Ahhh, racoon!

[brother chris]

On the weekend there were 5 of us working around the 23' fibreform we are re-finishing. We were in and out of the boat drawing diagrams for the new interior. We moved stuff around in the boat....opened drawers, cupboards etc...<br />After about an hour or more, we decided to cut out some of the floor to replace it. I was outside the boat, 2 guys inside. One of em fired up the circular saw and started cutting a hole in the floor when I saw something above his head. I looked up and a large racoon jumped over him and then went and climbed up on the top of the boat. Did that ever freak me out. <br />My landlord heard the women screaming and came out of the house and then proceeded to tell me that there is a family of racoons living in my boat. Nice of her to tell me now! <br />Any advice on how to rid myself of these critters? <br />I am just glad that we found it now and not while we were out on the water. Now that would be freaky...happening upon a racoon in your boat out on the ocean <br />The coon finally left and went into my neighbors yard....right over to his boat he was cleaning. I guess that racoon likes boats. My neighbor took after it with a large bat but the coon took off. Hopefully he won't come back. <br />I still can't figure out where he was. I opened every cupboard on board. The only place I did not look was right behind the steering wheel where the wires are. I left the cover off that, but I am putting it back on now. Don't need no coons in my boat. Bet he was staring right at us for the longest time just waiting for his break. <br />Freaky!

 

[Freezebear]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

Get a dog!<br />Seriously though I have camped out on Cat Island overnight and had coons on my boat and opening the tuperware containers I had everythin in for the ride and were busy eating! Weren't scared either. Just kinda looked at me wondering what do I want? Shooed the 2 overgrown rodents away and salvaged what I had left. They are crafty little suckers that will find a way to get to food like you wouldn't believe. I have seen one make a good pet for a friend of mine. Little Rebel lives in a chest-of-drawers and climbs in one of the upper drawers and closes himself shut in it when he goes to sleep. <br />Good luck. Just remember to not leave food or anything smelling like food on the boat or it's fair game!

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

I had a buddy who had one too! His name was Twinkie (that racoon not my friend!). Would eat outta your hand, liked to be held and pet, but a nosy neighbor called animal control and that was the last we saw of him....

 

[neumanns]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

I had one too (A racoon, not a friend named Twinke ) got him when he was just a little fellow. He could back a grown man across the room when he was nine inches long, but he grew to become a beloved family pet. Had that coon turned on your friend with the bat he would have had about 1 second to make a good and accurate swing and after that my money would have been on the coon.

 

[DJ]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

Racoons can be dangerous. I'm with nuemanns on this one. If you corner one, you're in for a fight.<br /><br />Dogs are no match for them. I wouldn't do that to a dog.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

You do not want to tangle with a raccoon…you will lose in a way that is a slow violent death. No sane person will come to your aid. Raccoons are friends of squirrels…another cute but viscous animal. Opossums are the stealthy secret agents…they carry secret weapons…stay away from them as well. The skunk is heavy artillery…they market a scorched earth policy…run!!! At least with rabbits you have a 50/50 chance…but personally, I wouldn’t grab one. All are cute in cartoons but are your enemy in real life. They are what keep animal rights activists active. The fuzzy critters have U.N. support, you don’t. It’s just a matter of time before coalition forces invade your homestead and hall you off to a secret prison in a secret location, never to be heard from again. There you will meet the rat…the commando of fuzzy critter. He is unrelenting in his pursuit to get even…you cannot win.

 

[brother chris]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

alright, enough.You guys are freaking me out. The damn coons are still in my boat. I have put moth balls in the boat, but I think they like them. <br />Bleach is next, then.....the gun if that fails. <br />All animal control said was good luck. <br />Alot of help they are!

 

[KeltonKrew]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

fire up the pit....Just find you a good cajun....they'll tell you how to fix it up nice and tasty...typically, boil it for an hour, then put it on the pit.....<br /><br />It'll make a fat man cry!<br /><br />Plus, I didn't think you maple leafs were entitled to guns

 

[brother chris]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

lol. Hey, we need guns here to fight off the polars.

 

[oddjob]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

Smoke um out! use a charcol grill and wet wood chips and a large plastic tarp staked over the boat. Set up some lawn chairs and invite some friends over for some comic relief. For better effect play heavy metal music loud during the show. just make sure you leave them a route of escape or you will become part of the entertainment. dont forget the vidio camera, you could win 10,000 dollars. <br /><br />.... convince them that theres got to be a better place to live than in your boat. Keep us updated..

