Resistance is Futile

Try though I may, the homeowner association board just will not leave me alone. They insist on finding new ways of demonstrating that my feeding of the feral cats in the neighborhood is causing strife around the world. Case in point, the most recent letter they've sent:

On behalf of the board I am sending this notice to advise all homeowners that leaving any food or water bowls in your yards is a violation of the CC&Rs under the nuisance by-law, and homeowners will be and are being cited. This includes food and water intended for your own pets and other animals. In addition to the attended [sic] recipients, the leaving of food and water attracts unwanted and dangerous animals such as skunks and raccoons.

The city has recently put up warning notices along the trail advising people to not feed stray animals because of raccoons and skunks being attracted. In the past month a skunk has been found in our drain system, I personally have seen a raccoon climbing a fence heading towards our property and in the recent week one neighbor had a “stand-off” with a raccoon while out for a walk.

Please be aware that raccoons are dangerous and aggressive. If you do cross paths with one, do not attempt to scare it off. They have been known to attack, rather than run away. Here is a link to an article posted in today’s news of an extreme case of raccoons in Washington state. We are not having these kinds of conditions, but raccoons are dangerous never the less. [news story]

I had to laugh when I read the news story. Raccoons ganging up and terrorizing the neighborhood? Seems to me that rather than calling the Fish and Wildlife Service (who did not respond my request for additional details), the Department of Homeland Security should have been called? They'd probably be interested in the cat problem here as well, as feral cats are like considered to be WMDs - weapons of mouse destruction.

You're right though, raccoons and skunks are dangerous. But not always. I remember a story a while back about a raccoon that had teamed up with a moose (they went by the names "Rocky and Bullwinkle") who fought for the side of good during the Cold War. Week after week, battling it out with a pair of spies from Pottsylvania. You have to admire their determination.

I agree though - skunks are very dangerous. I saw one on TV that was sexually harassing a cat. Sexual harassment is bad enough, but cross-species sexual harassment is completely wrong.

But seriously though, how did the skunk end up in your drain?