Normally I'd say fill in the trench, But since I don't know What It's for, How about a cover or screen to keep the varmints out of It?

The trench allows us to have natural light in our downstairs rooms. If we filled it in we would have dirt over our windows. When we moved in, we installed a decorative rail to keep any drunken and disorderly relatives from falling down there during family parties. Raccoons have no problem climbing in to "explore" and then climbing out. Feral cats easily jump in and out. Only skunks seem to have a problem getting out, and Eric's skunk ladder seems to have fixed that problem.

Of course. You never know when it'll be needed again. When another pair of skunks get stuck down there, you'll be thankful that Eric left it and that your house doesn't stink again. Imagine the hugs and kisses he'll get for being a hero and a thoughtful, intelligent guy who is not forgetful at all! He planned it that way!

Actually, we both decided to leave it there. It is barely noticeable and it really does serve a good purpose.

Ok, Now that I've been back filled on the trench, I'll let It go.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

The trench allows us to have natural light in our downstairs rooms. If we filled it in we would have dirt over our windows. When we moved in, we installed a decorative rail to keep any drunken and disorderly relatives from falling down there during family parties. Raccoons have no problem climbing in to "explore" and then climbing out. Feral cats easily jump in and out. Only skunks seem to have a problem getting out, and Eric's skunk ladder seems to have fixed that problem.

That is called a window well.

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BOINC WIKI

The trench allows us to have natural light in our downstairs rooms. If we filled it in we would have dirt over our windows. When we moved in, we installed a decorative rail to keep any drunken and disorderly relatives from falling down there during family parties. Raccoons have no problem climbing in to "explore" and then climbing out. Feral cats easily jump in and out. Only skunks seem to have a problem getting out, and Eric's skunk ladder seems to have fixed that problem.

That is called a window well.

And their usually used with that rare commodity in California, Basements.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

The trench allows us to have natural light in our downstairs rooms. If we filled it in we would have dirt over our windows. When we moved in, we installed a decorative rail to keep any drunken and disorderly relatives from falling down there during family parties. Raccoons have no problem climbing in to "explore" and then climbing out. Feral cats easily jump in and out. Only skunks seem to have a problem getting out, and Eric's skunk ladder seems to have fixed that problem.

That is called a window well.

And their usually used with that rare commodity in California, Basements.

When I was in elementary school the house I lived in had one. Dark, dank, musty, undoubtedly with spiders and other creepy crawlies.

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me@rescam.org

That is called a window well.

Thank you! I had no idea there was a name for such a thing.

The things you can learn on the internet....

That is called a window well.

Thank you! I had no idea there was a name for such a thing.

The things you can learn on the internet....

Don't feel bad, It's so rare in California, That I'd forgotten about the term Myself.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Most of the night though, they spent hissing and stamping and spitting and spraying each other. Our house reeked!

As a past resident of west central Indiana - I must say the little beasties are fairly laid back for the most part. HOWEVER I have found that if they are hissing at you - don't get any closer!
If they start stamping - Get the H*** out of Dodge - they gonna unload on you- you are REALLY tweaking their twinkie!

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Classic WU= 7,237 Classic Hours= 42,079

That is called a window well.

Thank you! I had no idea there was a name for such a thing.

The things you can learn on the internet....

Don't feel bad, It's so rare in California, That I'd forgotten about the term Myself.

I read about a baby mountain lion the fell into a window well just a couple of weeks ago. I had to go look it up to make any sense of the article.

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BOINC WIKI

I must say the little beasties are fairly laid back for the most part.

Yeah Hal, our beasties are mellow as well. They rarely spray. The only reason we had a problem with the skunks in the window well is that two of them ended up down there with nowhere for either of them to retreat. They were frightened and they felt quite threatened, so they let fly.

In the spring sometimes we smell skunk outside because the males get a little territorial, but most of the year we do not have any problems. We have skunks come in to feed in our back yard quite often. They love birdseed. They are like adorable little birdseed vacuums. Eric and I even managed to free a skunk from a live-trap once without getting bit or sprayed. (We were attempting to trap feral cats and get them fixed and one day we ended up with something not quite cat-like in the trap!)

One time a litter of 4 baby raccoons rushed one of our skunks and the skunk didn't have a good escape route, so he sprayed the babies. They were most unhappy and so was I, as our backyard stank for a week or so.

But really, skunks are all about the threat... stamping, hissing, spitting, jumping up and down. They only spray when desperate and cornered. They always choose to run away if given the option.

They really are beautiful animals and I do not mind having them around at all.

I must say the little beasties are fairly laid back for the most part.

Yeah Hal, our beasties are mellow as well. They rarely spray. The only reason we had a problem with the skunks in the window well is that two of them ended up down there with nowhere for either of them to retreat. They were frightened and they felt quite threatened, so they let fly.

In the spring sometimes we smell skunk outside because the males get a little territorial, but most of the year we do not have any problems. We have skunks come in to feed in our back yard quite often. They love birdseed. They are like adorable little birdseed vacuums. Eric and I even managed to free a skunk from a live-trap once without getting bit or sprayed. (We were attempting to trap feral cats and get them fixed and one day we ended up with something not quite cat-like in the trap!)

One time a litter of 4 baby raccoons rushed one of our skunks and the skunk didn't have a good escape route, so he sprayed the babies. They were most unhappy and so was I, as our backyard stank for a week or so.

But really, skunks are all about the threat... stamping, hissing, spitting, jumping up and down. They only spray when desperate and cornered. They always choose to run away if given the option.

They really are beautiful animals and I do not mind having them around at all.

From what I've read It's a last resort weapon, they like Bluff and Bluster mainly, But will let fly If they have no other way out, We're talkin the inventors of Chemical Warfare here, But 5 or 6 sprays and It takes about a week for their tank to refill.

