Author Topic: The raccoon is back! CAUGHT, scroll down (Read 7227 times)

Jerry · « **on:** August 08, 2008, 08:03:08 AM »

These prints are surely not a dog. The pond itself seem unscathed. I am told we can't even relocate them? Assuming I get a trap and catch the bugger, I will have no moral problem relocating him.
Our city has banned plastic bags, Mylar balloons, watering after 8:00 am and the trapping of raccoons. Only Illegal gang bangers are protected here via special order 40.
It went up to the pond edge, but i've seen no damage. The croc was no deterrent.
Any suggestions?

Joyce · « **Reply #1 on:** August 08, 2008, 08:08:42 AM »

HAH! I knew it! Yup, raccoon footprints!
Wasn't going to argue, but I knew a raccoon was VERY able to rip up and knock over that pot.
Raccoons can get very big, and very powerful. Very mean.

We're not allowed to trap either, but we do anyway, and I relocated quite a few with a friends help.

Johns · « **Reply #2 on:** August 08, 2008, 08:35:20 AM »

Jerry,

Best raccoon defense system I know of:

http://www.rottweiler411.com/

tranquility · « **Reply #3 on:** August 08, 2008, 08:41:24 AM »

Looks like he thinks your an all you can eat buffet....bummer

Lawanna

Jerry · « **Reply #4 on:** August 08, 2008, 08:50:53 AM »

yep!

Thanks Johns but the hound is out.
Any ideas on where I can get a trap? I think fruit is a good bait,
I will relocate or eat the damn thing!

magoo · « **Reply #5 on:** August 08, 2008, 09:11:39 AM »

Hello Jerry,

If you chose not to take the Acadian approach and cook a coon sauce piquiant, you may select a place away from the planters and put out oil sunflower seed. If you feed it, it may leave your plants alone. I have had possums, coons, grey squirrles, flying squirrels and many kinds of birds at my feeder on the same day.

Dan

KatFish · « **Reply #6 on:** August 08, 2008, 09:12:21 AM »

Sorry I'm not really any help, other than we're 'not allowed' to relocate either.... but I did. I used a little dry dog food to trap my coon, because that's what drew him to my porch in the first place. One word of warning tho... anything in claw's reach while he's in the trap will get shredded! I had a few bags of potting mix too close to my cage

Good luck!

Jerry · « **Reply #7 on:** August 08, 2008, 09:43:04 AM »

Thanks Dan & Kat

I am in a highly developed area, so I am a bit surprised. A friend walks her dog in Beverly hills early mornings, She has been stalked by Coyotes! As we encroach the critters are driven to find ways to make a living!

I would have no problem relocating it myself. Or worse.

Mikey · « **Reply #8 on:** August 08, 2008, 09:47:25 AM »

Jerry: I purchased a Have-A-Hart live animal trap which I use for cats... http://www.havahart.com/store/live-animal-traps/1079 or sometimes your local animal control has traps that you can borrow. Tell them you have a cat problem though.....

Another option is the tried and true Ben Franklin method:
http://www.fishock.com/store/product.asp?dept%5Fid=119&pf%5Fid=SS%2D2KX

LeeAnne151 · « **Reply #9 on:** August 08, 2008, 09:56:14 AM »

I knew it was a raccoon, they do the same damage to my barrels and waterbowls. I so feel your pain.

So sorry, don't know how to stop them except a Fishock Fence which I can't do on all of my smaller ponds.

You can buy a trap at Harbor Freight but more will just show up if you relocate or kill them. When there is an opening in the territory a new one will move in.

CT · « **Reply #10 on:** August 08, 2008, 09:59:29 AM »

Are all your turtles accounted for? They go after my tortoises before fish every time

Hope you catch that guy and send him far far away..

Jerry · « **Reply #11 on:** August 08, 2008, 10:02:56 AM »

I love Harbor Freight. Will check it out.
I will see this eve at feeding time if all 3 are there. My guess is yes since there was no disturbance in the pond.

tranquility · « **Reply #12 on:** August 08, 2008, 10:09:07 AM »

Quote from: Jerry on August 08, 2008, 09:43:04 AM

Thanks Dan & Kat

I am in a highly developed area, so I am a bit surprised. A friend walks her dog in Beverly hills early mornings, She has been stalked by Coyotes! As we encroach the critters are driven to find ways to make a living!

