val2525
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Post by val2525 on Mar 10, 2023 5:13:55 GMT
The critter is back in the ceiling. *sigh* I sent the office a maintenance request. I thought I heard it last night but I was watching a TV show with a lot of noise (sirens and stuff). Tonight though, I'm just watching a Brit mystery and the cats and I can definitely hear it up there.
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Post by staytuned on Mar 10, 2023 14:39:45 GMT
You are sending a dusting my way tomorrow night. Mostly rain though.
Not us. Blame the Canadian air and Lake Erie.
Val, I hope maintenance either takes care of the problem or calls a professional before the critter(s) cause more damage. There must be either another entry or managed to reopen the closed one.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Mar 10, 2023 15:35:20 GMT
Last night the cats and I heard a loud scratching on the living room window and when I looked out, a very large and fat raccoon was waddling away from us. I don't know if it was upstairs in the crawl space, made its way out and tried to climb down and fell, or if it was trying to climb up to the crawl space and gave up. Regardless, the noise in the ceiling went on all night, all the way up to 6:30 this morning. It was the most active night yet. There is definitely something trapped up there. It wasn't just walking around this time either. When it wasn't walking, it was scratching, I guess trying to find a way out. I just love getting 2.5 hours sleep. NOT. I do hope I don't have a repeat of this tonight and into the weekend. Yeah, I'm grumpy this morning. Sorry! I think I need more coffee I have a new flavor coffee to try - dulce de leche. The bag smells divine. I hope it tastes divine! The critter guy is here and I went out to talk to him. He said their process is to close all the holes, then put up cages by select openings to catch the kritters. Doesn't seem to be working. He thinks what is left up there are squirrels, but they're awfully loud to be that light of a critter. He even said they can't figure out why this is happening. Can you tell I'm not impressed with the critter company? TGIF. I managed to meet my deadline yesterday. I'm a bit proud of myself LOL because the financial reports look pretty good given the absolute mess I had to work with. I've gone fake plant crazy and will be decorating this weekend. The apartment just screamed "need plants!" and with cats, I didn't want real ones Although my crew will nibble on fake plants too (the fabric kind). I found some really nice ones at Amazon, Ikea and Belk. Really reasonable prices too. I need to pick up an order today at Ikea, put the planters up all over the place. Ikea has some REALLY nice larger plants (think 6'-7' palms, bamboo plants, etc) at good prices. They're nicer than Nearly Natural plants and half the price. Simon continues to drown the fish toys, then brings them to me. He's so proud when he does that, how can I scold him? He's such a cutie.
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kritter
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Post by kritter on Mar 10, 2023 15:44:47 GMT
Simon has come a long way from his days in foster. I think there was just too many kittens here at one time and he preferred to hang in the background. I remember being so glad that you chose him because I knew he would have the best chance for a happy life.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Mar 10, 2023 15:50:51 GMT
I've learned not to buy any red colored toys that might bleed when wet, because sometimes he drops the wet toy on the blanket in the morning while I'm sleeping. I like the fish toys, the colors are pretty but don't bleed when wet so I don't have to worry about where Mr Fish might end up. I may have to go pick up some more so I have plenty on hand.
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Post by frakinfashion on Mar 10, 2023 17:08:15 GMT
Love your cat stories, val. I think maybe Mrs. Raccoon is trapped up in the attic and the Mr. was trying to rescue her. I hope all comes out well, for everyone's sake.
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Post by frakinfashion on Mar 10, 2023 17:10:46 GMT
On a lighter note, today is my birthday. No biggie, I've had a lot of them. And I have a lot of sweets here so the party lasts for days.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Mar 10, 2023 17:27:51 GMT
Happy birthday, Frakin! You need to add it to the calendar so Denise can get you a cake next year!
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Post by denise15601 on Mar 10, 2023 17:41:11 GMT
arghhhhh! It isn't on the calendar!!!!!!!!!! Let me bake up a cake quickly!
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Post by staytuned on Mar 10, 2023 17:45:35 GMT
Happy birthday, frakinfashion! Crank up Prince and party like it's 1999 Val, I'm thinking that was Mrs.Raccoon trying to get to her babies trapped inside. Raccoons give birth early spring around March-April. I would think the critter company would have a cable with camera on the end to stick inside to try to locate the source of scratching. Squirrels are active during the day and sleep at night.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Mar 10, 2023 17:52:53 GMT
Squirrels are active during the day and sleep at night. Shows how much the Critter guy knows, eh? He's thinking it's squirrels. I'm thinking whatever is up there weighs a lot more than a 2 lb squirrel (and a 2 lb squirrel would be a REALLY fat one), and it's only active at night.
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kritter
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Post by kritter on Mar 10, 2023 18:08:59 GMT
I had a squirrel family in my attic years ago and them scampering around up there at night drove the cats crazy. I knew where they were getting in so I sat out in my front yard one morning until I saw them come out, grabbed my ladder and some wood and blocked up the place right over my front porch. No more squirrels in the attic.
Racoons and possums sleep during the day and run their errands at night.