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

I must say the little beasties are fairly laid back for the most part.

Yeah Hal, our beasties are mellow as well. They rarely spray. The only reason we had a problem with the skunks in the window well is that two of them ended up down there with nowhere for either of them to retreat. They were frightened and they felt quite threatened, so they let fly.

In the spring sometimes we smell skunk outside because the males get a little territorial, but most of the year we do not have any problems. We have skunks come in to feed in our back yard quite often. They love birdseed. They are like adorable little birdseed vacuums. Eric and I even managed to free a skunk from a live-trap once without getting bit or sprayed. (We were attempting to trap feral cats and get them fixed and one day we ended up with something not quite cat-like in the trap!)

One time a litter of 4 baby raccoons rushed one of our skunks and the skunk didn't have a good escape route, so he sprayed the babies. They were most unhappy and so was I, as our backyard stank for a week or so.

But really, skunks are all about the threat... stamping, hissing, spitting, jumping up and down. They only spray when desperate and cornered. They always choose to run away if given the option.

They really are beautiful animals and I do not mind having them around at all.

Hi Angela. A certain skunk wanted to thank you......

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...
BETTER THE WORLD ~ PAY IT FORWARD
...

LOL

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Thought you might enjoy seeing one of Interloper Mama's grown children. This is a raccoon Eric calls "The Fonz" (although in true Mrs. Cunningham fashion I call him Arthur). Last year Fonzie was one of the babies who visited somewhat regularly with his mother and his other sibling. We recognize this raccoon by his distinctly shaped face and head. Fonzie's oddly shaped skull makes him appear to have slicked-back head fur, at least in comparison with other raccoons. Some of my raccoons are most easily identified by their behavioral patters. Others, like The Fonz, have distinctive physical features.

Last night The Fonz and Thing One got into quite a little snarling match. Thing One did more than just retreat a little. He actually left our yard, which surprised me as Fonzie is significantly smaller and at least one year younger than Thing One. I have not really puzzled out how raccoon dominance works, but I am beginning to suspect that temperament has more to do with it than size and age.





Stinky Lou wants to go on vacation this summer and White Cat wants to let her go!

(Didn't want the kitty people to feel left-out on the raccoon thread...)

Stinky Lou wants to go on vacation this summer and White Cat wants to let her go!

(Didn't want the kitty people to feel left-out on the raccoon thread...)

Thanks, Nice Cats, Looks like one just wants to claim Your luggage. But that's a Cat, Angel is sometimes hard to figure out as well, It's that or I'm really dense. :D

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Thought you might enjoy seeing one of Interloper Mama's grown children. This is a raccoon Eric calls "The Fonz" (although in true Mrs. Cunningham fashion I call him Arthur). Last year Fonzie was one of the babies who visited somewhat regularly with his mother and his other sibling. We recognize this raccoon by his distinctly shaped face and head. Fonzie's oddly shaped skull makes him appear to have slicked-back head fur, at least in comparison with other raccoons. Some of my raccoons are most easily identified by their behavioral patters. Others, like The Fonz, have distinctive physical features.

Last night The Fonz and Thing One got into quite a little snarling match. Thing One did more than just retreat a little. He actually left our yard, which surprised me as Fonzie is significantly smaller and at least one year younger than Thing One. I have not really puzzled out how raccoon dominance works, but I am beginning to suspect that temperament has more to do with it than size and age.[/img]

Probably the same rules as homo sapiens use -
If ya can't Dazzle 'em with Dominance - Baffle 'em with Bull!
Yeah - I KNOW - I'll probably hear about this one!

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Classic WU= 7,237 Classic Hours= 42,079

Stinky Lou wants to go on vacation this summer and White Cat wants to let her go!

(Didn't want the kitty people to feel left-out on the raccoon thread...)

Thanks, Nice Cats, Looks like one just wants to claim Your luggage. But that's a Cat, Angel is sometimes hard to figure out as well, It's that or I'm really dense. :D

Cats are blissful.

---

me@rescam.org

Stinky Lou wants to go on vacation this summer and White Cat wants to let her go!

(Didn't want the kitty people to feel left-out on the raccoon thread...)

Thanks, Nice Cats, Looks like one just wants to claim Your luggage. But that's a Cat, Angel is sometimes hard to figure out as well, It's that or I'm really dense. :D

Cats are blissful.

And they keep the Mice away.

---

The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's

Stinky Lou wants to go on vacation this summer and White Cat wants to let her go!

(Didn't want the kitty people to feel left-out on the raccoon thread...)

Thanks, Nice Cats, Looks like one just wants to claim Your luggage. But that's a Cat, Angel is sometimes hard to figure out as well, It's that or I'm really dense. :D

Cats are blissful.

And they keep the Mice away.

So the Ninny can play!

---

me@rescam.org

Stinky Lou wants to go on vacation this summer and White Cat wants to let her go!

(Didn't want the kitty people to feel left-out on the raccoon thread...)

Thanks, Nice Cats, Looks like one just wants to claim Your luggage. But that's a Cat, Angel is sometimes hard to figure out as well, It's that or I'm really dense. :D

Cats are blissful.

---

me@rescam.org

Stinky Lou wants to go on vacation this summer and White Cat wants to let her go!

(Didn't want the kitty people to feel left-out on the raccoon thread...)

Thanks, Nice Cats, Looks like one just wants to claim Your luggage. But that's a Cat, Angel is sometimes hard to figure out as well, It's that or I'm really dense. :D

Cats are blissful.

Oh look at the cute hairball clog. :)

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The T1 Trust, PRR T1 Class 4-4-4-4 #5550, 1 of America's First HST's