Raccoons !?

[bayman]

What would you do if you lived in the city and found raccoons on your property? Call animal control...?

 

[stl]

Re: Raccoons !?

From my experience animal control will not do anything. But that may be different in your area. I was trying to get rid of some possums that made a home under an addition on my house. I bought a have a heart trap, and was relocating them to a nearby park. I found out later that there are regulations on relocating critters like these. Anyway I caught a raccoon. He went into the back of the truck ok, but when I got him out to the park he would not let me get near the cage to release him. He was snarling and growling and reaching through the cage everytime I tried to release the door. I was scared . I think if they even scratch you you can get rabies. I had to drive back home and get a long handled screwdriver and pliers to open the cage, and when I did I ran for the cab of the truck. I said if I ever caught another I might have to consider breaking out the .22. Critter Control is a service in my area but they are way expensive. They wanted 300 bucks to come out for the first animal and 75 a piece for each additional. I ended up catching 8 possums, 1 raccoon and 2 cats. If I were you I would try the trap. I will leave the .22 up to you.

 

[stl]

Re: Raccoons !?

By the way the cats were not real friendly either.

 

[mudslinging79]

Re: Raccoons !?

i hear they dont like the smell of human urine... but what would the neighboors think of someone, well you know, marking their teritory??? why are they coming onto your property, a food source? my mom used to feed the cats outside, but that attracted the coons. she moved the cat food inside, and eventually the racoons got the hint there was no readily available food.

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Raccoons !?

Be careful when considering the .22 option. In some cities & counties, discharge of a firearm is a felony. Best to know the laws.

However, if it's legit, I'd go for the trap combined with the .22 and some CB Longs, which are very quiet... about the same as a handclap. One to the head while the critter is safely in the cage is effective. Once dispatched, they don't come back or breed little ones that will come back.

Had a 'possum problem here myself a few months back. Taken care of now.

Keep us posted!

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Raccoons !?

I don't know how different (if at all) the raccoon situation is in the US, but up here, there are populations in the thousands in major cities; they do very well, too. Lots to eat.
"Raccoon-proof" garbage cans?....give me a break!...
They seem as adaptable as coyotes.

 

[bayman]

Re: Raccoons !?

Wow, thank you for all of the helpful information everyone! The little bandits found a little spot which they made into a home. They even drug sort of cloth to make for a soft bed. We don't have any food outside but we do have neighbors with horses, chickens, and dogs. This used to be an agriculture area and there are still remnants of it. I'm guessing that is where they are getting their food supply.

 

[i386]

Re: Raccoons !?

Are they causing any problems?

 

[gonefishie]

Re: Raccoons !?

Eliminate the habitat and they won't stick around. I assumed you have more then one? Or you can give this stuff a try. http://www.predatorpee.com/

 

[mike64]

Re: Raccoons !?

I've seen raccoons every place I've lived, and I'm talking from the inner city to the heart of suburbia. Thye're probably as common as squirrels in SE Michigan. you just don't notice them as much since they're nocturnal. My policy has been, if they leave me alone I leave them alone.

Where we've lived now for the past 3 years there's more critters than where we used to be,and we've had animals that chose to live under our deck. First year it was a groundhog, last year it was a family of skunks. For the groundhog, I heard to stuff ammonia-soaked rags into the entrance to his den. I soaked pine cones in ammonia and threw 'em in, because I didn't want to have to get the rags back out. That did the trick-- Punxatawny Phil found another place to live. Maybe that'll work for your racoons if they're causing trouble. For the skunks, I waited until they went out on their nocturnal ramblings, and bricked the entrance and all around the deck up good. Didn't see them again.

 

[bayman]

Re: Raccoons !?

They aren't causing problems that I know of. When I found them yesterday evening they seemed to be rather sleepy, like they wouldn't ever hurt anyone. Then I got to watching videos of raccoons on Youtube and became more concerned. They seem to be really good at not leaving a trace in our yard, otherwise we would have found them sooner.

