Raccoons, any solutions?

allegraf

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Ok, so we remulched the pen and spread black pepper and cayenne around. The creature only hit one area that we didn't spread too much pepper. The rest of the pen is untouched. I'm going to get more pepper and spread it on the outside border of the pen. This will be a significant amount of pepper!
 

cdmay

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You could try predator urine.....it works most of the time...

I'm sure it would, but you first...
predator.jpg
 

Tom

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You could try predator urine.....it works most of the time...

I tried this here for the rabbits. It worked temporarily, but they came back within a week. Then, knowing the people that I know… I tried actual predator scat. Same result. No sign of the bunnies for a week or so, then right back. Same result with black bear poo. Re-application didn't seem to phase them after they got used to the smell.
 

Anyfoot

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I tried this here for the rabbits. It worked temporarily, but they came back within a week. Then, knowing the people that I know… I tried actual predator scat. Same result. No sign of the bunnies for a week or so, then right back. Same result with black bear poo. Re-application didn't seem to phase them after they got used to the smell.
Shame about the black bear poo, you could have made a fortune selling that. Made me laugh.
 

Tom

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Shame about the black bear poo, you could have made a fortune selling that. Made me laugh.

I know, right? And my buddy would have been THRILLED that I was so eager to pick up every valuable scrap of his bear poop every day. "Hey man. Can I clean the cage again today?" And also, "Hey. You can cancel that expensive dumpster you've been paying monthly for…"
 

Redstrike

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Lethal trapping is your best option, that's personal and professional opinion from a wildlife biologist (me). I feel slightly stupid stating my profession in such an arrogant manner, but it's the only credibility toward my position.

I prefer humane lethal treatment (i.e. A quick death). I find firearms excellent - a 22-250 would do you well here - or a conibear trap if you can't discharge firearms. Keep in mind a conibear will also be lethal to neighbors pets.
 

allegraf

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Lethal trapping is your best option, that's personal and professional opinion from a wildlife biologist (me). I feel slightly stupid stating my profession in such an arrogant manner, but it's the only credibility toward my position.

I prefer humane lethal treatment (i.e. A quick death). I find firearms excellent - a 22-250 would do you well here - or a conibear trap if you can't discharge firearms. Keep in mind a conibear will also be lethal to neighbors pets.
I have two dogs that would likely get caught in the conibear lethal trap. The torts are still inside, I am going to see if I can get my hands on a trap. I have been hesitating because I don't want to euthanize the raccoon, much less my 4 year old is going to want to see it and keep it as a new pet. All out of the question. I have to discuss with the husband and see if he would be willing to pull the trigger.
 

Redstrike

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I have two dogs that would likely get caught in the conibear lethal trap. The torts are still inside, I am going to see if I can get my hands on a trap. I have been hesitating because I don't want to euthanize the raccoon, much less my 4 year old is going to want to see it and keep it as a new pet. All out of the question. I have to discuss with the husband and see if he would be willing to pull the trigger.

Euthanasia is always a tough thing to do, whether wild animal pestilence or beloved pet that needs to be put down. Hesitation is understandable whatever route you go.

Good luck! If I can offer any other advice it would be to hire a removal specialist if you just don't know how to address the situation. If I can assist at all in the future, you know where to find me!
 
M

Maggie Cummings

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I'm lucky, I use a safe trap, apples or peanut butter, and right around the corner is a wildlife sanctuary....Yea, 'cept my neighbor uses a 380 on the rats...oopppps the computer printed that.;)
 

Tom

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I feel slightly stupid stating my profession in such an arrogant manner, but it's the only credibility toward my position.

Not the least bit stupid and certainly not arrogant. I appreciate knowing where you are coming from.

Does the stuff I repeated from the West Coast biologist I talked to over here sound fairly reasonable and accurate? I would love to hear more explanation about why you think euthanasia is the way to go. I think you would be doing me and others reading a favor if you elaborated a bit on why that is the case. I appreciate you sharing your perspective given your unique insight into this matter.
 

Redstrike

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I'm getting my info from a CA wildlife biologist that works for the state, and everything he said lines right up with everything else I know from years of wildlife study. I was working rattlesnake abatement in one of our state parks here and one requirement to film in these parks is to hire one of their biologists to make sure the film crew isn't having too big an effect on the local wildlife. Bottom line is that we had hours to sit and talk about animals.

We talked about a long term and still ongoing study on problem animal re-locations. It started with "problem" bears going into neighborhoods. They would trap re-locate the bears to near by wild forested areas only to have them return within days. They moved them farther and it would take longer for them to get back, and when they got back, they would show up with various injuries. They started fitting them with radio collars and GPS collars. What they found was that no matter where they dropped them off, that territory was already inhabited by a local bear population would would immediately track down and attack the interloper and chase it from its territory. The re-located bear knew this wasn't it's territory and immediately began the trek "home" upon release. They found that if they released the bears less than 300 miles from home, they would find their way home if they didn't get HBC (hit by car…) or killed by a human or other bear along their journey. Greater than 300 miles and they would be outright killed or slowly starve or dehydrate in unfamiliar territory. None of the bears adapted to knew territory once dropped off. Of the ones that made it "home" there was a whole list of injuries they had sustained on their frantic journey to get back to their own territory.

With the surprising and interesting results from the bear study, they started trying it with other animals. The "magic" distance for coyotes was 25 miles. For rattlesnakes it was 3 miles with an almost zero survival rate for any relocated animals. I'm sorry I can't remember the distance for raccoons and I don't want to just guess, but it was a similar story. Any other wild area already has a raccoon population and they don't want to share resources. This is why I assert that almost any relocated animal is almost certainly going to suffer a terrible death.

The wildlife biologist you spoke to is on the money. Furthermore, Tom, your retention and recap are so spot on, I wouldn't have much more to contribute.

Translocations (moving animals to new locations) have also been used toward conservation of endangered species and are extremely difficult to pull off (high rates of mortality, generally speaking). In fact, I recall working with an endangered animal on the west coast that was being translocated for a military base expansion project and some Non-government organizations were throwing lawsuits at the federal institution I was working for regarding the movements. I won't disclose any info because I can't, but they argued that the movement was not benefiting the population due to high mortality.

For some species it works, for others it does not. Most of the time the animals don't make it.

If anyone has specific questions regarding translocated animals whether for pest or conservation agendas, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to respond.
 

Tom

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The wildlife biologist you spoke to is on the money. Furthermore, Tom, your retention and recap are so spot on, I wouldn't have much more to contribute.

Translocations (moving animals to new locations) have also been used toward conservation of endangered species and are extremely difficult to pull off (high rates of mortality, generally speaking). In fact, I recall working with an endangered animal on the west coast that was being translocated for a military base expansion project and some Non-government organizations were throwing lawsuits at the federal institution I was working for regarding the movements. I won't disclose any info because I can't, but they argued that the movement was not benefiting the population due to high mortality.

For some species it works, for others it does not. Most of the time the animals don't make it.

If anyone has specific questions regarding translocated animals whether for pest or conservation agendas, feel free to ask and I'll do my best to respond.

Thank you Chris.
 

Loohan

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Sardines would attract cats, opossums and all sorts of ctitters.
Apples only get racoons.
I have caught a 'dillo and a box turtle inadvertently with apple cores.

Of course, had the bait been sardines, i might still have caught them.
 
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