See this article; they need re-enforcements.

-- r (r.1@juno.com), June 06, 2000

Answers

Is the gopher kingdom allied with the Squirrels? I'm currently doing battle with a gopher population numbering at least one per square foot (and I have 1.6 acres)! Electronic warfare (non-lethal) seems to be helping, but it's too early to tell. Any of you with gopher influence, please help!!!

-- Flash (flash@flash.hq), June 06, 2000.

I've never had a problem with squirrels,possums or cats...one pop with the trusty .22 takes care of em...

-- SK (the squirrel killer@theyre history.com), June 06, 2000.

you shoot squirrels, possums AND cats?! grrrrrr

-- cin (cin@cin.cin), June 06, 2000.

I didn't originally put them in any particular order...the subject at the time was about tree rats..which can make a mighty fine stew..possums are just trash rats..I've heard of people eating them but have not..cats are just a nuisance generally..I usually put a round right behind them to see how high they jump..then attempt to nail em on the way down..but if you miss them then you can waste a few rounds as they run..similar to that old saying:"running like a scalded cat"...

-- SK (the squirrel killer@fun to shoot cats.com), June 06, 2000.

You're sick

-- cin (cin@cin.cin), June 06, 2000.

F;ash-

I'm desperate-what specific products have you found effective against gophers? They're driving me NUTS! Very destructive creature and ever so prolific!! ARRGGHHHHHHHHHH!!! Any help appreciated.

-- Aunt Bee (SheriffAndy@Mayberry.com), June 07, 2000.

Aunt Bee,

I got some Go Pher It electronic garden stakes at the hardware store that run off of 4 C-batteries. They are a little pricy, I think around $30 or so each, but they seem to work good and cover a 25 foot radius. They make an annoying high-pitched buzzing sound every 15 seconds.

At first, for a couple of weeks, the gophers appear to be more active. Then, suddenly they move away. Supposedly the sticks run 4 to 6 months on a set of batteries.

So Far (about 2 months) they seem to be working.

-- Flash (flash@flash.hq), June 07, 2000.

Cin:

I agree.

-- Normally (Oxsys@aol.com), June 07, 2000.

cin.I guess I am a little sick just for joking about shooting cats..usually when they are messing with the songbirds I just chunk a few rocks at them..Currently am not owned by a cat but have been in the past..was really trying to get someone's goat with that post..I think the few that read it could see it for what it was...but then again maybe there are some that would think it could happen that way..

-- SK (not a squirrel killer@just kidding.com), June 07, 2000.

SK, to me this is just not funny. Someone killed and mutilated two of my cats on Monday night. Those cats were family members, you know?

Perhaps you are giving people some ideas, and that to joke about it makes it seem not so bad to do it. I seriously did not know you were joking, but I still don't find any humor in it.

-- cin (cin@cin.cin), June 07, 2000.

Cin-

My heartfelt sympathies go to you on the loss of your beloved pets. There are very sick people IRL, just like here. Again, sorry.

-- Aunt Bee (SheriffAndy@Mayberry.com), June 07, 2000.

SK, I thought your description of cat shootin was a little weak..how could you possibly miss on their downfall,and talkin of wastin a few rounds as they ran..man you're talkin about .22's..at fractions of a cent per round wheres the waste?..that said I thought your apology was very fast in comin..wanting to get somebodys goat and then little cin spanks you and you go to blubberin about birds an such..and by the way, the saying as I remember it was "running like a scalded ape"..

-- Shamed (byourpology@aboutcat .killin), June 09, 2000.

compliments of consumer

-- Hawk (flyin@hi.again), June 09, 2000.

I know this will sound lame... put a stick of "juicie fruit" gum at their crawl hole, they eat it, and it plugs up their bowels.... they die.

As a side note... in my State (Oregon ), Cat's are considered wildlife..... same penalties as fucking with a Hawk :-)

-- Netghost (Ng@no.yr), June 09, 2000.

Netghost, I knew I hated you. I just didn't realize how much.

-- cin (cin@cin.cin), June 10, 2000.

cin... do you have a problem with real life?... are you part of the rodent revolution?

