The Wild Things Are Where?

My precious Aunt and Uncle live in a city--in a developed neighborhood--with two major thoroughfares in near proximity.  When I went to their home, Thursday, for a lovely visit, I was quite surprised at the tale I heard and evidence I saw.  My Uncle bought an animal trap for opossums and raccoons!  In the city, they are having a rodent invasion.  First, they trapped an opossum.  Now, the only time I ever knew an opossum to be cute is in Mem Fox's Possum Magic.  My Uncle took the trapped creature across the street for the two girls to see, and after they oohhed and aahhed over it, their dad conveniently shot the hissing, snarling rodent.

Then, the next opossum came, but this 'ole boy was a smart one.  He munched on the marshmallows laid out leading up to the trap, but no going in to that trap.  Instead, he waddled the other way, jumped in the pool, swam quickly to the other side, and got away.  After the opossum, a lengthy trench appeared running along the house foundation, so my Uncle laid another marshmallow trail.  Trapped and escaped that raccoon did.  Modifications--tightening the trap door--made, and the trap was again laid.  Second raccoon caught and trapped. 

Now, my Aunt and Uncle phoned a city department to come pick up the raccoon.  Until said department could arrive, my Aunt and Uncle had to keep the raccoon fed, hydrated, and cool, because if the trapped raccoon died while under their "care," they could be fined for cruelty to animals!  They put a misting fan blowing on it, fed, and watered it.  They also had to put heavy stones on top of the cage, because the raccoon kept rocking the cage, using its little hands to manipulate the door and stones trying to escape.  Good try raccoon, but no such luck, because said department worker finally arrived.  My Aunt asked the young man what they were going to do with the raccoon, and he said they were going to euthanize it!  A couple of days later, the worker returned to let my Aunt and Uncle know that the raccoon was a nursing one, and they should be on the lookout for the little ones.  Papa raccoon had left evidence of his presence, but he has not been caught, yet. 

My Uncle decided that the inability to catch the other rodents was because they had become trap shy.  So, my Uncle got their Christmas garland from out of the attic and meticulously weaved the garland in and out of all the cage's bars.  I had seen the decorated cage in the garage, but I didn't know what it was until someone told me.  Next came more marshmallows and it was time to set the trap.  Now, I had my doubts about the camouflage working, but boy was I wrong.  On Saturday, my Mom phoned me saying she had just heard from my Aunt that they had trapped another opossum!  I don't know its fate, but the contraption works.  For Christmas, my Aunt and Uncle are adding lights; afterall, these are city rodents.