BLOOMINGTON - Bernice Stewart had more luck in her battle with a groundhog than Bill Murray did with his gopher in the movie "Caddyshack."

Stewart, 73, first asked for help from Bloomington City Hall and the McLean County animal control workers, but learned stray cats and dogs are their primary concern.

The groundhog falls outside their jurisdiction, though county workers helped when she mistakenly caught a skunk Wednesday in a borrowed live trap.

Stewart next turned to the Department of Natural Resources, which issued her a live-trap permit. They could do no more but refer her to private trappers who work for hire.

She was frustrated when she phoned the Pantagraph to share details of her war with wildlife.

"Senior citizens should not have to be worried about trapping," said Stewart, who lives in the 1600 block of West Olive Street. "I know I'm not the only senior is who is bothered by these varmints."

The Pantagraph called in reinforcements. Licensed trapper Chad Schieler set traps Thursday afternoon and the critter was in custody by Friday morning.

DNR wildlife biologist Darryl Coates said his phone rings once a day with callers concerned about troublesome animals, including coyotes, fox, raccoons, skunks, opossums, bats and groundhogs. Bob Bluett, who head's DNR's diversity of wildlife program, said complaints have risen from about 70,000 in 2000 to about 82,500 last year. Urban sprawl moves people further into animals' domain while animals move into town for an easy meal and a warm place to stay, he said.

Nuisance wildlife problems occur year-round, but complaints peak in spring when animals are finding places to give birth and again in fall when young animals venture out to find their own way, Coates said.

Homeowners have two options if an animal becomes a nuisance, he added. They may ask for a permit to trap the animal themselves or hire someone to do it for them.

Once caught, skunks, which are known to carry rabies in the Midwest, must be destroyed. DNR recommends other animals also be euthanized, Coates said. Moving animals merely makes the problem someone else's headache, Coates said. State law requires animals to be moved at least 40 miles from where they were captured to ensure they don't return.

Permission of the landowner where release is intended must be obtained first. Schieler has a friend who lets him release groundhogs on his land.

Stewart tried to live-trap the groundhog, but instead caught a cat and a baby rabbit, which she released. She gave up for a while before baiting the trap again with apples and pears. That time, she caught a skunk, which animal control workers removed for her as a favor.

Schieler was worried the recent cold snap might drive the critter underground to hibernate. If so, Schieler thought Stewart might have to wait to catch her nemesis until February, when groundhogs start to make their appearance again in spring.

FYI

Call the Department of Natural Resources for a landowner trapper permit at (217) 784-4730

Licensed nuisance animal trappers recommended by the DNR include Chad Schieler, (309) 275-9239; Paul Kelley (309) 726-1443; Brian Roberts (309) 962-2168.

To avoid the problem:

- Don't feed or water dogs and cats outside. If you must, bring food inside before nightfall.

- Keep lids on garbage cans.

- Clean up ground below bird feeders.

- Make sure animals have no way to get indoors. Cap chimneys and secure soffits above downspouts.