Critter in the basement ....

[pmhoran]

My house is sort of a cottage style bungalow ... on the side of a hill with a walk out basement at back. The basement is unfinished and I have been using it mostly just for storage and a "garden shed".

Since I became disabled, I rarely go down there anymore.

A week or so ago I had to go down ... and walked down the hill to go in via the basement door. "Something" has tunneled its way under the door frame into the basement. I "think" I caught the whiff of a skunk ... but my neighbor who was with me couldn't smell it.

I filled in its tunnel a couple times ... and whatever it is just digs it out again. I have never heard any noises from down there.

I've been thinking of placing a concrete patio stone in the ground in front of the door next time I fill in the tunnel ... but I don't want the critter (whatever it is) trapped in the basement. I haven't been able to determine if it comes and goes during the day or night. If its a skunk or a raccoon ... then it would definitely be night it would leave. And I also get possum's and foxes, groundhogs ... and few other species that could easily fit through the size of hole the critter makes.

I have a live trap that I could set ... but I sure wouldn't want to go near it if it happened to be a skunk I caught in it ... and depending on how mad the skunk got I could end up with a "sweet smelling" basement for months or longer. And that I am sure would be smelled on the main floor.

I have thought of bringing in one of those "pest" services that would come in and just catch the critter no matter what and get rid of it ... but around here a lot of them are just rip offs. You pay them part or all of the fee ... and they never come back.

So ... anyone have any suggestions on how I should proceed with this? Everything I have been coming up with seems to have problems associated with it.

I have had this house for over 20 years ... and this is the first time I have had a problem with a critter in the basement. Never thought it would be a problem. Shows to go you

The joys of living in the country on a big lot with a conservation area behind you. I have little patience with the little critters when they become a nuisance ... but enjoy seeing the deer and wolves and the larger critters when they come around No bears yet though ... thankfully.

Thanks for any input
Peter

 

[ANMMark]

This may sound harsh, but I would lay poison outside of the basement, mixed with some food.

First, keep putting food out (try to get the animal away from the basement to get the food).

Do this a few times throughout the week. This will get the animal to look for it out of habit, if you keep up with it.

Then, when you notice the food is gone each time, mix it with the poison.

Chances are really good, that once it eats that (if you've put the food away from the basement far enough), the critter won't make the distance back to the basement.

You will however, have a currently unknown dead animal in your yard, but it will give you a chance to block the hole with cement, etc, and be assured that it's not in there.

 

[pmhoran]

Unfortunately ... I would probably end up with a pile of dead critters along with some pets of neighbours.

Everyday there is a large assortment of critters coming in and out of the yard and I don't think they'd pay attention to a "reserved for" sign (sorry ... couldn't help myself hahahaha) I have a real mini ecosystem around here.

Peter

 

[ldcdc]

Back when I was only a child I used to hang out with some really nutty teens. They used water (lots of it) to make various creatures get out of their tunnels. They do get scared though, so the eventual skunk might fire his weapon. There's also a real risk of drowning the beast.

Maybe you can use food as a lure instead of poison and make the animal go into a trap of some kind...

I'm afraid that's all the advice I can give at this point in time.

 

[ANMMark]

I don't think they'd pay attention to a "reserved for" sign (sorry ... couldn't help myself hahahaha)
[/qupte]

LOL Maybe a "No Tresspassing" sign, with pictures of dead animals?

 

[pmhoran]

Back when I was only a child I used to hang out with some really nutty teens. They used water (lots of it) to make various creatures get out of their tunnels. They do get scared though, so the eventual skunk might fire his weapon. There's also a real risk of drowning the beast.

Well ... when a groundhog decides to homestead in my yard ... I do what we call "blow the gopher hole". Stuff newspapers in one end ... then pour gasoline down the other and stuff it with newspapers. Wait a few minutes to let the gasoline fumes work their way through the tunnel ... then take the newspaper out of one end and drop down a lit piece of paper and stuff the newspapers back in. You hear & feel a rumble and then BANG ... newspapers come flying out both ends. It stuns the groundhog for a bit ... but when it comes to its senses again ... it relocates itself somewhere else ... usually away from my lawn. The gasoline fumes, when they explode (at least this is what I have been told) permeate all the walls of the tunnel and makes it uninhabitable. Its a fun and somewhat minorly sadistic way of taking care of the problem

But ... my problem is ... the other end of the entrance tunnel is my basement. Even if I was willing to flood it floor to ceiling ... I am not sure I'd want to waste that much water hahahaha

Peter

 

[pmhoran]

I don't think they'd pay attention to a "reserved for" sign (sorry ... couldn't help myself hahahaha)

LOL Maybe a "No Tresspassing" sign, with pictures of dead animals?

Hmmm ... maybe. I could always get some pics of road kill. Just might work