Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

The rant thread...

Discussion in 'The Water Cooler' started by buckeye, Feb 3, 2013.

  1. cls74

    cls74 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2008
    Posts:
    21,423
    Likes Received:
    33,841
    Dislikes Received:
    41
    Location:
    Springfield, IL
    Went all day without any sign it was still here. Thought just maybe as I was creating a ruckus tearing holes innthe ceiling it had jumped down and ran out the propped open door.

    Then about 5:30pm hit and heard something, cat confirmed it, then it started screaming. Starvation/hydration likepy setting in. Went down and started trying to pinpoint its location but could not figure out which joists it was between before it got above the basement bathroom's ceiling. Then it either hunkered down or found a cavity as it stopped reacting to my movements.

    At that point I put up a bearier to the finished side of the basement(who knew a 77" TV box from 6 years ago would become a tool), turned on the bathroom light(hoping it will use it to find the opening) and opened bathroom door and laundry room door. Propped open outside side door and now I'll spend the next few hours staring at the security cam on that side if house hoping it realizes it has an escape route and making sure nothing else makes an attempt to enter.

    I'm doubting it, and after tonight I have to return to work and it will be on its 6th day without food and not sure on the water.

    Then it becomes a matter of waiting for the decompisition to start staining the ceiling so I can get it oit of there.

    What a freaking nightmare at the start of Spring and insect reemergence. Can just imagine what is taking advantage of the open door.
     
  2. cls74

    cls74 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2008
    Posts:
    21,423
    Likes Received:
    33,841
    Dislikes Received:
    41
    Location:
    Springfield, IL
    On a side note, I do not wish this situation on anyone. It is a horrible experience, and hindsight being 20/20, one that should be left to the professionals if you have never went through it before.
    Repairs and clean up alone probably would have paid for it with less in repairs afterward.

    I did go out and shut the storm door enough that it is closed, but not latched.

    Debating on leaving it as is overnight, such a tough choice and goes against personal security/safety habits.
     
  3. dprsdhunter

    dprsdhunter Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2009
    Posts:
    7,609
    Likes Received:
    24,579
    Dislikes Received:
    8
    Still got the trap set. ?
     
  4. cls74

    cls74 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2008
    Posts:
    21,423
    Likes Received:
    33,841
    Dislikes Received:
    41
    Location:
    Springfield, IL
    Trap is set, but no bait. Thinking the one I caught was the dominant/leader and the one I have now is the follower.

    From everything I have seen on watching cam it has not come out of the ceiling since catching the first one Saturday night. It will look down but not climb down. Think it fell Sunday night walking on top of insulation and no support beneath at the sump pump room. I've since blocked off the sump access and put 30lbs of weight on the toilet lid and tank cover.

    I'd pretty much have to gut the basement at this point and hope there are no access points to higher levels in the walls or duct runs.

    After its screaming tonight, I'm worried what happens when I'm not able to be here while at work.
     
  5. dprsdhunter

    dprsdhunter Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2009
    Posts:
    7,609
    Likes Received:
    24,579
    Dislikes Received:
    8
    I’d bait the trap just Incase
     
  6. cls74

    cls74 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2008
    Posts:
    21,423
    Likes Received:
    33,841
    Dislikes Received:
    41
    Location:
    Springfield, IL
    Going to buy a couple cans of sardines now, seemed to like those even when freaked out in a trap
     
    dprsdhunter likes this.
  7. cls74

    cls74 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2008
    Posts:
    21,423
    Likes Received:
    33,841
    Dislikes Received:
    41
    Location:
    Springfield, IL
    So trap reset with 2 cans of sardines, even bought a pack of marshmallows and put 1 on the floor and one just inside the cage. Not going to give it free food at ceiling level.

    Removed cam as the infrared lights may have it one edge as well. Did leave the trap in the bathroom and shut all doors hoping scent pooling works in this equation. As I was setting it back up I could hear it walking around close to where the eyes were seen firat night with the cam, so it has open access to the bathroom and not trapped above it.

    It has to be starving and a reason why it was screaming out earlier, another reason I didn't want to leave entry door unlatched and have more come in responding to it.
     
    dprsdhunter likes this.
  8. camo75

    camo75 Die Hard Bowhunter

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2016
    Posts:
    2,593
    Likes Received:
    5,452
    Dislikes Received:
    4
    Location:
    Indiana
    Some dry dog food will work also. You are a man on a mission!
     
  9. cls74

    cls74 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2008
    Posts:
    21,423
    Likes Received:
    33,841
    Dislikes Received:
    41
    Location:
    Springfield, IL
    I think at this point I need scent over anything, other than a professional, it has to be nearing starvation, I hope. Google is hit an miss stating 4 -5 days up to 2 weeks for starvation.

    Calling animal control in the morning if it is not in the trap, can't do it anymore. It has defeated me at that point, just chitting and pizzing in my house at this point along with any wiring hazards it could create.
     
