We've had a raccoon living in our backyard tree for about a month now. A very big raccoon. He's not the first one, but he has stayed the longest. This tree is in the center of my backyard, only 20 ft. from my backdoor and about 10 ft. from my chicken coop. I caught him one time at my back door when I absent-mindedly let my lab outside to potty at 11 pm - frighteningly they were the same size. I cursed myself for not turning the light on first - thank God it bolted away and my ding dong dog ran the other direction. I've gone outside and yelled at him, thrown rocks, tried spraying it with the hose and warned it to move on, but to no avail. Of course, my kids had to name him. He sat in the tree every night from 7-9 pm (often during our dinner hour), bathing and watching my chickens as I put them away. My coop and run are strong. Surprisingly, I have seen zero signs of attempted entry. I have been willing to co-exist for now, saying that until he screws up, he can stay.
Well, I spent a couple days on this forum, and made the decision that Rocky must go. I sensed that he was feeling right at home by now. He knew exactly where the chickens were and what my schedule was. Would his first infraction include the decimation of my small flock? Or damage to my coop, I suppose for that matter?
Even tho we are in the city, my DH went out with his gun and waited for him to begin his decent from our large tree. It only took 2 shots. My kids, who were ordered to stay in their room, sat and cried.
I don't know why I'm telling you all this - I guess that I feel a little bad about killing him when he didn't do anything wrong. I don't feel that we did the *wrong* thing, just sort of guilty. Writing about it makes me feel a little better. Thanks guys.
Well, I spent a couple days on this forum, and made the decision that Rocky must go. I sensed that he was feeling right at home by now. He knew exactly where the chickens were and what my schedule was. Would his first infraction include the decimation of my small flock? Or damage to my coop, I suppose for that matter?
Even tho we are in the city, my DH went out with his gun and waited for him to begin his decent from our large tree. It only took 2 shots. My kids, who were ordered to stay in their room, sat and cried.
I don't know why I'm telling you all this - I guess that I feel a little bad about killing him when he didn't do anything wrong. I don't feel that we did the *wrong* thing, just sort of guilty. Writing about it makes me feel a little better. Thanks guys.