I have never hated you.... altho I think you are a silly twit... spell that anyway you want to :-)-

-- Netghost (ng@no.yr), June 10, 2000.

CT:

I bet you have a problem in real life. Ooops, I forgot you don't have a real life do you?

You aren't just part of the rodent revolution, you are a front line, in the trenches, dipshit of a ferrety rodent. Or would that be, fairy rodent.

Fuck Off! Please spell that exactly as typed.

-- Friendly Ghost (ctwhat@jerkwad.com), June 10, 2000.

Oh Cin, I am so sorry for your loss. I pray that that these people will feel in their hearts the terrible wrong that they have done, never to do anything like this again.

You are in my thoughts.

Z, Flash; - We too have had success with the electronic beeping devices a few years in a row. The gophers don't like it and just leave. Expensive though - $30? you got a good deal, $50 here.

-- Debbie (dbspence@usa.net), June 10, 2000.

Hi Deb,

Thanks for the feedback. I'm glad to hear that it wasn't just a coincidence. Maybe I'd better stock up on the $30 now!

I'm wondering about the possibility of importing snakes. Of course I'd go for gopher snakes [G], but frankly I'm surprised that I haven't seen any around here yet. I'd expect a few rattlers at least! Actually I hope they're here but that I don't run into them. I usually wear hard-soled shoes and suspect that they feel the vibration.

-- Flash (flash@flash.hq), June 10, 2000.

Flash, that's a lot of area to cover! ...sounds good so far though. No need to stock up probably, cause come to think of it you are in AZ, this is Los Angeles, everything costs more here.

I'm assuming it's working with us not just by coincidence and that the neighbors just don't have better pickings than we've got. Think not; we have lots of nice pickings right now.

Meant to address my comment to you and Aunt Bee - not Z. ???-He's not even on this thread. Maybe his colors have etched themselves on the back of my retinas. :^)

-- Debbie (dbspence@usa.net), June 10, 2000.

Cin, if I recall you live in Southern Cal and if so I suspect your cats were victims of hungry Coyotes. This is the time of year when they have their babies and food is scarce. Although nocturnal, they are losing their natural fear of man and they have eaten many cats in our area in the past two weeks. Coyotes are very clever hunters and most cats dont stand a chance against them. They always seem to leave some of the meal behind to terrify the owner. Sorry for your loss but this is the time of year to keep the pets inside at night.

-- Ra (tion@l.1), June 10, 2000.

Ra,

Are you serious? Aren't you in the South Bay? Coyotes have come that far down?

-- Debbie (dbspence@usa.net), June 11, 2000.

Debbie,

Actually, I live in Newport Beach and the Coyote problem has been getting progressively worse over the last 10 years due to developments up in the hills. We often see coyotes roaming around after midnight and they look like a big dog at first glance. They have a large bushy tail that is tucked-in when they are running. Of all of the domestic pets, cats are their main prey.

-- Ra (tion@l.1), June 11, 2000.

Ra(tion@l.1), thanks for clarifying. Seen coyotes near the mountains in both WLA and the S.F. Valley. Animal Control told me, when I was looking for my lost cat some years ago, that the coyote will often run with the animal for a long time before eating it, leaving no trace. I guess either behavior could be true.

-- Debbie (dbspence@usa.net), June 11, 2000.

Thanks Debbie and Ra. I talked to an animal control officer who said she thought it could have been coyotes. This is of some solace , as I thought it had been some psycho neighbor. I live near a creek bed and I think they may use it to travel. My neighbor found the remains of one of the cats, and I just couldn't look at it. But she said it had been cut in half, there was only the top half and that there was absolutely no mess, no hair, no signs of a struggle, not even a drop of blood. That is why I had thought it was a human's doing. And my neighbor also said it did not look like an animal's work. So I just don't know. But you can bet I am keeping the other two cats indoors. I even bought a harness and leash to take them out, as they are used to going out to potty, but they absolutely hate it. Perhaps they'll get used to it in time. Again, thanks for your sympathies. I am doing my best to try and cope. =o|

-- cin (cin@cin.cin), June 11, 2000.

