look around. I found a connection left by the heat/air duct between the front bathroom and the rest of the house. I fixed that with wire and 1x2 boards. I should not have to worry about the front bathroom anymore.

Sunday, my Son in Law will come over and we will decide if we want to take up some of the dining room floor. This area is low and hard to get to from the crawlspace door. That room is served by flex duct, and may have been damaged by the raccoons. Additionally I want to make a screen and rabbit wire frame to deny any access under that room.
We were going to do new floors in the dining room anyway, so it will be just another step.

I feel my house is fully baracaded now. I still have three live animal traps working under the house. Hopefully I will catch something soon!!

Best Regards
Herb

 

[HSpencer]

Got One!!!!

I finally trapped one of the young ones last night. I don't know if the mother is still around or not, but she bulldozed off my heavy wire door. I went to the hardware store today and got 1/2 Tapcon Studs with nuts to replace the torn out plastic anchors. The POS will need a wrench now to open the door.

Wife thinks it is cute. It may be but has caused me a lot of labor.

Best Regards
Herb

 

[ajohno]

Great catch Herb. I'm sure these critters are testing you. They don't want you to go fishing.

 

[Grumblebum]

Winner winner raccoon dinner

GB

 

[rmalkow2]

You'd look right smart fishing by the river in a Daniel Boone style **** skin hat.

But seriously, glad you caught it and hope you release it far away from your property so it cannot find the way home.

 

[Squashfest81]

Nice catch. I'm seeing a road trip in your future.

 

[HSpencer]

Great catch Herb. I'm sure these critters are testing you. They don't want you to go fishing.

ajohno

Yes they have tested me well!! I am only now beginning to feel the upper hand on them. The mother tried my defenses last night but they held up and she gave up.

Hope it is coming to an end!

Thanks for your comments!!

Best Regards
Herb

 

[HSpencer]

Winner winner raccoon dinner

GB

GB

Never before have I had anything like this here. I have tried eveything to keep the things in OR out, so I will know where the mother raccoon is. I think I am winning allright, but no dinner. They are cute but nasty.

Best Regards
Herb

 

[HSpencer]

[/B]

You'd look right smart fishing by the river in a Daniel Boone style **** skin hat.

But seriously, glad you caught it and hope you release it far away from your property so it cannot find the way home.

rmalkow2

They do have a strong homing instinct. The little ones are taken well away and released, but I am asking for the mother raccoon to be put down. I have heard of them returning from many miles for another shelter to have their litter.

Thanks for visiting!!

Best Regards
Herb

 

[HSpencer]

SQ

Thanks for coming by. I am well ready to get back to normal and have that fishing vacation as soon as I can. Your building is looking good. You have done lots of work there!

Best Regards
Herb

 

[drivesitfar]

HS: i don't blame you for wanting to relocate the raccoons, but I actually like those little guys. they have a great personality if able to play and not be shot or hunted. my grandparents lived in the country so they'd have lots of critters and i still remember not being able to go out in the backyard one day cause there was a mother skunk and her babies that were staying under their home in the crawl space.

maybe it's a good thing you didn't go fishing after seeing this painting.

i also found a T shirt sitting in a shop's window that might hit home with you.

cheers

 

[HSpencer]

Monday Morning's Raccoon attack

I was enjoying Father's Day yesterday, especially knowing the mother raccoon was out from under the house. I thought my defenses were just right.

She came in the night and first pulled back the siding in the corner and upper part of dining room. No entry there, so she digs under the sidewall only to hit a concrete wall.

Next she tears up the kitchen window screen and vertical siding.

Finally she digs under and tunnels into what I thought was a sealed off vent.

So I worked all day fixing this with some really heavy duty material.

I WILL prevail!! But I am afraid she is back under the dining room.

See next post for photos

Best Regards
Herb

 

[HSpencer]

Here are the photos of the damage. See above post.

Best Regards
Herb

 

[Denwood]

Wow, that is one persistent raccoon! It appears to be testing your resolve too Herb.

Hopefully she'll give up before anything more drastic needs to be done.

 

[ajohno]

Far out Herb. I hate it when I get mice. All the best catching the rest off the critters.

 

[BoilermakerFan]

I suspect she has pups or kits, or whatever baby raccoons are called under there. You may need the help of a pro. But at least it isn't skunks!

I live in the city limits so all I ever seemed to catch was the neighbor's cats. Had a problem with a possum. Funny part was one day a week or so later it ran out in front of my car in daylight on a busy street so I couldn't avoid it even if I wanted too. My car was a 2012 Ford Focus. It sits really low to the ground. The possum ducked in the middle of the road, but not low enough. Took care of the problem.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Herb, persistence will pay off.

Regards

 

[rmalkow2]

Sorry to hear that latest raccoon news Herb. I thought DNR was going to put her down? They are very persistent and destructive. If there is no refuge or zoo that will take it I'm afraid you will need the more permanent solution for this one.

 

[BUGTHUG]

I suspect she has pups or kits, or whatever baby raccoons are called under there. You may need the help of a pro. But at least it isn't skunks!

I would bet she has babies in there somewhere?