Raccoon
I’ve been noticing an old raccoon around my place that is showing a fearless nature lately. He has been out before dark and walking across our porch. He was seen back by where the chickens scratch by the round pen during the day.
I brought out my Have-A-Heart trap in an attempt of a raccoon relocation, but this raccoon is a smart one and I’d be willing he’s been trapped before.
The first night he went into the trap and removed the plastic bowl with the bait. He lifted it over the step plate that would have triggered the door to close.
The next night I wired a chicken carcass to the back of the cage and for this he flipped the trap on its side, walked right in and took the carcass.
The next night I wedged the trap between some boards so he couldn’t flip the trap on its side again, but the raccoon actually pulled the trap out turned it on its side, took the bones and then triggered the door to shut when he was finished.
The next night I stood the cage on end strapped it to a post figuring he would have to press against the trigger plate while climbing in or out or while eating. He got in and out without problem. I'm not quite sure what I'll try next, but I'm going to get him one way or another.
Any ideas out there? I don't have a gun and my favorite poison is no longer available.
posted by The Guy Who Writes This at 4:00 AM
24 Comments:
lol....I think he has an accomplice.
just start feeding him and making him a pet. He obviously isn't bothering your chickens (yet)
Or I could loan you a gun
a naked girl raccoon?
p.s.-no words were skimmed in this post. hope your feeling better bk.
xx
I would suggest getting a dog. I know how much you love them.
jenn
Hmmm..... do you have one of those "flicker" chargers for an electric fence? Run a strand of the wire maybe six inches in front of the trap. Maybe it will catch him on the way in and startle him into setting off the trap.
If you keep leaving food out like that, of course he's going to come back. Why don't you try shiny things inside the trap instead? At least then he'll be attracted and won't be getting fatter at the same time.
You could also try another type of non-lethal trap that he's not as familiar with, or you could even leave him alone entirely and maybe he'll go away on his own.
I think the same raccoon broke into our home last week. I found him sitting at the kitchen table having a cup of coffee and reading the Sunday paper. He used to just read the paper that was left on our front porch but has also become quite fearless. Our cats seem quite fond of him too.
You could try to lure him with a nice espresso.
I was bitten by a raccoon breaking up a spat with one of our cats once and the rabies concern came up and I had to make a live capture to sadly have the critter put to death and tested for rabies or go through the rabies shots series as soon as possible.
Made a weighted draw net for throwing and actually captured the creature that way since he/she had become so bold around our house coexsting with our cat population.
Just made it to the Vet's office as the raccoon was about to break through the trunk we put it in to transport it.
What a nightmare.
Another note.
As cute a raccoons are, especially those babies, do not under any circumstance, habituate those or any other like wild creature, even unintentionally, as you will regret the outcome.
My opinion is to leave out marshmallows every night and start taking pictures. I love raccoons. and squirrels.
I would hire Mcgee to catch this wily critter and be done with it.
Is it possible that it was raised by people and then released. I know many people who have taken in a litter of raccoons, raised them, and then released them. The problem is, they usually are fearless when it comes to people.
If you like your freah eggs...kill the raccoon. Sorry, but they won't just "go away" if there is a food source...alive or not..and they DO LOVE CHICKEN. Then they tell their friends about your great accomodations and you'll have a hand full hanging out. Even dogs can't keep them totally away. One got ahold of my dog in my yard...I took a shovel to it (the raccoon, not the dog). The raccoon naturally turned on me, and the dog finished it. They are cute, but they can be very nasty.
The best bait is a sardine can...and drizzle some oil beyond the foot plate...put the trap against a side wall of a building and prop something heavy on the other side like a 2 x 8 or something. Gets em every time...and some neighborhood cats too. When you move him, make sure to go the distance...I like to put a couple of rivers between us...and be prepared to keep catching them. They travel in marauding mobs...something like Americans...
Moose
And I much more prefer nekked beavers...
Moose
wow, this thread sure turned out to be fun. Glad I came back for a visit.
Nekkid raccoons, beavers and squirrels, Oh My !
I hate coons and possums.
first try poison, then a gun.
is his tail long or docked?
we should first make a psychological evaluation of this critter.
Anonymous said...
I would hire Mcgee to catch this wily critter and be done with it
No thank you, my days of 'Coon' capturing are over and I don't care to repeat the process...ever.
We're talking about one bad-assed creature here that truly is smart and more whip-ass than anybody wants to take on when you get them riled.
Tango, I've only seen him working alone.
Auntie, he hasn't bothered the chickens yet, but a weasel got another three of them last week.
Irish, What only two X's? How do I rate a third.
Jenn, dogs are worse than raccoons any day. They've killed more of my chickens than weasels, they've dug holes in the garden, they muddy the pond. I' miss my wife's last horse. That horse would chase dogs and stomp at them.
Darev, this one is smarter than that.
Jaggy I may need a bigger trap, and he has no reason to go away, though I am thinking of baiting him to visit the neighbors with the fireworks.
Anon, hey,that was me wearing sunglasses.
Patrick, They do get smarter and more bold as they age. They do get angry. Imagine what it would be like to have a badger problem. I take it the raccoon wasn't rabid.
Amy, that is so Un-Texas of you. No I don't want to encourage wildlife. This one is old and hunched over and not cute like the young ones.
Anon, I will solve this one way or another, this thing has to go.
Zoe, the disturbing thing is that it is active in the day time. That's a big red flag. Thanks you gave me an idea for another post.
Ginger, I agree, this isn't something that will get better on its own.
Now Moose, you don't comment for a month and then you come on with an anti-American slur like this. It was funny though and I see your point.
Donna, no weasels out your way? If so, add them to the list.
g long tail, what poison do you suggest?
Patrick is right, this sort of stuff isn't fun. We used to leg trap raccoons when I worked on the farm as a kid. Every morning we'd look down the rows of corn and there they'd be. Then we'd have to shoot and bury them. no fun at all.
rodent.
Thanks g.
Geez, Guy, you're getting crankier and smarter as you get older, but you don't see anyone trying to kill you. Secure your chickens better and have some respect for the old gent.
Mo3,Raccoons that are aggressive and out during the day are dangerous. They will attack cats, dogs and humans. They can rip through chicken wire and they may be rabid. They do not just stand up for themselves, they actually attack. Astoria presently has a big raccoon problem. I can put you in touch with with one of your neighbors that can tell you horror stories of what they did to his cats. Don't feed your animals outdoors.
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