"Srgnt Billko" wrote in message
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"Chas Hurst" wrote in message
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"Srgnt Billko" wrote in message
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We had overnight guests last night as we were to take them to the
airport at 3AM. We also have a 14 yo Dalmation named Chief (female) who
is very spoiled, has the run of the place, and feels obligated to
protect us. About 1AM she tears off the bed and out the flip door
barking like crazy - louder and longer than usual - right below the
guests open window. It is not unusual for her to go out when she hears
/ smells (?) a skunk, racoon, or cat in the middle of the night. But
she really went at it last night. This morning we found the reason -
there was an opposum caught in the hav-a-hart trap we had set for Mr
Woodchuck. Bleary eyed people on a plane leaving Albany airport.

You will catch everything but a woodchuck by leaving your hav-a-hart out
at night.
Woodchucks are not very active at night while possums, raccoons and, Lord
help you if you catch one, skunks are.


You are right of course - but I am too lazy to close it down nights - and
I am used to setting it at my "woodslot" which is 20 minutes away so I
hadn't really thought about your solution. Thanks And BTW, I have
caught skunks a few times. Been lucky enough not to get sprayed so far.
I come up on the blind end and reach over with a couple rods to open the
other end and prop it open. Raccoons were done in here a few years ago by
rabies but they are starting to make a comeback.

Raccoons, possums, skunks and now coyotes have always been nightime prowlers
in my area.
I caught a skunk in a trap set for a muskrat when I was a kid. It was an
unforgettable experience.