Ground Pig

Lana and I have been entertained the past couple of weeks by a very unruly woodchuck. We first noticed it spring out of hibernation and jump up onto the deck on the south-side of the cottage.

It was fun to watch at first, then the gnawing, scraping and destruction of the cottage began. During this project, it got into a brawl with crunk-the-skunk and everything out there smelled like skunk spray for a couple of days. Enough was enough, Lana's mom got a havahart trap and we began the catching process. The first day we placed the trap near the cottage, was the first day it ran up to the house and switched residences. We soon learned it had a large tunnel network up there where his exit hole was right under the studio window. Keeping this in mind we moved the trap up there and for a few days watched it timidly go in and out and sneak a bite or two of the bait. Our frustration began when it suddenly seemed very reluctant to do anything with the cage at all. One afternoon we noticed it running back to the cottage to gather supplies for this new home, its supplies consisted of a mouth full of insulation and a little tuft of it stuck to its head like a tupee. That night I moved the trap to the midway point of his travel path back to his its cottage hole. The following morning Lana and I awoke and noticed mr. crunk the skunk was trapped in the cage because he couldn't resist chips covered in bbq sauce.
A very cautious release on my part, but by covering the trap with a sheet and being very graceful I was able to carefully let the poor thing go. Another week or so had passed with still no woodchuck in the cage, getting discouraged, I had tossed a few bits of apple in the cage and let it sit without much thought. Finally yesterday in need of some varnish we left for an hour and when we pulled in the driveway we noticed and very angry brown lump sulking in the cage.

Taking pity on him we took him 15 min away to a deserted road and large farm field, the second I opened the cage door he flew out at lightning speed and seemingly began making his way back to Aurora. I doubt we will see the little beast again, but perhaps another will take shelter in the already established ground hog paradise which resides under the houses here.