The real danger is not the coyotes....it's....
Outdoor Ontario

The real danger is not the coyotes....it's....

Axeman · 5 · 4484

Axeman

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Enough fear mongering about Wile E. Coyote. Homeland Security or whatever our Canadian version is called, is being misled when coyotes are being labelled as dangerous miscreants.

I live in outside of the GTA. Way outside. We actually had snow covering our ground from December 1 until the past few days. This morning I was horrified and sickened to see the damage caused to my lawns and gardens after the glacial blanket had retreated. Bets of tulip bulbs decimated. Trenches dug throughout the lawn. All the work of an enemy that has little respect for man. An enemy who has manipulated Hollywood into spreading propoganda -- painting the enemy as cute singing stars. That's right, the real danger is not the coyote but chipmunks. I live in an area with a burgeoning coyote population and have never had a cross word with our canid neighbour or reason to be annoyed. The chipmunks however, started moving in 2 summers ago and it has been bloody gruesome guerrilla warfare ever since.

Having recently been able to receive higher speed dial up service, we now have the internet at home so I thought I'd consult others wiser than me. I left the internet with a sense that I really am quite a bright fellow. One of dumber suggestions on the net was to set up buckets of water as traps, with a 2 x 4 on the top...place a few seeds on the 2 x 4 and the crafty insurgents will climb the bucket for the seeds, fall into the bucket and drown. First, the idea of killing one of the enemies is distasteful and unCanadian. If I stoop to their level, I am no better than a chipmunk then.

Other suggestions included setting rat traps (which would kill red squirrels too) to live havahart traps (what am I going to do with the live chipmunk then -- no doubt snarling and enraged).

I am open to suggestions. Until then, I am going to deal with this as a Canadian. I'm going to fill the buckets with beer.
« Last Edit: March 14, 2010, 03:52:35 AM by Axeman »


Howieh

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Be careful out there 'cause there's nothing more dangerous than a snarling and enraged chipmunk, well, ok, except for my wife when I refuse to take her shopping...and btw, a true Canadian would never waste beer on chipmunks, he'd drink the beer and hide in the bushes with a hockey stick to whack the unsuspecting critters over the head (or blindside them) when they least expect it!!

Of course you could just give up and feed them; I've gotten some great pictures of chipmunks with mouthfuls of peanuts!
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Howieh »


Halton Hills

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I highly doubt your lawn damage is from a chipmunk.....they pretty much go into full hibernation under ground
for the winter and would only emerge on a warm day. They do not burrow under the snow.

The damage and tracks in the grass will be from field mice or meadow or pine voles.

You can follow the tracks eaten in the lawn.....they will usually lead to a small opening under something.
You can easily trap them with a standard mouse trap baited with peanut butter. I put my traps inside an old store bought
suet cage with 1" mesh (overall size is 6"x6"x4") This insures you will only trap the right critter.

Chipmunks are goofy little characters and are pretty harmless and most people would love to have them around.

Our chippy likes sunflower seeds......we think he has a warehouse underground..... :roll:

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« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Halton Hills »
The world is your oyster........shuck away.... \"8)\"

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Leslie

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How big are the trenches in your lawn? --Could be moles (I don't know if they hibernate.)  If you do have moles, you might have a diversified yard & something else eating the tulip bulbs.
Have you invited the coyotes for lunch?
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Leslie »


Axeman

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Unfortunately they hunt the coyotes around here so I have never seen one...hear them all the time...but only see them in the city...the trenches are at the surface...and go down about 3 inches...but they come from the ground...
« Last Edit: December 31, 1969, 07:00:00 PM by Axeman »