LondonSquirrel

Oh we threw away what they had been into. I mean we kept all our food like pasta, rice, cereal etc in metal, glass or ceramic containers from then on, unless it was in the fridge. They can easily chew through plastic so you have to defer them. As long as they can get an easy meal they will keep coming. If there's nothing to get then they don't find any point in coming in. I am pretty sure that they could still get in if they wanted, as the kitchen units were put in badly and there are gaps at the back. To block the gaps would necessitate ripping out the whole kitchen. And traps etc wouldn't be effective because some mice always survive and they can have 12 babies a month. The most effective way to get rid of them is the give them no reason to come.

Lion in Winter

You don't really do sarcasm, do you

And yes, I have a rescued orange cat from the local shelter although I don't really see what that has to do with it. It's just about how you choose to view other animals - through the lens of what is more or less work for you. The same goes for factory farming vs humane methods. You will notice that I'm not a vegetarian, but the slaughter of things we don't even need for food, or simple cruelty, is never a good thing. There are plenty of suburban skunks where I live, and sometimes you smell them. They have to smell us all the time poor things.

And no, I know you didn't gas any personally, but when such things are passed on as recommended procedures the assumption is you don't disapprove.

dc koop

Although rare skunks can carry rabies. Among their food items are lizards which are a protected species in my yard since garden lizards eat plant eating insects and mosquitos.

I hear a raccoon scampering across my roof at night occasionally. I once went out with a flashlight and saw him sitting on the wall staring at me as if to say "what the hell do you want"? I'd always let that critter be unless he took it into his head to move into my attic space in which case I'd call our local animal control to deal with it as they see fit.

I live near enough to the mountains for occasional nocturnal visits by coyotes. Leave your cat or dog outside at night and chances are you've seen the last of them.

Mountain lions have also been spotted on rare occasions by hikers on the mountain trails.

We're surrounded by wild life. I enjoy the environment but wild life stinking up my back yard is a problem that needs dealing with

dc koop

In light of your opinion how would you for example deal with gophers ?

Lion in Winter

I've never "dealt" with them. If you live somewhere with gophers you are going to get holes. Nor did I ever "deal with" moles, badgers, rabbits or hedgehogs in tbe UK. I actually like sharing with other species, I find them interesting to watch.

scrubbedexpat099

My pup likes digging for gophers, he is quite a good digger. The rest move away. Or flood them out.

dc koop

How much water would it take to flood them out ? We've got a drought going on here.

dc koop

Oh yes you get holes with gophers and a badly sprained or twisted ankle if you accidently stick your foot in one

mrken30

My cat has given up catching moles and now my yard looks a mess. How can I entice my cat to start catching moles again? The last one he brought into the house I threw out in the yard, do you think I hurt his feelings?

scrubbedexpat099

A few pints can do it.

dc koop

The last time I had gophers in the yard I bought a can of gopher mix at the hardware store. That did the trick. Now I dare say i'll be pilloried for being a gopher killer