We have children and I'd rather they not run into each other and pick up rabies and so forth. Since I have some ammonia and pine cones handy I think I'll try that first. As for timing, I think I'll let the little critters rest up today and then toss in some ammonia-soaked pine cones after dark so they can go find a new home under the cover of darkness and when children aren't out.

 

[slia67]

Re: Raccoons !?

They aren't causing problems that I know of. When I found them yesterday evening they seemed to be rather sleepy, like they wouldn't ever hurt anyone.

Wait until one of them gets ahold of the interior of your boat (like this winter when they are looking for a warm place to have their babies), then you'll change your mind.

Call your local police department, animal control, or humane society to find ut how to handle them in your location. Each town has different rules about transporting or relocating them.

Good Luck.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Raccoons !?

Coons is trying to get into the school...

Aww Coons?

Momma Used to just sweep them off the porch with a broom.

Remember that line.
lol

 

[ziggy]

Re: Raccoons !?

this thread made me smile mostly throughout. probably cause i've had a few coons around too. they've lived in my real old silver maples. nice holes to make a den in i guess. personally, i enjoyed it when there were baby coons one year. cute to watch. my cats like to watch them from inside too. i did find a way to rid them though. i cut down one of the trees. one where the den was. as they tree guys were cutting the tree down they of course made it down to the den. man, that coon tried to stay in it's home till the last moment before the chainsaw got him. i didn't know coons could fly. this one did. from the tree to the roof of my house, which it almost missed. just caught the edge. slipped and fell another 15' to the ground. it ran off and went down the sewer.

i had cat food out too for a while. that's a mistake. i gained two ferrel male cats that fought all the time. i took one in, the other vanished. it was a large maine coon type cat. very healthy. i'm sure it did well. also we got lots of possums around. the cat food attracted them too. was sitting in my chair in the backyard by the cat food one night, in the dark. heard a cat munching on some food next to me. reached down to pet it. hum, felt like a bristle brush. turned on the light and of course it was a possum. yikes. kinda ugly beasts, but did me no harm. had to get rid of the cat food outside to rid the beasts...

they don't bother me so much, coons, cats, possums...

 

[Don S]

Re: Raccoons !?

I'm not sure why we can't get rid of the racoons around here.

 

[Arabian180]

Re: Raccoons !?

Coons is trying to get into the school...

Aww Coons?

Momma Used to just sweep them off the porch with a broom.

Remember that line.
lol

 

[rhorst2000]

Re: Raccoons !?

I had the same problem - an old guy told me to throw some moth balls under my crawl space - it works!!! They really don't like the smell.
They may give off some oder for awhile but with the moisture in the crawl space they vaporate quickly and the oder goes away.

Good Luck

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Raccoons !?

Just remember that raccoons are wild animals that are smart, crafty and mean as h$77 if cornered.

One of the members on corvette forum ( who lived in Maine) had raccoons get into his house thru his dog door.

He heard noise in his kitchen one night and went to see what the sounds was. He ended up getting bit and scratched by one or two raccoons.

As a safety precaution, he went thru the series of rabies shots. He's fine now but but a latch on the dog door which is locked at night.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Raccoons !?

You could just move.... I mean the raccoons were there way before you were there. Think about how much of a nusiance you are to them

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Raccoons !?

Well whatever you do..... do not feed them or they will keep coming back. They are just garbage thieves and really don't too much harm ....... (unless they are drinking margarita's which makes them act up)...... you would probably be shocked to see the wildlife that actually has adapted to humans..... racoons, skunks, possom, deer just about everything. Up here in the sticks we get annoyed at Fisher Cats and coyotes which will kill domestic animals. Don posted pictures of a friendly one..... and I know people who had them as house pets.

Here's a hint....... got someone you don't care for? Toss marshmallows around near their property. Racoons love marshmallows!