If it is only happening at night, I think squirrels might be the culprits. Racoons would be out and about as soon as it gets dark. When they are in your attic or walls, they sound a lot bigger than you would think for such little guys.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Mar 10, 2023 19:20:56 GMT
Could be. Whatever it is, it better be gone. If it's still up there tonight, I'm going to suggest to the apartment office that they consider using a new service. I've been renting for over 45 years and never encountered this. At least the cats like it. I'm mainly annoyed because it's been one thing after another with this apartment. I'm beginning to think it's jinxed That was one big fat raccoon outside the window last night though. He was bigger than Trixie, Twila and Simon combined
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Post by denise15601 on Mar 10, 2023 21:09:42 GMT
It could be a stalker???
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Post by staytuned on Mar 10, 2023 22:46:25 GMT
That was one big fat raccoon outside the window last night though. He was bigger than Trixie, Twila and Simon combined Probably got that way scavenging in the dumpsters. DH was coming back from a walk in the dark and stopped to see if anyone set out anything good around the dumpsters. He shone the flashlight inside one and a bunch of eyes stared back at him. Turned out there were 5 or 6 raccoons inside.
Will never forget the morbidly obese raccoon that wound up stealing the bag of food from DH's backpack on a backpacking trip in the Alleghenies. He left his pack on the picnic table, food bag closed, food sealed and we woke up to find backpack compartment unzipped and bag gone. He found it in a field behind where we camped, opened and everything eaten including the plastic packaging on salami, crackers and whatever else. All I had was a few small pieces of jerky and packs of hot chocolate. It was a very quiet 4 mile hike back to the car, except for our stomachs growling. That raccoon obviously had a lot of practice. The only damage was 2 tiny teeth marks in the food bag when it took its ill gotten gain to stuff its face.
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Post by staytuned on Mar 11, 2023 14:26:32 GMT
Reminder for those who still have to do the "fall back, spring forward" time change, we "spring forward" at 2am Sunday the 12th so remember to set clocks ahead an hour before bed.
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Post by chapeaunoir on Mar 12, 2023 2:13:17 GMT
We had rats in our attic on and off. They were pretty loud stomping around up there. The rats here are pretty big (they come off the ships and migrate all over the place) but made a lot more noise than you think they would, some big enough, though, that one broke a trap. Our cats took care of the problem eventually.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Mar 12, 2023 6:06:08 GMT
It's like the movie Ground Hog Day around here. The critter is back. AGAIN. That's assuming it actually left at some point. I sent a new maintenance request and suggested they use another company this time. Whatever the current company is doing, it's not working. They've been out here to this building at least 3 times that I know of for the same problem. Unfortunately I get to listen to the critter tomorrow night too, since the office is closed on Sundays. *sigh* I even googled how to break a lease in TX. I may be able to do so under the Repairs clause. We shall see.
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Post by staytuned on Mar 12, 2023 13:06:10 GMT
I hope the problem gets fixed asap. Sorry you're going through this, Val, especially since you were so happy to get a larger apartment on the ground floor and have already put a lot of work into making it a home.
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Post by jesmelric on Mar 12, 2023 15:23:16 GMT
Thanks so much for the helpful information. She reported it to the office and they are waiting to hear from the "higher ups" who have 5 business days to respond. They did ask her if she would be willing to move units and even though that would be a big pain, would probably be the best solution. She's here in Houston, not too far from me.
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val2525
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Post by val2525 on Mar 12, 2023 15:56:04 GMT
Oh boy. We don't have a lot of tenant's rights in TX (no surprise there). Will they pay for the movers if they mover her to another unit?
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kritter
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Post by kritter on Mar 12, 2023 18:09:53 GMT
Defrosted my stockpile of raw meat/wings in the freezer and set to roll out the grill for the first light up of 2023. Backyard cleanup on tap for today. Hope to get the cat pen ready for occupants too.
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Post by sunsetpainter on Mar 12, 2023 22:08:56 GMT
Defrosted my stockpile of raw meat/wings in the freezer and set to roll out the grill for the first light up of 2023. Backyard cleanup on tap for today. Hope to get the cat pen ready for occupants too. We grill all year long! We have our traditional New Years Day BBQ...Steak, shrimp, and lobster on the grill. One year it was about -20 degrees, he just bundled up a little more! That year I had to do the sides inside because the side burner on the grill wouldn't heat up enough. lol He does steak and ribs all year long. The ribs and chicken are just put on low and checked every so often.
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kritter
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When we lose sight of how we treat animals, we tend to lose sight of our humanity
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Post by kritter on Mar 12, 2023 22:17:06 GMT
Nope, no winter grilling for me. I don't think charcoal works in the winter here. But, then again, I am not sure because I have never tried it in the winter.
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Post by sunsetpainter on Mar 13, 2023 0:37:57 GMT
Nope, no winter grilling for me. I don't think charcoal works in the winter here. But, then again, I am not sure because I have never tried it in the winter. LOL!! Charcoal works just fine all year long!
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Post by labbypaws on Mar 13, 2023 4:04:05 GMT
Hubby ruined our good Weber propane grill. He uses too high of heat all the time. I have to buy a new one but it is “on the back burner” behind the puppy, taxes and flooring.
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