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

My neighbor tried to eat one. Her sister cooked it…wanted to know what her “people” ate and to know the source of the derogatory term used in the south. She said it was the most awful thing she ever tried to eat. Maybe they didn’t use the wet wood chips. I'll let her know. <br /><br />I called the county animal control to inquire about the appropriate way to deal with roaming raccoon. Bottom line: they were here first…can’t touch ‘em. On the other hand, they eat cats. My neighborhood is plastered with posters for missing cats. <br /><br />A couple years ago we had some folks stay with us for 5-weeks. They were from France, thought the raccoons were the cuties things. So I told them, “and they’re friendly, too! Go ahead, pet one.” <br /><br />Chris – ammonia…that stuff under your kitchen sink. The smell will drive any animal away. DO NOT let a dog sniff it.

 

[neumanns]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

I would get a live trap and relocate that critter. Check at canadian tire. Or ask the animal control if ya can borrow a trap. As far as scarring ya...Good, ya get the point now. Food for thought...There's a reason a pack of coon dogs bark when they corner or tree a coon, there smarter than to attack him unless they want to spend several weeks recouperating from the wounds. I have only ever seen one coondog mean enoufgh to kill a coon and he was one torn up dog.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

Animal control advised me to keep the dog away from the raccoons because they have two confirmed cases of dogs being drowned. The raccoon lures the dog into water (in my case, a koi pond) where the ‘coon knows the dog can’t bite while swimming. Once the dog is in the water, the ‘coon, while paddling with its back feet, grabs the dog’s head with its font paws and holds it under. No more fido.

 

[wajajaja]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

Raccoons cannot be relocated, they must be taught everything by their mother, It is inhumane to trap and release them away from their teritory, they will starve/and die. <br /> chimmneys look like a hollow tree, good for them , bad for you, a cubby hole will do,(boat).<br /> move the boat for a extended time and they will relocate. <br /> Keep them as pets! bad idea, wildlife can be infected with rabies for over a year with out the finale symptoms, that we attest to domestic dogs and cats, 10days quarantine and the dog lives, no rabies, not with wildlife. <br />rabies is contagious only after it enters the brain,when its fatal stage and is contagios as the spinal fluid drians to the syliva glands. 10 day rule, with wild life, the dog is qurantined for 30 days. <br /><br />nj state aco #877

 

[FlyBoyMark]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

Here in Florida in rural areas, we blast them with a gun if they become a nusance. Then handle them with surgical gloves before burial because they could be rabid. In residential area...high power pellet gun to the head, don't touch the blood, could be rabid, sanitize with powerfull full strength detergent. If your a tree hugger, trap the little stinks and dump them MANY miles away......tough if they starve, law of the wild... survival of the fitest. The local animal control in most areas rents traps if yer' a tree hugger....

 

[outboardguy]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

If you are looking to lure them into a trap then I suggest you use raw eggs as bait. They love eggs!!!!

 

[ChrisMcLaughlin]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

Home Depot has live traps for about $40.00.<br />Works on cats too!!

 

[neumanns]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

Or you could abandon the boat, donate the property to the nature consurvancy and get an apartment in a highrise. I would proabably trap or eliminate him though. The coon I raised had me for a mother and I was a poor mother but that little bugger had no problem finding food on his own. Once he was off the bottle I rarly fed him he just roamed the place and ate at will...Even a few things my mother would have preffered he didn't. I would agree though that once he has laid claim to the boat as home he will be toufgh to retrain, They are extremly inteligant and will proabably be able to foil all your attempts to discourage his habitation.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

For a coon experiment, leave out a few cans of Pepsi and a few cans of Mountain Dew. See which ones the coon tears open and which ones he leaves alone. Then go figure.

 

[brother chris]

Re: Ahhh, racoon!

I agree with flyboymark on this one. I already put in moth balls to no avail. I have amonia and bleach I am going to try on the weekend. <br />After the weekend I am not spending anymore time trying to figure this out. I am no tree hugger, and yes that is why we are at the top of the food chain....cause we are smarter than animals. <br />If they are there on Tuesday morning, I am getting the pellet gun out and taking all 4 of em out. <br />No more Mr. Nice Guy, I want to finish refinishing my boat and get out on the water. No coon is going to stand in my way. <br />For full outcome...stay tuned Monday/Tuesday.