Calling Carl Spackler

 If you know who I am referencing in the title of this blog post, a round of applause and a gold star belong to you.  If you don't, perhaps this will help...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TxxBBjXBDQ



Okay, so I've taken a little liberty with this.  I don't have a gopher issue, I have a GROUNDHOG issue.  And I don't know who is more annoyed, me or him.  Assuming it's a him.  With the persistence that I've seen, maybe it IS a her.  Does that really matter?  For the time being, let's just refer to my nemesis as "Sly" because that's what he (or she) is.

Backtracking to last month, we DID have a new fence with three gates put in. (https://bfthsboringblog.blogspot.com/2025/10/bfths-week-in-review.html).  Prior to that the fence had much patchwork and hole that made it relatively easy for Sly to get in.  When I would spy Sly, I'd go outside and usually just the sound of the door would send Sly scurrying away.  And Sly is fast.  While in the past I've seen plump groundhogs, Sly is sleek and low to the ground.  Sly can move and hid with ease.  Sly is a sneaky rodent and I have to give him/her props for that.

I knew a new fence would not keep creatures out, after all if something wants in, it's going to get in.  However, this new fence is more of a deterrent.  With all the wire between the split rail, deer are not making the leaps over and into the yard.  The posts and wire go down into the ground, making it difficult (but not impossible) to burrow under.  The "weak links" are the gates, of which there are three.

The one closest to the detached garage is where Sly has decided to dig under.  It makes sense as I believe Sly takes refuge (and maybe even lives) in the side/storage addition to the garage. The sliding door would be easy to crawl under and the space is dark and earthy.  Perfect for Sly.  Sly should just stay there, but...

I spotted Sly on Halloween.  I went out to get Sly to go, but Sly was already gone.  Or well hidden. We moved rocks to the smallish gap between the house and the fence. Then yesterday I spotted Sly again.  Once again Sly was gone before I got there.  However, we could see where Sly had dug to get in.  So we moved the storage bin so that Sly couldn't dig.  However, the bin is slightly smaller than the gate. 


Can you guess what happened a few hours later?

My husband went outside from the front of the house and then had me come out the back so that we could try and figure out what Sly would do.  Again, Sly was slick.  I ran one way, Sly skittered the other.  I lost Sly.  Did Sly get out or did Sly just stay hidden?  I'm guessing the former because I didn't see Sly again yesterday.

We are debating what to do.  I don't want to kill Sly.  I could try and trap Sly and then take Sly to a new location.  (I understand that you need to go at least 5 miles away or else the critter will find their way back.)  Trapping and releasing makes me a bit nervous.  I know my dad did it back in NJ one time, but I have visions of a pissed off groundhog not being the most happy creature when released.  

Which leads me to trying to make his "home" not so hospitable.    We are looking into predator scents that discourage Sly.  We may be spraying fox urine in the near future.  (And yes, you can buy fox urine on line, but not at our local hardware store.)  Or, I am open to other advice. (Although I'm not quite as determined as Carl was in CaddyShack.)

As I've said before there is plenty of open space with all sorts of growth surrounding the house.  There's the front "island" of trees.  There is a big area of space on the east side of the house to roam.  There is a HUGE piece of land across the street that goes on and on and would make for a wonderful place to putter around.  But...Sly, Sly, go away and don't come back any day!


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