  10. cls74

    cls74 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2008
    Posts:
    21,423
    Likes Received:
    33,841
    Dislikes Received:
    41
    Location:
    Springfield, IL
    One thing I did do was buy some custom cut plexi glass for all of the basemement windows.

    I'll sand down the edges as needed and adhere them to the outside of the existing windows as an added protective bearier until I can figure out how to get them replaced or covered over properly.

    In thinking on it, my neighbor had a lawn care business come and mow his lawn and do the mulching around trees and flower beds. I think they may have went from front yard to back yard with blades on(standing ride on mower), or coming back and through rocks/debris through the windows.

    Can't be a coincidence this all happened so close in time. Yet, I have no proof so point is moot.
     
  11. camo75

    camo75 Die Hard Bowhunter

    Joined:
    Jul 31, 2016
    Posts:
    2,593
    Likes Received:
    5,452
    Dislikes Received:
    4
    Location:
    Indiana
    I was going to ask if rocks from a mower could have done that but 2 different corner blocks on the same window were busted. Seems like maybe 1 hit is justified but 2?
     
  12. cls74

    cls74 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2008
    Posts:
    21,423
    Likes Received:
    33,841
    Dislikes Received:
    41
    Location:
    Springfield, IL
    No clue, can't even speculate. As was pointed out earlier, could have been freeze/thaw and expansion/contraction cycles.

    I can say a lot of them were cracked 14 years ago when I bought it, but no idea how many or which ones in particular.

    Knew they were hollow, so wasn't an immediate concern for the interior layer.
     
  13. cls74

    cls74 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2008
    Posts:
    21,423
    Likes Received:
    33,841
    Dislikes Received:
    41
    Location:
    Springfield, IL
    Contemplating a plan. Think I need to bust out another window(pane not the blocks) let it get out and then block it off once it is out.

    Where it was Saturday night is a window. Thinking it was seeing an exit but couldn't get out, pretty sure it was just back at that same window and trying to get out.

    Going by sound, cannot tell with security cam that shows the window. Red box is approx. window location
    1000018732.jpg
     
  14. cls74

    cls74 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2008
    Posts:
    21,423
    Likes Received:
    33,841
    Dislikes Received:
    41
    Location:
    Springfield, IL
    Actually, going to stay the course. Just went out and looked at it, perspective is off a bit from the cam view. It was back about 2 feet from the window. Don't need to compound the situation on an impulse reaction.

    If I can't catch it on food, need to call someone who can catch it with experiencs.
     
  15. oldnotdead

    oldnotdead Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2019
    Posts:
    11,924
    Likes Received:
    18,345
    Dislikes Received:
    30
    Seeing no food nor water perhaps , just a thought, placing water not food in the trap may have attracted it.
     
    Last edited: Apr 23, 2025
  16. cls74

    cls74 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2008
    Posts:
    21,423
    Likes Received:
    33,841
    Dislikes Received:
    41
    Location:
    Springfield, IL
    So it finally came down last night, in the laundry room, not the bathroom where the trap was. Moved trap to laundry room, anyone want to guess where it will come down to tonight?

    I have to go to work tomorrow whether I catch it or not, have taken an additional 3 days off to the end of my vacation. One that was approved, have to see how they handle the other 2. I just couldn't imagine sitting at work and the effing thing breaches the main floor and ransacks the kitchen all the while terrorizing the cat.

    It's moving around already, when I can't hear it the cat lets me know.

    Let this be the night, please.....
     
    cantexian, oldnotdead and Sota like this.
  17. Sota

    Sota Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2014
    Posts:
    32,591
    Likes Received:
    23,383
    Dislikes Received:
    132
    Location:
    Minnesota
    Good luck, hope the crap show ends tonight.
     
    JeffC, oldnotdead and cls74 like this.
  18. cls74

    cls74 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2008
    Posts:
    21,423
    Likes Received:
    33,841
    Dislikes Received:
    41
    Location:
    Springfield, IL
    All I can say is hindsight. I should have had it when I went "Bear Jew" entrance on it. Banging on the steel support poles for the maun floor beam, tapping on the ceiling where it was.

    It had two places to go west towards the center of house where it would have more places to go, or east toward the sump closet where it had one, down.

    Once I knew which joists it was between could have blocked off the center of house end and moved it towards the sump, or if it stayed in between chop it down until it drops and hope it hits the stairs and not charge.

    Hindsight
     
    Sota likes this.
  19. Sota

    Sota Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Jun 28, 2014
    Posts:
    32,591
    Likes Received:
    23,383
    Dislikes Received:
    132
    Location:
    Minnesota
    I would have been shooting holes in the ceiling.
     
  20. cls74

    cls74 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2008
    Posts:
    21,423
    Likes Received:
    33,841
    Dislikes Received:
    41
    Location:
    Springfield, IL
    We have shot spotter here, not sure how it works if shots are indoors and below grade, but the thought crossed my mind several times, and then a few more.
     
    Sota likes this.

Share This Page