"NJ" wrote in message
...

I am so depressed! I awoke this morning, peered outside and saw two of my
3
year old comets lying on the rim rock of the pond! I ran outside, and
they
were gulping for air; there were scales on the ground, and both fish were
beat up pretty badly.

Thanks to all who chimed in with sympathy or advice. Both comets are doing
wonderfully today; they are swimming normally and eating fine. They look
pretty raggedy, but I think they'll make it. Our neighbors just found
raccoon droppings on their porch roof and the garage roof, so we may both
split the cost of a humane trap. Here in Ohio, though, we are not allowed
to release raccoons--we have to euthanize any we catch, if I am interpreting
the law correctly. So...we have some thinking to do. Also don't want to
risk catching a skunk either!

NJ

NJ wrote:

Thanks to all who chimed in with sympathy or advice. Both comets are doing
wonderfully today; they are swimming normally and eating fine. They look
pretty raggedy, but I think they'll make it. Our neighbors just found
raccoon droppings on their porch roof and the garage roof, so we may both
split the cost of a humane trap. Here in Ohio, though, we are not allowed
to release raccoons--we have to euthanize any we catch, if I am interpreting
the law correctly. So...we have some thinking to do. Also don't want to
risk catching a skunk either!

NJ

Newbie delurking...

Definitely check your local fish and game laws before you use the
trap and be sure to have a plan of action.

Here in California we have to have a Fish & Game permit to even
transport a raccoon in a trap. But, we are allowed to release
them here. As long as they're healthy they get returned to the
general area they came from after they've been trapped and brought
in to the local humane society or after the Wildlife Center declares
them healthy and ready for release.

Back to lurking and trying to figure out how to deal with the pond
I've inherited.

Jan

--
jan(at)panix.com http://www.couchtigers.com
.................................................. .................
Silicon Valley Friends of Ferals : CAT: A pigmy lion that loves
http://www.svff.org : mice, hates dogs, and
Mary Kay Cosmetics, Inc. : patronizes human beings.
http://www.marykay.com/jcordes : --Oliver Herford
...................................:.............. .................

Here in Ohio, though, we are not allowed
to release raccoons--we have to euthanize any we catch, if I am
interpreting
the law correctly. So...we have some thinking to do. Also don't want
to
risk catching a skunk either!


Geezz! Put the trap with with racoon in the car (trunk is probably better),
take him for a ride waaaaay out to the woods somewhere near a stream, and
let him go.

That Fish and Game law is preposterous - kill a perfectly well animal
because some bozo says you should? For what? It's a wild animal and all
you're doing is returning him to a place that's probably better than he came
from. Don't worry about the law - I promise the racoon won't tell.


Michael Fermanis
New Orleans, Louisiana USA (Remove the RICE to reply)
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