Back to normal

The groundhog is dead and the air is back on.

We found a groundhog burrowing next to our foundation. We've had lots of adventures with groundhogs over the years but none have been so bold as to take up residence right beside the house. Furthermore, the little critter had piled the dirt around the air conditioner compressor. We shut the air conditioner off fearing damage to the compressor.

Bugs Bunny said it best: "Of course you know THIS MEANS WAR!!"

People have come to the Home Depot almost daily asking what we sell to get rid of groundhogs. My response: "Do you have a .22?" because that's about all that'll work. Groundhogs are difficult to trap because they are so wary. But this experience makes me wonder if it's just a matter of using the right bait. Toni found on the net that groundhogs are fond of melons. We had some watermelon that had just about exceeded its shelf life. I put a little pile on the route we knew it took back and forth from the hole to the yard. Toni watched for a couple of hours but it didn't come out for the melon. It did eat it overnight or early the next morning. I put a second pile where I could get a better shot and waited in the dining room window. Unfortunately, the next door neighbors were out and about in their backyard and it didn't come out. The pile of melon was gone this morning. I placed another pile and waited about 45 minutes. The groundhog came sauntering out from the hole without any apparent concern and was heading for the watermelon. It died a fast and humane death. A head shot is no problem when you're using a scope at 20 yards.

So maybe watermelon will get a groundhog to go into a trap? There's still the question of getting it out of the trap somewhere far away without it getting you though.

The only thing missing was Toni running up to me and hugging me saying "My hero!!!"