Cin, you have described the exact results of the coyote/cat confrontations in my area. Out of respect for your feelings I didnt want to be too graphic but your experience mirrors that of many others. Ive often thought it strange that the coyote kills that way. BTW, the coyote will normally stop cruisin about the first week in July.

-- Ra (tion@l.1), June 12, 2000.

Cin:

it was little consolation to me when I lost my cat during coyote season, to think that I might have helped keep a piece of nature alive. It was just a little less bad than some of the imagined alternatives. I'm sorry you paid such a price. You will heal but there's no doubt it is just hard to let go of our feline friends. Their lives are probably perfect for them, but to us- it's always too short a time with them. Take care Cin.

-- Debbie (dbspence@usa.net), June 13, 2000.

I have a question about coyotes and cats. Sometime this spring, one of our neighbors moved to Houston. He had an outdoor cat and couldn't find it when it came time to move. Several of us were on the lookout for him, but no one was able to successfully catch him.

A week or two ago, the people who bought the house found the cat on the premises. It had been torn up quite badly, so they took it to the vet. Unfortunately, it couldn't be saved. SO suggested that coyotes had gotten to it, but I didn't think coyotes would damage and not eat. Am I to understand that they could?

-- Anita (Anita_S3@hotmail.com), June 13, 2000.

Coyote Cautions

Coyotes are not your average dog -- they are not to be messed with. They are smart, and they learn quickly. They can be dangerous, and when it comes to urban coyotes, steps should be taken to avoid encouraging them to visit your neighborhood. That means close garbage can lids tightly, do not leave pet food outside and do not leave small pets outside unaccompanied.

Coyotes love nothing better than cats and frequently take small dogs. Inform neighbors of your sighting and encourage them to take steps to NOT attract the clever little varmints. Remember: Make sure that no pet food is ever left outdoors.

Coyotes usually present little danger to livestock. While they are normally fairly solitary or roam in small groups, at times they may gang up and attack larger animals such as sheep or a pony. During foaling time, do not let foals out without a human around at all times. Coyotes will attack sheep and foals but not adult cattle or horses unless such livestock are sick or extremely weak.

I'm told that coyotes will not eat the front half of a cat for reasons as yet not explained. Please, no 'head & shoulders' jokes.

-- The (fact@fan.attic), June 13, 2000.

"I'm told that coyotes will not eat the front half of a cat for reasons as yet not explained."

That's cuz cats have shit for brains, the cat's ass is the best part. :)

-- Wiley Coyote (conneiseur@of.pussy), June 13, 2000.

Wiley,

Suck my dick.

It's embarrassingly obvious how much you want to.

-- Come (out@ofthe.closet), June 14, 2000.

Anyone have any ideas as to how to get rid of a fairly large "something" that has tunneled under my house and appears to be living in the outside wall next to where my computer is? I keep waiting for it to gnaw through the drywall and say hello, or maybe greet me somenight by standing on my chest while I'm sleeping. If I'm lucky, maybe it will only leave a calling card. Maybe I should try and make it a pet. I don't know if it is a Raccoon, Badger, Coatimundi, Possum, or Skunk, but it is a pretty good tunneler and possibly the size of a cat, judging by the tunnels. I tried to flood it out but it was up above the waterline, and besides the water never backed up anyway after some serious flooding. Any advice (or humor) is appreciated. I don't want to harm it.

-- Flash (flash@flash.hq), June 14, 2000.

Flash, how cute. Make friends! =o)

-- cin (cin@cin.cin), June 15, 2000.

Flash,

Try a smoke bomb,animals fear smoke because there is usually fire not far behind.

-- capnfun (capnfun1@excite.com), June 15, 2000.

Cap,

Great Idea! In AZ they're probably even still legal to buy.

Cin,

Great idea, too, but first I need to get my little friend out of my wall. It's disconcerting to hear it knocking on the dryall when it turns around. I'm an animal lover, though, so am not into harmful tactics.

If Cap's smoke bomb doesn't work, I guess I'll have to get some Heavy Metal music. I read about this actually working on Raccoons! Apparently they can't stand it and it is about as effective as playing Lawrence Welk in a 7-11 to keep teenagers from hanging out there. EXTREMELY EFFECTIVE!

-- Flash (flash@flash.hq), June 15, 2000.