[Magdalen] The Great Groundhog Caper

[Grace Cangialosi]

I don't either, Jay, and I have a big one that I've named George. I first made his acquaintance one evening on my dining room, but since then he has obligingly stayed outside.

> On May 13, 2016, at 10:27 PM, Jay Weigel <jay.weigel at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I have no problem with black snakes. We have several here, some pretty big.
> We startle one another now and again, but as long as they don't come in the
> house I'm fine with them.
> 
> On Fri, May 13, 2016 at 8:31 PM, Grace Cangialosi <gracecan at gmail.com>
> wrote:
> 
>> I think I know the hole this one lives on, and I'm going to try the kitty
>> litter solution this weekend. Actually, having my grandson do surveillance
>> with a .22 would probably be more effective!
>> 
>> As to the groundhog being in the attic, s/he may have been trying to get
>> away from the dog. They are skillful climbers; my s-in-l has shot several
>> of them out of trees.
>> 
>> If you can stand another story...I came home one day several years ago to
>> find my beagle and two cats all sitting at attention and looking skyward.
>> Following their gaze, I saw a very large groundhog sitting on a branch that
>> was parallel to the ground and about 12' up.
>> I walked over to the little group, and it was clear that no one was going
>> anywhere! So I went inside, called my s-in-l and told him there was a good
>> opportunity for some target practice.
>> Sure enough, when he arrived about 20 minutes later, none of the creatures
>> had moved an inch! So I removed all of the members of my household, and he
>> shot the groundhog.
>> 
>> As a PS, earlier this evening my daughter, who lives in a nice housing
>> development with woods behind her house, went to her kitchen door to toss
>> out a stink bug, and there was a six-foot-long black rat snake looking in
>> the door at her--this was on a second floor deck!  He crawled off, and when
>> I arrived he had made his way off the deck but was rather tangled up trying
>> to find his way down. I checked a little while ago, and he was gone. Of
>> course, we don't know where he is...
>> 
>> The joys of country living!
>> 
>>>> On May 13, 2016, at 6:22 PM, "Charles Wohlers" <
>>> charles.wohlers at verizon.net> wrote:
>>> 
>>> A groundhog in *the attic*?!?!?! Whatever was s/he doing there?
>>> 
>>> Speaking of those delightful creatures, we've had a pair (one big, one
>> smaller) around, but, three days ago I put a bag of used kitty litter down
>> their hole. Haven't seen them since.
>>> 
>>> Chad Wohlers
>>> Woodbury, VT USA
>>> chadwohl at satucket.com
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> -----Original Message----- From: Grace Cangialosi
>>> Sent: Friday, May 13, 2016 5:28 PM
>>> To: Magdalen
>>> Subject: [Magdalen] The Great Groundhog Caper
>>> 
>>> Just a tale to add to the recent conversation...
>>> Yesterday I was getting ready to leave and was looking around for my
>> dog. (Not that she ever comes when I call her, but hope springs eternal!)
>>> She was nosing around in front of the open building that holds the
>> tractor and assorted equipment. All of a sudden she took off running in a
>> circle around the outside of the building. She went in all of a sudden and
>> raced up the stairs to what is an unfinished attic space.
>>> And then came the most awful squealing and barking--and I had no idea
>> what was up there.  There would be brief silences, then ferocious barking
>> and this very weird squealing/whistling sound.  I thought it was some kind
>> of large bird.
>>> I went to get the leash, hoping I could entice Gracie (don't ask!) down
>> with the prospect of a car ride--usually a sure thing,  but she was having
>> none of it. Why, you ask, didn't I just go up the stairs and grab her by
>> the collar?!
>>> Well, the stairway is open with no railing, and because the action was
>> taking place about three feet ahead of the top of the stairs--and because I
>> still didn't know what I was dealing with--I was afraid that either the dog
>> or the unknown antagonist might lung and knock me down the stairs.
>>> 
>>> I finally started up the stars until I could see--and there was a huge
>> (probably 30-40lb) groundhog, backed into a corner, snarling and squealing,
>> as he and the dog alternated lunges at each other.
>>> There was a large can of something at the top, so I heaved it in their
>> general direction, hoping it would prove a distraction. The groundhog
>> pushed it right back!
>>> Finally I took a few steps forward and got the leash attached and
>> started the dog down the stairs.
>>> It was a very long struggle getting her to the house, but we finally
>> made it and I kept her in until it got dark.
>>> Apparently the groundhog has moved on into its burrow. And I now know
>> why one of their names is "Whistle Pig"!
>>