A Gardeners Forum
Posted By: Linny Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 10th, 2007 at 12:25 AM
Hey everybody.

I'm new here and really happy to find this forum. We live in North Central Florida. My husband has a shop outside. The front is open, and inside is a sink for him to wash up. For the last couple of weeks something is taking the bar of hand soap every night. When it first started happening, the soap was just gone, then a few days ago we found a bar of soap on the shop floor. It had claw, or teeth marks in it. The marks were about an inch long and pretty deep.

Yesterday morning the soap was missing once again. He replaced it around 9am, went to town, came back around noon, and that bar of soap was gone, so we know that whatever is taking the soap is not just nocturnal. There are trees touching the roof of the shop, so whatever is taking the soap could have come from the trees down into the shop or from the ground. We live in a remote location with pine, oak, and cypress trees surrounding us.

We have tried looking up on the internet what kind of animal might do this, but no info so far. I suspect a raccoon, but cannot find anything to support this. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Linny
Posted By: Wrennie Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 10th, 2007 at 12:59 PM
I thought raccoon or squirrel at first. Raccoons though are nocturnal.
Posted By: netty Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 10th, 2007 at 01:00 PM
Squirrels? Duh
Posted By: Thornius Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 10th, 2007 at 02:54 PM
I have NO idea what that could be, Thorn says wiping soap suds from his lips and tongue.
Posted By: Anonymous Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 10th, 2007 at 05:36 PM
What do squirrels or raccoons want with soap?

I vote squirrel, anyway.
Posted By: plantqueen Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 10th, 2007 at 11:12 PM
Raccoons are nocturnal but have seen them out during the day many of times raiding my bird feeders! frown So, I would not rule that out but I have no clue what could be doing this and why they would want the soap! Duh
Posted By: Linny Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 11th, 2007 at 12:50 AM
We set a live trap out with a bar of soap in it. No takers last night. We'll see about tonight. I will be sure to let you know if and what we trap! Thanks for responding.
Posted By: Anonymous Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 11th, 2007 at 05:41 AM
What will you do with whatever you trap?
Posted By: Linny Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 11th, 2007 at 01:02 PM
Quote
Originally posted by GonetotheBirds:
What will you do with whatever you trap?
Ah...well...Good question Jane....

We had not given that much thought. We were just curious as to what animal would be doing this. I guess we could interrogate it until it tell us where all the soap is. If it talks, we will release it, if not, we will force it to work around the place until it has worked off the debt of 8 bars of soap laugh

No, we will just release it and have the answer to our mystery. We will also put the soap in a safer location! Have a good one.
Posted By: plantqueen Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 11th, 2007 at 05:06 PM
I am curious to what is doing this Linny so please keep us posted on this! thumbup
Posted By: Linny Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 11th, 2007 at 05:52 PM
Will do plantqueen. wink
Posted By: Wrennie Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 11th, 2007 at 09:19 PM
laugh interrogate laugh
Posted By: Linny Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 12th, 2007 at 11:02 PM
Okay, no critters trapped yet. Tonight, we are placing the soap back in the location where it has been stolen from, and removing the live trap. Then we are speading powder all around the sink area to see if we can get some tracks! I know a raccoon track when I see one, and I think I will recognize a squirrel track.

But again, it's like my husband said. What ever is taking the soap probably has all it can use for a while. We may have to wait until it runs out! Will keep you posted...
Posted By: Anonymous Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 13th, 2007 at 12:52 PM
Linny,
This is too funny. Your hubby might be right - how much soap can a critter use! Raccoons are certainly not completely nocturnal... so we'll see who you get.

The powder idea is very clever. I hope it works. Maybe you'll be able to follow the powder tracks out and find out what he is doing with soap!

I tried to find out about animals and soap eating. I googled my heart out and all the hits to "soap" all read "use soap and wash your hands immdediately." Duh
Posted By: plants 'n pots Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 13th, 2007 at 01:14 PM
Be careful if you see racoons during the day.
We've always been told that if they are out then, they are rabid!

