>Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 18:36:41 -0500 >From: "Vivian Oliva" <snook_at_gate.net> >Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] everglades> > >> -Keep your water out of reach of the racoons, they have few sources of fresh >> water and will chew into water bottles.People have had to turn back because >> the racoons stole their fresh water. We keep our water in our tents at night >> or inside the kayak hatches. >> > Good advice by Bob on all points except for water storage in tent: > >Do not keep your water in tent even at night. Some friends last winter had >a racoon tear up their tent at Pavilion Key looking for the water jug they >stored in their tent. Safest place to store food or water is inside kayak >hatches. I don't know 'bout Everglades racoons, but in the Pacific Northwest we have seen racoons claw through both a cockpit cover AND THE BULKHEAD to be able to get at food stashed inside a kayak, so we hesitate to keep food in the kayaks. Most racoons are very smart, aggressive and difficult to intimidate. In racoon country, we always hang everything that could possibly be a temptation. And even hanging the food is no guarantee unless it's very well hung (the food, that is), since the racoons are smart enough to gnaw at the ropes, if accessible. Evan Dallas Woodinville, WA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Evan wrote: >And even hanging the food is no guarantee unless it's very well hung (the food, that >is) I almost spit a mouthful of tea across my monitor when I read this. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Evan Dallas wrote: > > In racoon > country, we always hang everything that could possibly be a temptation. And > even hanging the food is no guarantee unless it's very well hung (the food, that > is), since the racoons are smart enough to gnaw at the ropes, if accessible. > As a long-time observer of raccoons in the wild (mostly in Algonquin park) - did you know that contented raccoons purr like cats? - allow me to tell you a secret. Raccoons aren't as smart as some folks think, however, they are persistent and won't give up easily. Their primary approach to getting something they want is to scratch at the bag/container/whatever until something gives. They go for the spot that has the strongest smell, like a zipper, the crack between the bottom and lid of a cooler etc. Since they have longish claws, clawing at a zipper will sometimes let them catch and open the zipper, making folks think they're smart enough to have figured them out. Even canoe barrels have been opened by raccoons who've accidentally snagged the metal closure lever with their paws (since bears don't use this approach, canoe barrels seem to be bear proof). If you use them in raccoon country, put something into the closure lever to make sure it can't be opened easily. Now the secret. A raccoon will not jump in a tree. They can climb anything they can get their claws into - including parachute cord or other fine line. In order to raccoon proof your hanging pack, use a length of stainless steel wire, 1/8 inch diameter, between your pack and the rope you hang it with. It has to be longer than the reach of the raccoon. I had one made up at a marine shop, a meter long with stainless thimbles at each end. The raccoon can't grip the wire and therefore can't climb down to the food. I've used this for years and haven't had a single problem since I started. I've watched the buggers try over and over to get to the food pack and give up in disgust. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 11/22/1999 9:23:26 PM Eastern Standard Time, michaeldaly_at_home.com writes: << Raccoons aren't as smart as some folks think, however, they are persistent and won't give up easily. Their primary approach to getting something they want is to scratch at the bag/container/whatever until something gives. >> You should see what they can do to a canteloupe (melon) in a milk crate! The crate was heavily weighted on top, but they stuck their paws through the crate "holes" and we were left with a hollow canteloupe shell. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
O.K., raccoons may not be as smart as we think they are, but they are still smarter than kayakers, I think. Brad Bradford R. Crain Dept. of Mathematical Sciences Portland State Univ. 724 SW Harrison St. 334 Neuberger Hall Portland, Or. 97201 e-mail: brad_at_mth.pdx.edu phone: 503.725.3127 fax: 503.725.3661 >>> Michael Daly <michaeldaly_at_home.com> 11/22/99 06:08PM >>> Evan Dallas wrote: > > In racoon > country, we always hang everything that could possibly be a temptation. And > even hanging the food is no guarantee unless it's very well hung (the food, that > is), since the racoons are smart enough to gnaw at the ropes, if accessible. > As a long-time observer of raccoons in the wild (mostly in Algonquin park) - did you know that contented raccoons purr like cats? - allow me to tell you a secret. Raccoons aren't as smart as some folks think, however, they are persistent and won't give up easily. Their primary approach to getting something they want is to scratch at the bag/container/whatever until something gives. They go for the spot that has the strongest smell, like a zipper, the crack between the bottom and lid of a cooler etc. Since they have longish claws, clawing at a zipper will sometimes let them catch and open the zipper, making folks think they're smart enough to have figured them out. Even canoe barrels have been opened by raccoons who've accidentally snagged the metal closure lever with their paws (since bears don't use this approach, canoe barrels seem to be bear proof). If you use them in raccoon country, put something into the closure lever to make sure it can't be opened easily. Now the secret. A raccoon will not jump in a tree. They can climb anything they can get their claws into - including parachute cord or other fine line. In order to raccoon proof your hanging pack, use a length of stainless steel wire, 1/8 inch diameter, between your pack and the rope you hang it with. It has to be longer than the reach of the raccoon. I had one made up at a marine shop, a meter long with stainless thimbles at each end. The raccoon can't grip the wire and therefore can't climb down to the food. I've used this for years and haven't had a single problem since I started. I've watched the buggers try over and over to get to the food pack and give up in disgust. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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