It is time to set the trap.

As I went outside tonight to make certain the baby chicks had water and were tucked in for the night, Katie cat decided she needed to go out.  As she went out the door I noticed some movement beside the greenhouse.  It did not have the stealth-like moves that a cat does, but kind of lumbered along in a jerky motion.  I headed out with the flashlight to see what it was.  As I went by the greenhouse something hissed and increased my heart rate to maximum pumping efficiency.  The hiss I determined came from Bad Goose.  In the meantime, Katie had proceeded further out into the yard.  I shined the light around and it fell on two red, glowing orbs under the rabbit hutch.  I thought, "At least it isn't anything large".  About the same time the coyotes started their howling across the road as they embarked on their nightly tour around the back of the property.  If having your heart pumping wildly with heavy doses of adrenaline rushing throughout your body doesn't make some of these extra pounds come off there is something wrong there!

Katie and the creature seemed to be at a standoff as I approached.  Once I got the flashlight close enough to identify the creature I was repulsed.  Opossums have to be the ugliest of all the furry creatures and this one obviously has a severe case of mange.  I picked up Katie and took her to the bus for the night with her pals.  After going around and making sure all the other animals who belong here were settled in with closed gates and doorslatched up tight, I made up my mind that during daylight tomorrow we will be setting the trap for this creature.  Once we catch it...well, we can deal with that situation the next day.

I'm reasonably certain this was the thing that ripped up Slippers when they were both under the trailer house which required the drugs from the vet to heal. (Just got the bill for that.  All I can say is for that price they darn well should work!)

I'll put some pictures on here so you can see for yourself how truly ugly these things are when we finally catch it.