That said, I, too, am interested to find out what is stealing your soap!

Have you mentioned what kind of soap it is?
Posted By: MLN Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 13th, 2007 at 07:07 PM
This is a new one on me Duh But I would vote for coon. They are such curious creatures. I like to hunt and have seen them out during the day. If you want to go back to the trap idea, try canned dog food--if it's a coon, they LOVE the stuff! And if you have a local Animal Control group, they might relocate it for you. Coons can get to be a very big pain if they start getting too familiar with your property. A friend of mine had one years ago that learned to get into her trash can. NOTHING she did kept it out of it! She finally had Animal Control come and set a trap. They caught it (a very big coon!) and relocated it.
Posted By: Anonymous Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 16th, 2007 at 04:08 PM
I worked animal control in Seaside California (back in 1982) I relocated many a coon on that job. They scare the crap out of me! Never ever corner a a raccoon.
Posted By: Linny Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 17th, 2007 at 12:03 AM
Funny Jane! Raccoons can be vicious. My nephew trapped one that was getting into his horse feed. Every time you walked close to the cage it would hiss and paw at you. He took it down the road and released it to be someone elses problem! Sorry! So you've gone from California to Maryland. Coast to coast huh? You've seen all types of weather I'll bet. (And people!)

Nature Lover-
After spreading powder around the other night, we still have no idea! No tracks except for my husbands from walking in and out to check the soap, and he swears he's not a soap stealer. I guess I have to trust him! You are so right about raccoons being curious creatures. I so hope if this is the culprit, it does not find the garbage. Good idea on the dog food. Who knew?! We will try that tonight.

The soap is just a cheap soap my husband had from running a shop back in Kentucky. It say's "Lisa" on it. It's just real cheap. The reason the critter has stopped stealing it may be that it is holding out for something more expensive. Some nice smelling soap or something! Who knows? I enjoy reading all your comments. I will let you know if we find anything out. I hate that as soon as I ask this question, the activity seemed to stop. Darn critters.
Posted By: Shirley4 Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 17th, 2007 at 05:58 PM
This whole thing is so funny! laugh laugh

Maybe the critter is a cleanliness freak?!
Maybe they washed up enough and haven't gotten dirty again yet?!
Maybe they washed themselves to death?!
Maybe they enjoy making soap bubbles for their babies?!
Maybe...uhh...?

Hope we all find out soon! laugh
Posted By: herbalyn Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 17th, 2007 at 07:48 PM
--Linny:

Finally: A real soap opera!!

To funny. But intriguing. At least your husband and you have a good sense of humor about the situation. My fave line is your husband's observation that the critter might have all the soap it needs for now. I pictured 7 baby squirrels washing under mom's watchful eye. You might watch for any critter blowing bubbles.

Could the critter be attracted to the soaps scent and be using it to line a nest? Is nest building going on in your area? Do you have crows? They will steal anything they can fly away with.

This is one "soap" I'll be staying tuned to. The children's garden club I volunteer with is going to love this topic.
Posted By: Anonymous Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 18th, 2007 at 05:42 AM
A soap opera laugh laugh laugh

Herb - I wonder if you are onto the motive. lining the nest is an interesting idea... of course momma bathing her little ones is a better mental image!!

Wow Linny...
Now the pressure is really on now! You better get that critter back. You best leave out some fine treats -- steak and eggs or something super yummy!
The raccoon has not been back since you started the thread and you still got it getting hits.. laugh laugh laugh
Posted By: Anonymous Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 21st, 2007 at 09:49 PM
Ohhhhhhhh!!! I am not letting this thread go wavey wavey
Posted By: Linny Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 22nd, 2007 at 10:42 PM
Okay everyone....Are you all ready? After the trap, powder, dog food and all other ideas, we finally know! (At least we are pretty sure.) Drum roll please....

