Larry,
Let us know how they taste. You may be on to something. I haven't heard of
any cases of Mad Rat Disease.
Doug E.
www.Shirewood.com
'84 Van-Go

----- Original Message -----
From: "Larry Chase" <roadguy@ROADHAUS.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2004 7:22 AM
Subject: RoadHaus - Louisiana Raccoons / The rest of the story

> Volks,
>
> Sorry ..... Long story!
>
> Yesterday I sent a short report to a few friends about a run in I had
> with a few Louisiana Raccoons.
>
> See "First Raccoon Report" at the bottom of this page.
>
> Turns out there's more to the story.
>
> - - -
>
> Although I thought my "Raccoon" Adventure was done for the day, it was
> not to be.
>
> First I was politely educated by my friend Stan Wilder.
>
> Turns out the critters are not Raccoons at all.
>
> The were "NUTRIA" or what is more commonly referred to as "Louisiana
> Swamp Rats".
>
> Here's a picture:
>
> http://www.roadhaus.com/images/nutria.jpg
>
> Here's some info:
>
> http://www.nationaltrappers.com/nutria.html
>
> Anyway .... Around mid-night ... The fun began again.
>
> The creatures began crawling out of the Abyss of the Louisiana Swamp and
> tried to overtake the Roadhaus.
>
> OK .... You may find this one hard to believe, but it's true.
>
> After the early episode with the dog food (stored in one of those tough
> rubber waterproof duffel bags) I threw the bag on top of the Van for the
> night.
>
> Out of harms way I foolishly thought.
>
> The creatures split into squads of three or four and took turns
> assaulting the Van. They somehow managed to scale the exterior and made
> their way to the roof.
>
> Once on the summit they proceed to rummage thru everything in the
> luggage rack, including of course ... The dog food duffle bag.
>
> Also I might add ... They seemed to have a particular fondness for a
> gallon of VW Phosphate Free Antifreeze.
>
> Sounds of scratching, clawing and objects being tossed about pierced the
> damp night air.
>
> Try and sleep thru that.
>
> Grapping my 4'long Mag Flashlight, I throw the side door open, and hit
> the ground in full USMC Combat stance.
>
> Ready to swing the flashlight to and fro and fight for the dominance of
> the swamp.
>
> Sweeping the beam onto the roof I see dark vague shapes disappear into
> the darkness. I hear scurrying down the far side of the van.
>
> Running to that perimeter ....... I hear the nearby dense vegetation
> rustling with activity.
>
> And then ... This is the scary part.
>
> You might want to chase the children away for this one.
>
> Sweepinjg the flashlight beam in that direction,
>
> I see eyes staring back. But this time it's not 1/2 dozen sets of eyes.
>
> No sir .... I counted at least 12 or 14 sets of piercing, eerie eyes of
> what I assume was a growing Army of NUTRIA.
>
> Fearing that I was outnumbered I tumble back into the safety of the
> RoadHaus.
>
> BTW ... Bullet the Watch Dog ... Never showed a bit of curiosity or
> interest in the event.
>
> She watched the whole ordeal from the warmth and comfort of her LL Bean
> Down and Fleece covered bed.
>
> To put an end to this tale .....
>
> The rest of the night was a similar repeat permorance.
>
> They would return, I'd work up enough courage to finally rush out and
> confront what turned out to be ever growing sets of glowing night eyes.
>
> Finally, after literally no sleep I feared that they had gathered enough
> numbers to cart the Van away ....
>
> I became convinced that there true plan was to take us deep into their
> territory.
>
> The Abyss of their Louisiana Swamp.
>
> I hurried threw everything into the Van and at around 4:30 am escaped
> back to the paved byways of rural LA.
>
> Now this morning in a calmer mood, I'm trying to sort thru lessons
> learned and figure out what I might be different next time.
>
> Here's what I came up with.
>
> http://www.lacoast.gov/watermarks/2000b-06/3recipe/
>
>
>
> - - -
>
> First Raccoon Report
>
> Sitting in the Van a few minutes ago, Bullet (Dog) starts going crazy.
>
> Figure she has to go Potty.
>
> I let her out, seconds later I hear a small yelp and here she comes at a
> run ... back in the Van.
>
> I figure it was a loose dog.
>
> Jump out with flashlight in hand ..... from the thick brush 6 different
> sets of eyes stare back.
>
> Holly sh_____ I Gasp.
>
> After the pulse rate returns to normal I investigate a little further.
>
> I hate it when curiosity overcomes fear.
>
> Turns out the eyes belong to raccoons who where dragging the dog food
> bag into the swamps of Louisiana.
>
> Not on your life I shout ...... Jumping into the muck I wrestle the
> prize away.
>
> OK .... so my shouting actually scared the devils further into the
> depths of the abyss.
>
> But the other version makes a better story.
>
> The new replacement bag ...... now has new teeth marks and chew holes.
>
> Cool.
>
> The original taken several times by Coyotes of the Southwest  and Wild
> Dogs of Mexico.
>
> But each time I got it back.
>
> That is until I left it on top of the van when I pulled out of camp one
> day.
>
> Never to be seen again.
>
> - - -
>
> The real voyage of discovery
> consists not in seeking new landscapes,
> But in having new eyes.
>  ~  Marcel Proust
>
> Larry Chase
> Email: RoadGuy@RoadHaus.com
> Web: WWW.RoadHaus.com
> Cell:  408.202.1217
> What: North American Road Trip
> How: RoadHaus - 1990 White VW Westfalia Syncro
> Today: On the road to Florida