Shortly after we arrived at my brother’s on Wednesday, Tracy discovered this poor woodchuck who had gotten his head stuck through one of the chain links in the fence. Poor fellow couldn’t get himself out forward or backward.
We weren’t able to help him so we called ASCPA, wildlife rescue, and finally the Hyde Park police who came pretty promptly. The officer’s first suggestion was to pour dishwashing detergent around the woodchuck’s neck to lubricate it. He had rubbed the fur off one spot on his neck so it was pretty unpleasant and we quickly learned that there was no way he was going to extricate himself from the fence.
Fortunately, my brother’s neighbor saw all the activity and arrived with a Have a Heart trap in hand. He also owned a bolt cutter and we were able to cut the chain links and slip the woodchuck into the trap.
After cleaning off the soap—quite the event—we took him to a wooded area and tried to let him loose.
The poor guy was so tuckered out, he didn’t want to leave the trap, but we finally shook him loose and left him in the woods.