I would have no problem relocating it myself. Or worse.

do you mean the 3 S's of Ponding

Lawanna

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #13 on:** August 08, 2008, 10:21:34 AM »

Sorry the raccoons are relentless in your yard. Thankfully your pond is fine.

Had a similar problem all winter. It finished all my fishies I was using for preventing mosquito larvae. Now I'm using dunks. It hasn't been messing around since.

An acquaintance says plain ol' pee will do the trick! Just pee around the perimeter of you yard (your yard is fenced in right?) and that should ward off any masked marauders!

Argos5 · « **Reply #14 on:** August 08, 2008, 10:22:29 AM »

Jerry...like the burglars they resemble, raccoons will unfortunately keep coming back...I've had this problem for a few years now...when I captured one, animal control made me feel like I had broken up the raccoon's family, that it was good for me that I used a "humane " trap, that I shouldn't call them on weekends because they're busy and that they are are only obligated to release them X number of feet from where they were captured (which I calculated as being on the edge of my front lawn)...my method of control has been to install the water shooting Scarecrow...it doesn't deter them per se, but when it goes off we (and our dog) hear it...I then get up like a fireman and go outside and chase it, usually at 3:00-4:00 am...all the while the dog is barking and going crazy since I won't let it chase the raccoon in the yard (raccoons can be vicious)...one of the less pleasant aspects of ponding...knock on wood, I've been able to avoid major problems and messes although it requires constant vigilance.

tranquility · « **Reply #15 on:** August 08, 2008, 10:39:37 AM »

Quote from: miguynmkoi on August 08, 2008, 10:21:34 AM

Sorry the raccoons are relentless in your yard. Thankfully your pond is fine.

Had a similar problem all winter. It finished all my fishies I was using for preventing mosquito larvae. Now I'm using dunks. It hasn't been messing around since.

An acquaintance says plain ol' pee will do the trick! Just pee around the perimeter of you yard (your yard is fenced in right?) and that should ward off any masked marauders!

Jerry---do you need to pee yet?

.....also you may need take a screen out with you so the nieghbors don't see what your doin

Lawanna

CT · « **Reply #16 on:** August 08, 2008, 11:05:04 AM »

I can just see Jerry with just a Tshirt on and a bamboo screen screening the appropriate areas moving cautiously around the perimeter at 3 am...

Anything to protect the pond..

Mikey · « **Reply #17 on:** August 08, 2008, 11:06:57 AM »

Quote

An acquaintance says plain ol' pee will do the trick! Just pee around the perimeter of you yard (your yard is fenced in right?) and that should ward off any masked marauders!

Jerry: I have made some calculations as to how much liquid you will have to drink in order to pee around the perimeter of your yard in one standing. You will need to consume 2 1/2 six-packs of beer within 20 minutes. You may need Elaine's help in keeping you in an upright position.......assuming of course you are still conscious.....

miguynmkoi · « **Reply #18 on:** August 08, 2008, 11:11:14 AM »

You slay me Mike!!

Jerry! Taking notes...?

Julles · « **Reply #19 on:** August 08, 2008, 11:14:38 AM »

Why on Earth can you not relocate such critters?! Stupid Bleeding Heart Liberals!

A while back, someone here gave me a link to a place that sells coyote urine, and other urine products. Now darned if I can find that link, but if you are good at "Search" on A.P., maybe you can. If not, just Google "coyote urine varmit deterrent" or something similar, and you should find several dealers.

The idea is, these urines come from animals which are natural predators of whatever kind of animal you are trying to repel. You spread it around (liquid or powder form) and the scent causes the animal to think the real coyote or mountain lion or whatever is nearby, so he avoids your yard.

The salesman can tell you which animal's urine will work against which intruder is plagueing you and your yard.

Julles · « **Reply #20 on:** August 08, 2008, 11:18:28 AM »

I would go ahead and Have-A-Heart the thing, and then take it to the booneys under cover of night. That's such a clueless law, it's one that's meant to be disregarded. I mean, I see the reason behind protecting wildlife. But HUMAN BEINGS come first, and that includes our property.

