Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Literally Poop, on my boat!

So the mechanic unwrapped the boat today and was working on his stuff.
Its forecasted to storm so me, being the neurotic woman that I am, swung by the marina to make sure shes covered up.
As I was covering her up, he hadn't put my battery or gas tank in the back under the sundeck.
I am putting them back there and amongst my Bounce dryer sheets is one pile of raccoon poop!

I look over the back of the deck and he had also pooped on the both corners of the deck that hang over the back of the toons.

Seems he had did his business in that 3 days from when I cleaned her and they wrapped her as there was no damage to the shrinkwrap or the boat.

Moral of the story: I need to raccoon proof the damn boat in the fall.

Well, that's unpleasant, but not near as bad as it could have been!

So next time, surround the boat with a grid of electrical wire energized to 15,000 volts, get a raccoon-tracking laser cannon, set up trip wires, rigged to claymore mines, and just in case, set out a plate of sugar cubes next to a dog dish full of water.

That's got to be one of the best tricks you can play on a raccoon. They grab a sugar cube, wash it in the water, and it vanishes from their thieving little raccoon hands. Repeat until there are no more sugar cubes. At the very least it ought to make them neurotic.

Interesting Story about raccoons.

The raccoons decided they liked our suet feeders for the birds.

They started taking the suet feeders with them until I started wiring them to the tree's with baling wire.

So I started trapping raccoons because wifey doesn't want to hurt the poor critters.

After live trapping 17 coons, wifey admits they're not as cute as she thought.

Animal control has been hauling coons out into the country.

So I start spray painting them to mark them.

Sure enough, the little rascals are making their way back from over 5 miles out.

Then wildlife and parks steps in.

Seems as if distemper and rabies are both issues with coons.

So the coons start being permanently relocated.

We trapped a total of 32 raccoons out of the back yard.

15 are permanently relocated.

Things calm down.

Wifey and I are coming home one evening and we see 5 raccoons boiling out of a storm sewer.

Wifey has now decided that raccoons are the animal version of Bill Clinton and reproduce faster than rabbits!

We tell the city guys about the storm sewers and they checked it out.

Found three suet feeders in there.

Well, that's one mystery solved.

And now, I know where the "Poop Deck" is on a pontoon.

Last raccoon I saw was a pet a guy down the street had living in his house--inside his couch frame. He got loose and made himself at home under my car hood.

I had no idea so many raccoons could populate someone's house as the story above.

My sister had a terrible problem with chipmunks getting in her attic. She had to have a contractor come in and seal up all her soffits on her house. They're about the craftiest rascals out there since they can get into such small places.

But if you need to get rid of any critter, snake or bug, see BugSpray.com. The business is owned by an ex-pest control guy in Atlanta, and he has over 150 essays online on how to get rid of any of any critter. He's also the largest seller of termicides in the country--the really good professional stuff.

Oh Lordy, we were over run with the critters and tried to live and let live. But the varmints got under my home in the middle of the night and had an orgy that ripped down cable and burglar alarm wiring in addition to attempting to claw up through the bathroom floor. Lots of damage, so no mercy was shown. I did relocate the first seven I trapped into the national forest, but now the occasional one gets to play "catch the .22".

I have had lots of "nuisance" raccoons over the past several years around the barn and my shop. Had one chew thru the shop wall, climb into my bayliner crusier, get the frig open and bust a can of soda on the floor. So, I have been live trapping (well over 100) and relocating them until this year (yes, the wife thought they were cute until they dug up her garden). After talking to a Fish & Wildlife agent, it is against the law to trap and relocate off your property in TN becasue of rabies but if they are "nuisance" I can use lethal force to stop them on my property. So, no more reloaction benefits will be provided for future applicants.

I find it interesting that others also painted a few as I did to see if they are return customers.

When squirrels decided to try to eat my house (and nest in the attic), I called the county animal control. They said "we don't handle that, call the state division of wildlife".

The guy at the State Division of Wildlife, told me not to relocate them - they would just become somebody elses problem. He told me to LIVE CATCH THEM, AND DROWN THEM. C'mon, really? I make it much easier on them, and shoot them with my Beeman R-1. And it's working! In 2012, I shot 52. Last year, I shot 34. This year, I've only seen 3...and they became food for the Magpies and Ravens.

BobG wrote:.....I make it much easier on them, and shoot them with my Beeman R-1. And it's working!......

Had some possums slip into a section of my house that is on pier/beam and decided to have a family under our Jacuzzi tub enclosure. Of course I was after the challenge and took one out (the mother, unfortunately) with my air rifle. The head shot did significant, but not immediately fatal damage. She ended up walking behind the tub and out of site and reach (with the little ones following her). Yes, she died shortly thereafter but out of reach. Ended up having to tear a hole in the sheetrock in the closet next to the bathroom in order to get her and the babies out. Yes, my wife enjoys re-telling that story making me look more stupid each time.

We left our boat in the marina slip all winter thinking we'd get another 80 degree January. All we got was 15 below zero and a visit from your raccoon. When we finally took the cover off to take her to her new home, we were greeted by a big poop. Luckily, that was the only adverse effect of wintering the boat. The Suntracker cover kept everything out. Except where the bow trolling motor precludes us from snapping the cover closed and where pooper found his way in. Thank goodness he didn't tear up the cushions. Otherwise all was clean and dry.

How do I know it was a He? Because She would have been more delicate in her choice of toilet location.

It's great being back on the water!

landlockedsailor wrote:We left our boat in the marina slip all winter thinking we'd get another 80 degree January. All we got was 15 below zero and a visit from your raccoon. When we finally took the cover off to take her to her new home, we were greeted by a big poop. Luckily, that was the only adverse effect of wintering the boat. The Suntracker cover kept everything out. Except where the bow trolling motor precludes us from snapping the cover closed and where pooper found his way in. Thank goodness he didn't tear up the cushions. Otherwise all was clean and dry.

How do I know it was a He? Because She would have been more delicate in her choice of toilet location.

It's great being back on the water!

HE DIDN'T PUT THE SEAT DOWN...?

Rascal