Here's a pic of me last night picking something up for the pantry:
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Man I have to deal with about half a dozen of them critters, each year. Except instead of carrying a cute little bag they rip the sweet corn, from the stock, and take like 3 bites, and they keep moving on to the next stalk. Well that's just part of living on a farm. I went out to the chicken coop, 2 nights ago, because I heard the chickens making noise. Sure enough there was a opossum, crawling inside the chicken wire. I had my wife hold a flash light, while I clubbed him with my other 4 cell mag light. I knocked him out, with one nice little knock. Anyway he hit the ground, my wife screamed at me, YOU KILLED IT. I giggled, as I grabbed him up by the tail. I say Him, because I knew he was a male (don't need another skunk incident. I mean do you all really want me to have a opossum avatar?) Anyway, I gave him a good lick on the head. Then turned him loose, outside the coop. I watched him role over, and get up, and stumble off. I hated to whack the critter, but I had caught him in a live trap a week prior, and he didn't get the idea then. So I had to make him understand chicken coop bad. But he lives to raid eggs , for another day. Also mended fence, where he got in.
Anyway, when it comes to Raccoons, the standard operational procedure is to catch in live traps. Then I spray paint on the Raccoon, and drive him off, and release him, about 10 miles away, at an animal refuge. Now If I catch a painted Raccoon, That means I have no choice but to shoot. I hate to have to kill them, but they can be a threat to my lively hood. I do everything can to avoid it. But part of living on a farm, that can be difficult at times, is there is a lot of life, but with life comes Death. The life part can be very beautiful. Its the reason I do what I do. I like to create life. plant life, animal life. But I would let your little Raccoon, buddy have a pass. there HeadHodge. Much love. Roaddog....