Observations of Critters in Cages

Squirrels totally freak the crap out and smash their faces into the wire until they're bleeding. Stupid squirrels.
Possums just lay there with their mouths open drooling a little bit, hoping you'll go away.
Racoons snap and snarl and make you ask, "you want out of this cage alive, or not". Really stupid racoons.
Chipmunks just chill, give them a peanut and a bottle cap of water and they jump online to shop for a new couch.

Problem animal and traps might be okay.

Animal do what comes natural.

Big choice, keep predators, nuisance animals or use live traps?

Big choice, do these animals bother your dogs, cats, or crops?

Your choice.

Desmond Morris observed chimps in captivity and likened it to humans in city dwellings. I think that was a bit of a stretch, but he might have been on to something when thinking about prisons.

Anne Miller wrote:Problem animal and traps might be okay.

Animal do what comes natural.

Big choice, keep predators, nuisance animals or use live traps?

Big choice, do these animals bother your dogs, cats, or crops?

Your choice.

Animals will completely destroy my garden if left alone to do so. I do use live traps but don't always release them alive. This year so far two coons were so miserable looking, nearly bald and covered with scabs and ticks that they were shot out of compassion and the bodies buried deep in the ground. A particularly large and aggressive one was shot on principal and left for the buzzards; it chose the "no I don't want out alive" option. Five more were released over on the state-owned hunting preserve and at least one remains at large. Possibly just two possums have been caught and released on site several times. Squirrels and chipmunks also get a ride to the preserve; chipmunks get a good meal of peanuts and sunflowers and a good drink of clean water beforehand.  

I've noticed at the zoo, big cats often sort of pace back and forth at their wire walls, even when the cage affords them a big enriched area. It seems like they're stressed.