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OK, for those who live in HOAs, you can just disregard this vent because it's not a problem you would probably have. However, I live in a very old but well-maintained community where 99.5% of the people keep their lawns and houses nicely and don't put junk/cars in their yards. Except for the house which is catty-corner to mine at the rear of the property. I know the owner and I also know that she abandoned the property because she couldn't afford to live there. It was in bad shape when she did live there, but now it's much worse. I wouldn't mind the house being a falling down wreck so much, as you basically can't see it anyway for all the overgrown trees and bushes. However, there are enormous groundhogs coming from her property, across the road onto mine, and trying to dig under my 1927 garage. I've called the Zoning Department and Animal Control, and neither can help me. If I don't want the groundhogs, I have to eliminate them myself (or hire someone), and there's nothing they can do about the abandoned house or overgrown yard. Like I said, this is basically a vent, but any helpful suggestions are also welcome.
Expected a thread about what do do with an old ventilaton flue after you move the appliance
I thought this was going to be a thread about what to do with a house vent that you no longer need, like when you move the kitchen stove and abandon the old exhaust hood hookup.
Better groundhogs than rats. Got a .22 and a stewpot?
Yup, code enforcement is who eventually took care of my neighbor with their open sewage pit in the back yard (that was flooding MY yard).
But for animals? M'eh... they might help, they might brush you off. I had to be VERY loud and annoying for a WEEK before anyone did anything with the raw sewage, you'll probably need to be even louder and more annoying.
If nothing helps, just go over there and close the vent with a piece of plywood. I don't think anyone would mind or report it...
No, I'm "venting" about the abandoned house. At any rate, I'd have to close off most of the property with plywood if I wanted to keep the critters out - it's that bad.
I don't think you're calling the right dept. Have you tried some sort of code enforcement officer for your town?
They deal with neglected property.
We don't have a town; we have county offices. Building and zoning DOES deal with code enforcement; however, they won't deal with this. I asked several departments. They even referred me to Animal Control, which ALSO doesn't deal with this. They suggested that my husband (dead) or son (don't have one) take care of the problem. Barring that, their next suggestion was that I shoot it. Since I don't own a gun and have never fired one, that's out. In the long run, it will ultimately be cheaper to install buried groundhog barrier (steel bars) than hire a trapper at $500 for 5 days. He might trap THIS groundhog, but what if there's another one later on (which is very likely.) The property is totally overgrown and a haven for critters.
BTW, code enforcement also doesn't deal with my next door neighbor who hasn't mowed her back yard in over 3 years. There are weeds there that are taller than me. Basically it's tough luck - this is the boonies.
We don't have a town; we have county offices. Building and zoning DOES deal with code enforcement; however, they won't deal with this. I asked several departments. They even referred me to Animal Control, which ALSO doesn't deal with this. They suggested that my husband (dead) or son (don't have one) take care of the problem. Barring that, their next suggestion was that I shoot it. Since I don't own a gun and have never fired one, that's out. In the long run, it will ultimately be cheaper to install buried groundhog barrier (steel bars) than hire a trapper at $500 for 5 days. He might trap THIS groundhog, but what if there's another one later on (which is very likely.) The property is totally overgrown and a haven for critters.
BTW, code enforcement also doesn't deal with my next door neighbor who hasn't mowed her back yard in over 3 years. There are weeds there that are taller than me. Basically it's tough luck - this is the boonies.
I am really surprised that Animal Control won't help. That can be a safety issue. I just read that rabies in groundhogs are rare but it CAN happen. I would keep calling-and also call your elective officials, your State rep and even your local paper. Make noise-A LOT of it!
If it's abandoned, why hasn't it been sold for taxes, or foreclosed on? You don't pay your property taxes and things usually start happening...
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Expected a thread about what do do with an old ventilaton flue after you move the appliance
