The Bandit

There has been another sighting of our unwanted, nocturnal, predator, aka THE RACCOON. Guests visiting after dark are astonished by the size of this beast. Sarah and Jordan where shocked last night to encounter one enormous raccoon as well as a smaller one.

Besides a quick glimpse from my children, there have been other suspicions that a raccoon has been housed in my yard. First, our trusty cat Snowball was severely injured in a fight of some sort. Second, the brand new patio cushions that I received for Mother’s Day have been shredded. Stuffing was strewn all over the lawn, and teeth and claw marks are now embedded in what is left of the cushions.

Let me take you back to the summer of 2006 when I first knew that we had raccoons lodging in our yard.

The summer of 2006 we were completing a remodel job on the main level of our home. The remodel included new stainless steel appliances, counter tops, new carpet, and a fresh coat of paint in a new shade.

Amidst the remodel, we went to our summer vacation to Newport Beach. Meg, who was in college at the time, had to return early from our vacation.

Her first night home she heard a loud thumping noise on the stairs leading to my room where she was sleeping. Thinking it may be an intruder, (and instead of calling 911), she opened the door to my room only to come eye to eye with an enormous raccoon standing upright on its hind legs.

She screams, slammed the door to my room shut, and called me in California hysterical. Not knowing what to do myself, I told her to call the police, and to mention she was home alone. The Bountiful Police came to the rescue. By this time, this crazy critter had forced himself back in the heating vents away from his capturers. The raccoon was nowhere to be found.

The next day, Steve contacted Animal Control who placed a trap in our house to hopeful imprison the ravenous beast. We came home the next day, long enough to leave Sarah behind, and continue our vacation to another destination – Flaming Gorge.

At 3:00 a.m. I received another frantic call. This time it was from Sarah informing me that she could hear the raccoon vandalizing our home. She was too afraid to open the door to my bedroom to check on the damage done.

Our faithful neighbors were called in the wee hours of the morning for assistance. They turned up the heat, and waited for the raccoon to emerge from the vent. When the raccoon didn’t appear, they put flour on the floor by the exterior back door, and kept the door open all night. Raccoons are quite smart, and were not one bit interested in the trap.

In the morning the damage was assessed. Many raccoon tracks were found in the flour indicating that the raccoon had finally left. The raccoon left but not without chewing all the newly repaired and painted door trims, cutting himself on one of the many items he damaged and launching splotches of blood from his injury all over the newly painted house. The house appeared as if a thief had been vandalizing our home.

The black mask across the face of the raccoon is highly appropriate for these mischievous bandits. Until I determine how to remove these creatures from their lodging arrangements, beware of the dark at my house.