Herbalyn, you are the winner. clp Yesterday morning my husband walked into the shop and about the time he saw "it" on the sink, at the soap, "it" heard him and flew out past him almost flying into him! "It", of course was a crow. I guess it finally ran out of soap. I've always heard that crows were very intelligent. It sure got past us for a while. I loved all the comments and responses from you guys. The squirrel babies bathing and bubble blowing comments were really cute. It was fun. I hope we have another mystery soon. Take care all and thanks for your help....
Posted By: melcon6 Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 23rd, 2007 at 02:16 AM
laugh laugh clp clp clp clp
Posted By: Anonymous Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 23rd, 2007 at 02:59 AM
thumbup thanks for letting us know the solution! clp
Posted By: jonni13 Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 23rd, 2007 at 03:15 AM
I enjoyed this thread.
Posted By: Anonymous Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 23rd, 2007 at 04:28 AM
Linny,
Cool Beans!!! Good to know you have clean crows in Florida!!!
It's been fun... wavey
Posted By: Shirley4 Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 24th, 2007 at 03:43 AM
This has been a fun story to follow. laugh laugh
Hate to see it end, but glad there was a solution.
Posted By: Wrennie Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 24th, 2007 at 12:52 PM
clp
Well that explains why there were no tracks on the floor!
Posted By: Thornius Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 24th, 2007 at 03:28 PM
Oh those wacky crows. When I was a baby we had a pet crow, Mr. Caw-Caw, who would fly down and steal the pacifier right out of my mouth! From the very start I was always involved with birds and crows are one of my favorites!
Posted By: Linny Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 25th, 2007 at 01:56 AM
Thornius, what a great mental image I get from that story of the pacifer and the crow. I wish it could have been video taped. Was it by any chance? Since I found out it was a crow, I looked up information on them. I had no idea you could actually tame them, but they truly are intelligent creatures. Who knew?
Posted By: herbalyn Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 25th, 2007 at 02:38 AM
A good portion of a tree on our property came down during a thunderstorm several years ago. It happened to be the highest tree on the property and the one used by crows as a roost.

One cannot imagine the treasure in that fallen tree cavity. The knob to our lawnmower that kept the handle locked in place that we had looked for over two seasons, key, coins, fork, seed package, tinsel, marbles, foil. Now, whenever something is missing outside, we run in the yard, look up and yell (with mouth covered of course) "drop it crows".

On a sad note crows are now few in our area as they are dying off from a bird disease. The same one killing blue jays. Bird info states crows keep an area clean of debris. Guess we'll find out first hand if that is true.
Posted By: Linny Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 25th, 2007 at 02:50 AM
Dang it herbalyn. Your story made me laugh, then it made me sad. Great sense of humor there with the "Drop it crows"! That made me laugh. It saddens me to hear they are dying off along with the Blue jays. I guess you sure will find out first hand if the debris is being "policed" by the crows. I'm sure that you, as well as I, would rather be missing things than to know things are not missing because the crows are dying. It's another one of those bitter-sweet things in life huh? Thanks for the story though. I loved it.
Posted By: Anonymous Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 26th, 2007 at 03:17 AM
Hi all wavey
Thorny.. the crow taking your pacifier explains a lot laugh laugh

herbalyn... You write just great. I was rolling with laughter (until the illness) and your style is tops.

What are they doing about the dead birds. Is Cornell or somebody on the job? What bird disease?? Are they doing something to identify and isolate it? We don't want the crow and jay disease killing disease in Maryland... got more info?
Posted By: plantqueen Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 26th, 2007 at 03:46 AM
So glad you found the solution Linny! thumbup Thoroughly enjoyed this thread! clp
Posted By: afgreyparrot Re: Some critter is stealing our soap! - February 26th, 2007 at 05:37 AM
Quote
Since I found out it was a crow, I looked up information on them. I had no idea you could actually tame them, but they truly are intelligent creatures. Who knew?
I know there are some people that don't like crows...
.....but I am a crow lover. cool

Here's my crow...
[Linked Image]
He is a sweetheart...he has never stolen my soap! laugh
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