Wild Woodchuck

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:00 am

I was sitting in the lazyboy, a rare thing for me, and the curtains were open on our glass doors downstairs. A wild woodchuck came down to the glass doors, and began clawing on them to get in the house. The baby bunny in the kitchen could see him, and started becoming frantic in his cage. I called to my daughter to come in there, because the woodchuck looked awful, with his fur all ratty and his bizarre behavior. I initially thought, maybe it was a wolverine or something else, it was so aggressive. It hid in those old water pipe in the backyard, and popped it's head out after awhile. My daughter and I watched him, and when he saw us, he ran for the back of the yard, right into our wooden fence, bounced off it and is hiding behind the shed. I do not want to go out in the backyard, do you think he is ill or something like that?

cherandbuster · Post by **cherandbuster** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:03 am

Oh Chonsi, we have a woodchuck in our yard that we've nicknamed Maurice. Maurice the woodchuck!

But your woodchuck's behavior does seem odd. Can woodchucks be rabid? I don't think I'd go near him if I were you.

Sheryl · Post by **Sheryl** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:05 am

Chronsi, I'd call animal control. He may be rabid or just really sick. :-2

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:05 am

I worried if he was ill. Do you leave food for Maurice?

I know baby bunnies go through our yard, and we have a family of chipmunks under the house.

cherandbuster · Post by **cherandbuster** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:09 am

We don't feed Maurice. He lives down a big hole he dug in the back of our yard in front of the woods.

When he emerges each spring, he is thin. As the warm season continues, he really fattens up! He's gotta store all that fat for the winter, right?

Oh I hope your woodchuck is not rabid or ill. That makes me very sad. I think Animal Control may be the way to go. I hate to see any animal suffer unnecessarily.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:12 am

I will go out and check in a little bit, to see if he is still behind the shed. If he is, I will call animal control. Oh, I don't like for the animals to be ill.

minks · Post by **minks** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:13 am

cherandbuster wrote: We don't feed Maurice. He lives down a big hole he dug in the back of our yard in front of the woods.

When he emerges each spring, he is thin. As the warm season continues, he really fattens up! He's gotta store all that fat for the winter, right?

Oh I hope your woodchuck is not rabid or ill. That makes me very sad. I think Animal Control may be the way to go. I hate to see any animal suffer unnecessarily.

Aww how sad Chonsi, I agree with the others Woodchuck sounds ill. And an ill or injured animal is a dangerous animal at times, yep animal control would be a good call.... I don't think Ghostbusters will do.

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:25 am

BUNNYGIRL BE CAREFUL!!!

Caution should be observed with woodchucks as they are capable of carrying rabies. Normally, woodchucks are fearful of humans. If you see a woodchuck that is not acting normally or is approaching you, be sure to avoid contact with it.

http://www.bugclinic.com/woodchuck.htm

cherandbuster · Post by **cherandbuster** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:29 am

abbey wrote: BUNNYGIRL BE CAREFUL!!!

Caution should be observed with woodchucks as they are capable of carrying rabies. Normally, woodchucks are fearful of humans. If you see a woodchuck that is not acting normally or is approaching you, be sure to avoid contact with it.

http://www.bugclinic.com/woodchuck.htm

Abbs

That was excellent of you to post some information on the topic

Very cool of you

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:31 am

Oh, thank you for that link. I will wait awhile to see if he is there, then let you all know.

minks · Post by **minks** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:34 am

chonsigirl wrote: Oh, thank you for that link. I will wait awhile to see if he is there, then let you all know.

Oh I hope it isn't rabies

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 11:38 am

Please call animal control Chonsi and let them deal with it, and be sure to keep your bunnies indoors.

Peg · Post by **Peg** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 12:04 pm

I'd call animal control and let them set out a box trap. That way, if he is ill they can get him and get him help.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 12:06 pm

I called animal control so they know about the woodchuck. I don't see him in the backyard, but he may be in one of the neighbors or in hiding. They should be out here in awhile they told me.

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 12:09 pm

Well done, keep us posted x

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 1:33 pm

BTW, Who is lazyboy???

bigears · Post by **bigears** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 2:53 pm

Seeing this reminded me of a tongue twister from my childhood - I think I've got it right:

"how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood"

Hope the poor creature is ok

BabyRider · Post by **BabyRider** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 3:07 pm

That animal is definitely ill. Possibly rabies, or something else, who knows. But at least he won't suffer long, with animal control on the way. I hope they are able to catch the poor thing.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 3:25 pm

Animal control came and put out a trap, and went to neighboring homes to put some out also. They think the woodchuck must be ill or hurt, so we shall see if it can be caught. Poor critter.

Abbey, a lazyboy is a recliner chair.

chonsigirl · Post by **chonsigirl** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 3:28 pm

Yes, they are the same critter.

abbey · Post by **abbey** » Fri Jul 07, 2006 3:32 pm

:yh_rotfl :yh_rotfl :yh_rotfl