The raccoons came last night......

[smweaver]

Becca, have you thought about purchasing a bench for your plants while they're outdoors? You can find fairly inexpensive galvanized steel mesh benches on the internet (Indoor Gardening Supplies is where I got mine). We have lots of raccoons where I live also. And although watching a group of them figure out (successfully!) how to break into a cooler that was on our back porch last summer was quite a bit of fun to watch, my sense of humor disappeared once they started to investigate the orchid bench. I put a sticky substance called Tangle Foot (that's a brand name, but I imagine there are other similar products available) along the legs of the benches this past spring, and so far the raccoons have avoided the bench entirely. It's not a toxic substance, so you don't need to be too concerned about handling it (or having it near pets and kids). And it's cheap too. It would be messy, but you could probably also put a bit of it on the orchid pots. Once the raccoons encountered it, they might very well have a change of heart and move onto something less sticky to play with. Good luck!

[Ross]

Originally Posted by smweaver

Becca, have you thought about purchasing a bench for your plants while they're outdoors? You can find fairly inexpensive galvanized steel mesh benches on the internet (Indoor Gardening Supplies is where I got mine). We have lots of raccoons where I live also. And although watching a group of them figure out (successfully!) how to break into a cooler that was on our back porch last summer was quite a bit of fun to watch, my sense of humor disappeared once they started to investigate the orchid bench. I put a sticky substance called Tangle Foot (that's a brand name, but I imagine there are other similar products available) along the legs of the benches this past spring, and so far the raccoons have avoided the bench entirely. It's not a toxic substance, so you don't need to be too concerned about handling it (or having it near pets and kids). And it's cheap too. It would be messy, but you could probably also put a bit of it on the orchid pots. Once the raccoons encountered it, they might very well have a change of heart and move onto something less sticky to play with. Good luck!

Great idea! It's called Tree Tanglefoot here The Tanglefoot Company Products and we've used it for years to control Gypsy Moth and other caterpillars. Never thought of this friendly (but sticky) product for racoons and squirrels. I'm off to buy some!

[Dorothy]

Originally Posted by Charles

I hear raccoon is excellent on the barbecue. That would make me feel better. Squirrel stew too.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by Charles

I hear raccoon is excellent on the barbecue. That would make me feel better. Squirrel stew too.

I am SO glad you posted this. That was my first reaction, but knowing the tendencies here, I wasn't sure my post would be well-received -- "the only good squirrel is in the oven, tenderized!"

[Becca]

I will look into the benches and the Tangle foot. Thanks for the recommendations! I just need a greenhouse now...lol.

On the other hand...I do love wild game meat...I wonder what raccoon would taste like...lol. Honestly these curious little buggers are just to cute for me to eat...even after what they did to my cymbidiums.

[Ross]

Originally Posted by RPfeiffer

Honestly these curious little buggers are just to cute for me to eat...even after what they did to my cymbidiums.

Bet those would taste like, well, like cymbidium

[Becca]

Originally Posted by rsfrid

Bet those would taste like, well, like cymbidium

[Dorothy]

[dennis]

they taste like stew meat just as tough to

[Becca]

Originally Posted by dennis

they taste like stew meat just as tough to

Stew meat is good...just not tough stew meat...lol.