I had a hole in the roof of my garage this past spring. I am not sure what got in but the hole has been fixed but I have yet to see what damage was doen to the stuff I have stored in my garage. I'll need to do that soon because I do have stuff I m going to need to use on the Hudson and Hartford to complete the first level of it. I also have some pieces of plywood I was saving to make shelves for storage under the Woodland Scenics stands. I am sure those haven't been chewed but I do suspect My garage was used as nesting place for one or more of the following: (1) Rats; (2) Racoons; or (3) Squirrels. I tend to think it was racoons because they have run all over the neighborhood over the last couple of years since there is a municipal golf course and park only a few blocks fro here and ever since NYC stopped putting poison around they have come out looking for food in all the wrong places.

I have looked in the garage and stuff that was stored on shelf over the parking area seems to have been rearranged but other than human hands as some of it is now hanging over the ledge. We haven't kept any cars in the garage since we redid the house in 2004-05 because it has served as storage for some of the materials left over from that project.

A couple of weeks ago our latest grandson came for visit and his parents, my son and daughter in law threw out a diaper that somehow missed the garbage can and landed under some bushes. A few weeks later a racoon came out of that area and died on our front lawn. That diaper seems to have disappeared and it is just too likely the racoon got to the diaper and made its last meal out of it.

At some point this summer I will need to go in there and take a closer look at what I can find or possibly get rid of.

Irv

Irv

Don,

I was running one of my prized engines a  number of years back, When my house cat hopped up on the layout, and before I could get to her she swatted my wonderful engine. To my horror, it went to the floor with several cars.

That engine didn't look any thing like a mouse. My wife protected that sorry excuse of a pet, and I was not allowed any retribution! This was even before PETA was around.

Regards

John

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When seconds count, the cops are just minutes away.  >> Clint Smith

In my area, TEXAS, we have problems with squirrels, rats, large buzzards, bees, fire ants, and various snakes some of which are poisonous as well as coyotes and wild hogs. Many of the critters will get shot with an air gun if small enough to be dispatched by that method. Although my neighbors are unlikely to complain if I was using a shotgun or rifle I choose not to since I live in town and there are others residing near by. Many times the only thing that can be used is a blunt instrument to get rid of the critters. Before you think too harshly of me tell me how you feel about sharing your out buildings with a rattlesnake or cotton mouth. 

PETA should be people eating tasty animals.

Combined with knowledge, both are great teachers. Think about it. Some of the "vegetation" you put on your layout is composed of stuff in the basic food groups for some animals. Secondly, a feline is a feline and anything that moves can and will be stalked (no big surprise there) and/or played with. Lastly, even little kids are curious and should be kept more than an arms length from your layout.

Sounds like I'm a grumpy old man - you bet your Dupa! My view of my miniature world does not include "gefinger poken nur das handerverken" except by me. It's taken each of us many years of a dream on paper, months of learning by mistakes, decades of patience, and years of frustration just to get to the point of being able to step back and smile. 

Don't give the varmints the opportunity to take your smile away. . . .