garage repair

[low_delta]

I was up on a ladder trying to cut some gutter supports with a hacksaw, when I noticed a long pink snout sticking out from between some rotting boards. I didn't have a heart attack or leap from the ladder. I did quickly determine that it belonged to an oppossum. The boards up there have long been rotted, and I tore some of them down... a long time ago. So I think the thing (orthers) have been crawling in and out there for a while. Anyway, I could see it on the inside of the garge, poking its head over the top of the wall. I opened the garage door and went back to beat on the outside of the garage with a hammer, hoping I would scare it out of it's hiding spot. No dice. I was able to poke at its tail with the handle of the hammer, but it still wouldn't climb out. Too bright down there, I guess. Finally, I got the hose. That flushed it out. It climbed over to the garage door and walked over it to the other side, then crawled over the wall. *sigh*

I was then able to tear down the rest of the gutter without having an animal fall on me, but now the thing is still in the garge. Or was. It's probably out and about now. And I wasn't able to get the new wood back on the garage, so it will likely climb back in by morning.

Comments

[serendipity.livejournal.com]

That would've scared the hell out of me! Oppossums give me the creeps, ew. I know they're nice animals and all, but they're just so ugly, and not too bright. *shudder*

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

That snout was right there. About a foot from my chest, and under my arm. And if I hadn't seen it, it probably would have been sniffing my hand. I think he was still groggy from being woken up.

[serendipity.livejournal.com]

OK, already, I get the creepy picture! Are you trying to give me a nightmare or something? :P

EW!!

[aki-dreaming.livejournal.com]

Possums are so nasty/weird. They are very soft, though. Not that I recommend petting them.

Re: EW!!

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Really? The fur didn't look particularly soft. This one was a little one, too.

Re: EW!!

[aki-dreaming.livejournal.com]

When I went to my parents house they told me about their new possum too...
The possum I pet had been washed, but he was very soft.

[philrancid.livejournal.com]

gitcha some good, thick, leather gloves, and pull him out, place him in some kinda cage, and call the animal control--make sure he has something to hide in in the cage--probably the rotted wood he was curled up in, as it's still got the smell in it. Boxes or old empty fishtanks will work as well...

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

I'm hoping animal control will do that.

[low-delta.livejournal.com]

Just now, I reread my post and realized I didn't quite explain it to full effect. I was standing on a stepladder next to the garage, so I could use the hacksaw in the gutter. I hadn't reached down there yet, but was reaching my arm over it, so the snout was about a foot form my chest, and just under my arm. It couldn't get to me, but it freaked me a bit.

But yeah, they are... something. For me, it's the teeth. A long narrow snout with those pointy teeth.