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Wha?? That is surprising. They're all over Ottawa and I've never seen one go up a tree yet. Mind you, I haven't been looking out for them up there...
I don't think they're in any way easy to get rid of.
I've since often seem them in mulberry trees--eating both the leaves and berries. Those trees, though, have usually been easier to climb with lower branching. The one that I saw 30 feet up was in an Aspen tree. Straight trunk. He was just sitting in the crotch of a tree branch. I have no idea why he chose to climb that tree. Maybe he just wanted a better view!
It's a good idea to stay away from even the cutest rodents, which should be assumed to have fleas that could carry the bubonic plague, which you don't want to get on your dog or you.
Also if threatened, they can rear up and bare their teeth, which I happened once while I was jogging on a path and surprised a groundhog. When I saw those long, yellow chisel-pointed teeth, I jumped about 4 feet sideways. If one bites you you'd be forced to undergo painful rabies vaccination, because the virus is 100% fatal, no chances can be taken.
They eat LOTS of things and run like the dickens when frightened.
They are difficult to get rid of...
Getting rid of them is easy depending on your squeamishness.
I have live trapped them using a large box trap and a mixture of old vegetables like lettuce and fruit as bait. The problem then is one of "Now what?".
They will eat just about any vegetable. Lettuce, cucumbers and even tomatoes can disappear overnight.
Getting rid of them is easy depending on your squeamishness.
I have live trapped them using a large box trap and a mixture of old vegetables like lettuce and fruit as bait. The problem then is one of "Now what?".
Yes, they'll eat just about any vegetable--if not all of them--and some flowers. The little beast ate my entire Baptisia. You couldn't tell that there'd been a plant there. Cleaned out my vegetable garden in two or three days. We trapped that one and took it for a ride.
When I saw those long, yellow chisel-pointed teeth, I jumped about 4 feet sideways. If one bites you you'd be forced to undergo painful rabies vaccination, because the virus is 100% fatal, no chances can be taken.
They don't do the painful series of shots into your stomach any more.
The modern rabies vaccine is given in 4 doses if you think you've had an exposure. It's no more painful than any other shot in the arm.
I would be concerned about contact with a possibly-rabid woodchuck, though. You were wise to avoid it.
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