Argos5 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 08, 2008, 11:41:17 AM »

Prior to using the Scarecrow, I used one of the coyote urine products ...it seemed to work effectively at first (whether coincidence or not I don't know) so I bought a refill...eventually they returned and remained undeterred by the urine pellets, so I stopped buying it.

Jerry · « **Reply #22 on:** August 08, 2008, 12:44:58 PM »

I got the trap at HF as Lee Anne suggested, on sale yet! $23.00 and change.

I hope to have a photo of a raccoon inside it by tomorrow morning!
Argos is in a more rural area ten I am. This is a first.
Many many years ago mt daughter had a rabbit. It was slaughtered. Always suspected a raccoon.

lorraine1960 · « **Reply #23 on:** August 08, 2008, 01:06:24 PM »

If there is a feed store by you that supplies equine supplies and things you can usually buy traps there...nit expensive and always good to have one at hand...i had the same problem with one eating my chickens and i put dogfood in it or candy and i trapped it and re-located...lorraine

and yes they will rip the heads off .....thy get vicious and as large as a rotty

Joyce · « **Reply #24 on:** August 08, 2008, 01:24:10 PM »

Jerry, last year I trapped a few.
My best bait was one slice of bread, half the slice smear with grape jelly, the other half with peanut butter,
then sprinkle some cat kibbles in the middle and fold it together down the middle making it into a peanut butter and grape jelly kat kibble sandwich.

I got this recipe from the man who I would have hired if I hadn't trapped the 3 raccoons myself.
Would ahve been $500 each animal with him.

The bucket on top of the trap is filled with rocks and then filled with water, because they can and will turn the trap over if it's not weighted down.
Once it is turned over, they can get out because the doors open a lot easier. They learn!
Also, note the grass...they will tear the grass up trying to flip the trap over.
Best to set it up on pavement or stone. Weight it down anyway.

Coming in the cat door...

LeeAnne151 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 08, 2008, 02:01:17 PM »

The reason they say not to relocate is because they are territorial. Has nothing to do with anyone's political beliefs.

The raccoon dumped into the new territory will cause fighting, possibly death and it could be a nursing mother as well. Raccoons removed cause an opening and new ones will move right in.

It is a no win situation. $:-\$

The best situation is to make sure your fish are safe by modifying your pond. Raccoons are here in our cities to stay and even SSS won't stop them as their litters get bigger when their is more open territory. Same as coyotes.

The government spends millions killing predators for farmers and ranchers in rural areas but it is worthless because they just breed more and come right back.

Esther · « **Reply #26 on:** August 08, 2008, 02:24:43 PM »

Sorry if I sound heartless but I would relocate the raccoon if I got them in a trap. We see so many dead ones on the highway, I don't think we have a lack of them. Even if another one comes eventually, you have gotten rid of the one that is currently making himself at home in your yard. I don't like the idea of them getting that familiar with my yard etc. There was a while we had them hanging around our house at night. We found poop on the deck right by the patio door. Another time several of them got in the garage where we had stored the garbage from a graduation party. What a mess.

My BIL has had them raise a small window in his garage to get at his garbage cart. Eventually he nailed the window shut. He lives on a river so copes with them a lot.

Jerry · « **Reply #27 on:** August 08, 2008, 03:21:46 PM »

Thanks for the tips. I love PBJs too. That will be my bait plus a bit of dry dog food from my neighbor.
I have trap all set up. Joyce, good idea about the weights on top, I might not have thought of that!
Esther I agree. LeeAnne I am at Harbor frt often, walked past those traps many times.

LeeAnne151 · « **Reply #28 on:** August 08, 2008, 04:35:06 PM »

My greenhouse is from Harbor Freight

karen J · « **Reply #29 on:** August 08, 2008, 05:14:05 PM »

We have a ton of Coons where we live, and yes- if you relocate there will be others to fill the void.

I'm considering an electric fence to keep them away from my grapes this year, but other than that, I'm a feeder. I put out dog food, grapes, bananas, & marshmallows. So far, they've stayed away from the ponds, but they probably get a lot of food around here other than what I feed them.