Always Something

TorontoJoe

TorontoJoe

Administrator
This morning I went out to maybe 10 bags all like this. It definitely doesn't look like a raccoon. It's weird because the figs were high up the trees and the trees were still standing. The worst thing is that these weren't even ripe figs and nothing was eaten. Just taken off the tree and left on the ground.

Does anyone know what critter might do this? I was thinking squirrels or maybe rats. Although there aren't many rats around here... I've seen I think 2 in 12 years. I don't know if opossums climb but even if they do I don't get why they'd go after the figs and leave them

Perhaps if it a smaller raccoon they're hoping it's a nice sweet fig and then realize they're still full of latex... 

I moved the trail camera to the location. Hopefully it'll pick something up tonight. 



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@"TorontoJoe"#1 . It does look like something the squirrel (who owns my backyard). Did just two days ago. Sadly I only have one large bellaclare sport fig left hanging. No branches broken no leaves on the ground. Just the squirrel. It turns out we have a skunk who likes figs. Also a raccoon, or three, and the squirrel. We closed off with bricks all the skunk holes under the fence. Now I just have to trap me a couple of squirrels, and sadly the Raccoons.
 
Always something.....

I have probably said that 6,241 times this season. lol
Next season I will be better prepared!
Joe...I am curious, hope you get those buggers on film.
well....digital film. :)
 
I moved the trail cam out to the front where the figs and pointed it right at this area with all the activity. I also checked the footage since I hadn't done so in a few days. I was blown away at how many critters walk around at night

One massive raccoon came to visit frequently but only after something else had removed the bait from the trap. 

Over the course of a week though... Raccoon, opossum, rabbit, skunks, Squirrels (day only) and yes, a RAT.  I don't know which are climbing the trees and taking out the unripe figs. Hopefully tomorrow I'll get some footage of the culprit

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And I just noticed I need to set the clock on my camera
 
Joe I think your property is the axis of the critter population. Has it always been like this or has it gotten worse of the years ?
 
I find the squirrels do that here. They really love my Capri for some reason. They take one or two bites and drop them to the ground. And it’s always the unripe figs.
 
Our neighbourhood is somewhat cut off from the surrounding city. We’re right up against Lake Ontario and half way up the bluffs with ~ one road in and out. We have our own little climate and ecosystem… which sometimes very cool. But also makes it a primo habitat for everything. Add to the list deer, coyote, foxes and even these


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Looks comfy in it's cell....the one I caught was upside down playing dead when I went to check the trap. lol

Give it a bus ticket and send it on it's way.
 
Grrrr... looks like I had more than one visitor after all... Back to turkey. I'll have to deal with it later  :@

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GAH! :@ 

Why don't they go grow their own trees!
Opportunistic little snots...and so plump!
Lol...they must eat very well.
 
Wow! Very frustrating! I was lucky again this year until a few weeks ago…my luck ran out. Nothing has ever messed with my organza bags…then a few weeks ago I started getting bags on the ground with the figs mashed up and mostly eaten right out of the bag. These guys were selective though, only taking ripe ones.
 
@"TorontoJoe"#1 they do all seem to be rather plump Joe. LOL and you had just been complaining to your wife you hadn't been trapping very many lately. I guess they were just opening up another front. 

My worry is the skunks. The raccoons can be trapped, but how do you deal with the skunks that's going to have to be an animal control call out here in Berkeley. We closed off all his Escape/ access holes. Hopefully he'll stay on the neighbor's side of the fence. That side of the fence till winter. 

BTW was that giant turkey I saw in a picture invited as a guest to your Thanksgiving party?
 
Skunks are easy. Walk up to them approaching the door end of the trap while holding a tarp in front of you. Lay the tarp over the trap.... and working through the tarp, jam something like a brick in the door to hold it open. then pull the tarp off from a distance with a rope.

Easier way is just to not catch them. Skunks very rarely climb. Raising the trap just to knee height is enough to avoid them altogether. They just don't bother.
 
Lol...that sounds like a good plan to release a skunk.
When I was young my mom caught one, she thought she could ease up there and open it.....nope.
Didn't get her too bad though, not with a direct hit. :D
 
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