The proverbial ink had barely dried on my last “war on the groundhog” post. As I flung open the door of the shed to replenish the marauded supply of sunflower seed, I saw this.
Clearly there would be no truce in this war. Game on.
Then I looked a little closer. And saw it.
Eeeeeeeekkkkkk! (I squealed like a little girl. Ran for the camera. Then ran to interrupt Mike from his mowing so he could witness…this.
And all of these.
Yup. A new hole (not the same one Mr./Ms Groundhog was using in the far right corner), occupied near as I can tell by one big mama possum and two not-so-small babies. Not one of them playing the least bit fake-dead as I snapped away (with Mike exclaiming how cute they were, and jerking my chain calling them “weasels” … just like I did when I found a little baby one dead in the yard a couple months ago…a sibling perhaps?)
Did I mention replacing the floor of the shed has been on our to-do list for a while now?
And I thought I wanted to live in the country.
What’s next? (Dear God, there was that skunk family in the driveway one night a couple years back…)
Should I dig up a NO VACANCY sign? Round up a few more traps? Or is it time to cede the outpost, padlock the door, retreat, and defend the homestead instead?
A story to me means a plot where there is some surprise.
Because that is how life is — full of surprises.
~ Isaac Bashevis Singer
Writing by Ear 
RL said,
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 8:20 am
Hee, hee, they’re pretty cute. Where’s Bill Murray when you need him? Maybe target practice should move up on the activity list for 2010. As far as country living goes, better these than some of the invaders you could run into in a more urban setting….
chappy said,
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 10:37 am
haa, haa, haa, haa, haa, haa…..
WritingbyEar said,
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 10:44 am
You are so right RL — ask my sister about the horrors of finding vermin of the urban, long-tail variety in her garden! And chappy, just wait until you have the next whitetail invasion…
facie said,
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 11:13 am
They ARE kind of cute. But eek! This summer a bald groundhog ran into our always open garage. Kind of scary. The yellow jacket infestation is bad enough, thank you.
jewels said,
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 3:28 pm
HA! I love how they are just looking at you and not trying to get away. The deer near us love the apple trees near our driveway and just stand there and graze away as you pass them. We must be making life too easy for them!
WritingbyEar said,
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Yeah, Jewels, free room and board is making life way too easy. And Facie, I hear you about the bees — we have ground bees in the front yard,so you take your life in your hands anytime you walk through, let alone mow. (I got stung a couple weeks ago.)
jewels said,
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 10:33 pm
I think my next house is going to be a penthouse apartment in the middle of the city. Wanna join me?
WritingbyEar said,
Wednesday, September 9, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Oh, very Lisa Douglas, Jewels…”Newwww York is where I’d rather stay….I get ALLERGIC smelling hay…I just adore a penthouse view. Darling I love you but give me Park Avenue…” (do do do do do The chores! do do, do do do, The stores! do do do do do Fresh Air! do do do do do Times Square!…) Sigh, why can’t I remember useful things as well as I remember old TV show theme songs?
chappy said,
Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 11:12 am
yes lisa douglas had it right….though give me portland!
robbie said,
Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 3:20 pm
At work we are currently having a rid-the-rodent campaign. In its three weeks, we have captured/killed 8 racoons,1 opossum and 17 ground hogs. Not that you are inundated like us, but maybe some Bob, Sr. skills with pitchfork would do the trick?
WritingbyEar said,
Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 3:30 pm
Wow!!! Are you sure you folks aren’t interested in weeding out insurgents? Quite the haul!
Ah yes, if only we had Bob Sr’s steely constitution and skill with the ‘fork…(remember I’m the “squeal and run” type and Mike is much too soft-hearted — I’m the bug-killer in this house. Though he’s better once things are actually dead — he’s the mousetrap emptier and extractor-of-smelly-dead-bunnies-from-the-dryer-vent)
Rege said,
Friday, September 11, 2009 at 9:51 am
I’ve never had “possum” although I have found groundhog(woodchuck, earthpig) delicious in a sweet and sour sauce. I believe there is a live trap at your mothers.
WritingbyEar said,
Friday, September 11, 2009 at 9:58 am
Yes, the trap was my plan for the groundhog (mentioned it in that post), and I have experience with that, but finding the possums threw me — what if I trap a baby and not the mom or vice versa? Don’t want to split up the family if they’re not ready to go solo yet.
If you’d like to try your hand at fricaseed (or General Tso’s) groundhog, I know where you can find a very well-fed one (raised on only the finest delicate plants and flowers). Where’s Uncle Leo when you need him?