The groundhog story continues. Not to be content with the early raids on our garden, the attacks on our beds resumed. Lush Brussels sprouts plants that had been three feet tall were now mere spikes, and in the latest round we lost some kale and squash plants. Neighbors are relating their own losses, including peppers.
I did notice a small entryway had been dug out under our firewood stacks and eventually saw a pointy nose and beady eyes regard me. Not once or even twice but enough to make me suspect the worst. So I moved the trap from the garden and placed it near the entrance.
To my relief, I did find that the trap my wife bought at a yard sale a few years ago does indeed work, and that cubes of cantaloupe prove irresistible to the critters, but even that is taking its own turns. The first time the device was triggered, a bit of Brussels sprouts stem included as bait kept the shutter from locking … allowing an escape. Would the villain learn to avoid my means of entrapment?
I reset the trap and by lunchtime returned to check it out. Although both shutters had been triggered, a ‘chuck was propped up OUTSIDE, one foot on the top as it peered in, likely wondering how to get back to the bait, as if adding insult to my intentions. It seemed I’d been conned again. But, just in case, I circled around and closer examination revealed another was couched inside. One down, at least one more to go.
The short version of what followed includes a trip to Maine, just over the river. Released from confinement, that one bolted through the forest … straight toward New Hampshire.
For my part, back home, hoping they’re slow learners driven more by their guts than their brains, I reset the trap in pursuit of the other. Two hours later, I was back in Maine and evicted that critter, which dashed straight into the river and started swimming toward New Hampshire before rounding back to shore. I was grateful it was still high tide but dismayed to see what confident swimmers they can be. So much for that barrier.
Back home again, seeing new diggings around the firewood, we face the reality of having at least one more living under that neatly stacked firewood. If this keeps up, I’ll have to buy another melon today. At least I’m grateful we didn’t try growing our own; they would have cleaned ’em out, meaning I’d still have to buy one to use as bait.
Jnana's Red Barn 
I love The Groundhog Chronicles! My Papa used to get so angry when they would invade his garden! They are skilled adversaries. 😉
I know he didn’t use a .22 … I’m open for any useful bits of wisdom or even comfort.
He always threatened to shoot them, but ended up going the same route w/the catch and release method. I remember him shaking his fist in the air while calling them all sorts of colorful names. My attempt to comfort him by telling him he must have the best garden in the neighborhood, for them to choose his so often for their meals, was not well received. At all. I miss him still…
Hope you’ve seen the last of them for the year – I will let you know if I hear of a successful, yet humane, deterrent!
Oh, no! They are wily varmints, there’s no question. Has there been a dry spell where you are? A fellow gardener once told me he had some success putting out shallow dishes of water between the woodchuck’s burrow (in the woods near his house) and his tomato beds. He’d read somewhere that the critters get most of their water intake from food, especially juicy things like melons and tomatoes. Since you seem to be facing more than one, such a simplistic solution may not work. In any case, you have my sympathies. 😦
Water, eh? Worth a try!
This video has some good tips (I pasted the link in the “website” field).
What a great story! See, you got something wonderful out of the experience!
That’s very sad. I have mice! You see i live in a long row of terraced town houses and the mice don’t actually live in my house and i have put the food away in such a way that they cannot get into it and cat is very good at bringing me any that may get it. However they just live in all the houses at once. Hope you catch them.
Unfortunately for you and your efforts, I have to say that I’m loving the way you are telling this woeful tail (nudge, wink).
It such a shame when the uninvited decide to stop in and trash the house, emptying the fridge – nothing short of discouraging to be sure.
Hopefully there will be something left for late summer’s early fall’s harvest?