Read Thread: Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Mar 31, 2008 9:28am
At least the mystery is solved... A small LB on my own property went missing a few weeks ago. It was a small [washed] Play-Do container with a hot pink lid, and it was hidden under some small rocks behind a larger rock. The neat crystal in the larger rock was destroyed, so I assumed that someone had trespassed on my property and tried to chip out the crystal, thus moving jostling the rock, then he/she found my tiny letterbox and took it. I was SO mad!\
This morning I was walking our property and noticed a shred of pink plastic in a open area. When I bent down for a closer look, I found shreds of the container, stamp and stamp backing (see photo http://www.atlasquest.com/gallery/viewphoto.html?gPhotoId=37477). And right on top was a big coyote scat (poop)! At least I'm pretty sure because we do hear a pack of coyotes down there, the scat was larger than the raccoon one I found in our garage yesterday, and it was full of hair (which means it wasn't a dog). The container was not actually IN the scat, but a piece of yellow plastic was stuck to the scat (I did not retrieve that piece!). So it's possible that another animal chewed up the box and then a coyote pooped on it... Or maybe it was there chewing and then had to go...
At any rate, I will have to recarve that stamp and find a more durable container/location. I wonder if there was still a salty smell in the container? I only ran these through the dishwasher and did not do the usual 7-day cat litter treatment. I have a small LNL down in the same area that has been untouched. It has some small rocks over it, but is no less accessible than the chewed one was.
Good thing we decided not to let our cats go outside.
This morning I was walking our property and noticed a shred of pink plastic in a open area. When I bent down for a closer look, I found shreds of the container, stamp and stamp backing (see photo http://www.atlasquest.com/gallery/viewphoto.html?gPhotoId=37477). And right on top was a big coyote scat (poop)! At least I'm pretty sure because we do hear a pack of coyotes down there, the scat was larger than the raccoon one I found in our garage yesterday, and it was full of hair (which means it wasn't a dog). The container was not actually IN the scat, but a piece of yellow plastic was stuck to the scat (I did not retrieve that piece!). So it's possible that another animal chewed up the box and then a coyote pooped on it... Or maybe it was there chewing and then had to go...
At any rate, I will have to recarve that stamp and find a more durable container/location. I wonder if there was still a salty smell in the container? I only ran these through the dishwasher and did not do the usual 7-day cat litter treatment. I have a small LNL down in the same area that has been untouched. It has some small rocks over it, but is no less accessible than the chewed one was.
Good thing we decided not to let our cats go outside.
Re: Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #206007 by MO UR4Me
Mar 31, 2008 9:41am
Very interesting. Thanks for the pictures.
Paula Ü
Paula Ü
Re: Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #206007 by MO UR4Me
Mar 31, 2008 9:45am
Whoa! Glad there were no LBers around when that got "eaten."
Let's be careful out there!
Let's be careful out there!
Re: Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #206007 by MO UR4Me
Mar 31, 2008 9:55am
I would bet that it was the smell.
We have used empty peanut butter jars, but I generally soak them in soapy water for about a week. I change the water every day or so. After the week is up I will wipe the inside of the plastic jar with a wetted acetone paper towel, then close it up. I cover the outside with duct tape, color of your choice, then might use it for a container in a few weeks.
The industrial/chemical smell will not be attractive to critters and the duct tape will help keep the plastic from degrading in the UV (sun block).
I can not think of any instance when this type of container, using the above procedures, has been disturbed by critters.
Don
Re: Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #206007 by MO UR4Me
Mar 31, 2008 10:15am
What is the cat litter treatment? I'm intrigued.
SJ Honey Bunny
Re: Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #206016 by Don and Gwen
Mar 31, 2008 10:16am
I have a few play-do containers I've been saving up. I guess I will have to think carefully about how to make sure they are not scented by the previous contents. What about the cat litter someone else mentioned? Does that work?
Re: Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #206007 by MO UR4Me
Mar 31, 2008 10:29am
Well gosh darn it. Did he at least stamp in? LOL
Re: Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #206030 by Woman to Blame
Mar 31, 2008 10:53am
The cat litter treatment: Wash the container, then fill it with cat litter and let it sit for a week. Then run it through the dishwasher. That should remove any food smell. I learned that somewhere here on AQ.
Re: Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #206016 by Don and Gwen
Mar 31, 2008 11:28am
I guess you don't consider College Students "critters"? :)
-Nephewmatta_u
Re: Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #206007 by MO UR4Me
Mar 31, 2008 11:59am
(laughing hysterically) Good thing you post this today because if you posted it tomorrow I wouldn't have believed you!
Re: Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #206007 by MO UR4Me
Mar 31, 2008 12:04pm
I guess the coyote left a clear message about what he thought of your box. They're so picky!
Re: Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #206007 by MO UR4Me
Mar 31, 2008 12:14pm
Good thing we decided not to let our cats go outside.
OMG yes! Now you will have to be extra sure to never let them run past you on your way in or out! I'm very glad, tho, that it didn't turn out to be HUMANS who muggled your box...
OMG yes! Now you will have to be extra sure to never let them run past you on your way in or out! I'm very glad, tho, that it didn't turn out to be HUMANS who muggled your box...
Re: Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #206074 by wassamatta u
Mar 31, 2008 2:58pm
I guess you don't consider College Students "critters"? :)
-Nephewmatta_u</quote.
Atleast they probably didn't find it by using their nose. Now if it were empty beer bottles.....
Uncadon
-Nephewmatta_u</quote.
Atleast they probably didn't find it by using their nose. Now if it were empty beer bottles.....
Uncadon
Re: Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #206040 by Familyof6
Mar 31, 2008 11:08pm
Obviously he did. But the ink used has an unpleasant odor.
Re: Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #206007 by MO UR4Me
Mar 31, 2008 11:11pm
That depends. If they are declawed, yes, they'd be coyote poop. A cat with its claws is capable of climbing a tree, though, which usually allows them to escape predators such as coyotes.
Re: Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #206422 by Kirbert
Mar 31, 2008 11:28pm
That's true, they all have claws. I'm going to not test out that theory though, but it's encouraging to remember for when they get out accidentally.
Re: Found my chewed up letterbox under coyote poop!
Board: Traditional Letterboxes
Reply to: #206422 by Kirbert
Apr 1, 2008 8:53am
Hmm, maybe around our neighborhood the coyotes are a bit faster.
Most of the outside cats and small dogs are given food names. "Come..Burger", "Sit..Donut",
"Speak...Hotdog".
Don