How to Trap Raccoons to Protect You...

Eggs ain’t getting any cheaper, so in case you’re sensible, you is perhaps contemplating elevating your personal layers. Chickens are pretty straightforward, however there’s only one drawback: Hen is scrumptious and each criter within the animal kingdom agrees. The worst of the lot are raccoons.

WARNING! This text accommodates graphic pictures of lifeless chickens and raccoons. Take into account your self forewarned.

Little children and metropolis slickers love raccoons as a result of they’re cute and so they do humorous issues in YouTube movies. However these of us who’ve spent any time residing life within the nation know the reality: Racoons are the spawn of Devil himself. They’re evil little monsters who destroy property, crops, and small livestock for enjoyable. Devious and intelligent, they are often exhausting to thwart.

Conventional raccoon looking occurs at evening, with skilled canine and lights, which is a major expense each in money and time. The strategy we’ll element right here entails trapping and capturing, so it’s extremely environment friendly, and we’ll present you the correct traps to set that gained’t journey up canine or different undesired creatures.

Because of Brayden at River Cottage Farm for cluing me in to this methodology.

Raccoons Eat Chickens

Raccoons are each merciless and intelligent. They’re intelligent sufficient to work easy locks and latches which might be typically used across the farm, like on rooster coops. They’ll take a look at and determine weaknesses in your fencing, or dig beneath it completely.

Should you’re rising corn, raccoons will fortunately wreck it, very out of the blue, simply because it’s prepared to select. A single raccoon can destroy an entire row of corn in a single day. Even worse, they deal with your corn like a buffet: Taking a bit nibble out of every ear, so you may’t even salvage what’s been knocked down.

Should you suppose raccoons are imply to corn, you need to see what they’ll do to a rooster. In late 2022 and early 2023, a household of raccoons started choosing off my chickens one after the other.

I attempted every part I might to cease the raccoons, however they continued to adapt…and develop extra brazen.

Electrical internet fencing? Fuggetaboutit.

Earlier than I lastly put a cease to it, issues acquired particularly nasty. There was virtually nothing left of this poor hen. No less than I feel it was a hen.

Nonlethal Strategies Are Ineffective in opposition to Raccoons

There are various nonlethal options to raccoons, however sadly, I’ve but to search out one which works:

• Fencing: Good fencing can dissuade raccoons, but when they’re sufficiently motivated (i.e., hungry), they’ll determine a strategy to route round just about any fence, whether or not it’s climbing, digging, and even ripping a gap in it.
• Loud music: Organising a radio in a single day with music or speak does nothing besides annoy your neighbors.
• Outside lighting: The raccoons don’t care in the event that they’re hungry sufficient.
• Scent repellants: Numerous urines and repellants can be found to dissuade racoons. I’ve but to search out one which works.

To cease the raccoon drawback, you both should take away what attracts them, which is undesirable in case you’re attempting to develop corn or increase chickens, or should remove them completely.

That’s soiled work and could also be disagreeable to some, but when the choice is your chickens being spontaneously changed into a 12-piece meal, you’re in the end doing the animal kingdom a service. Generally being type to 1 animal means being merciless to a different.

Authorized Issues with Raccoon Searching

Earlier than you remove your undesirable trash pandas, remember to perceive the legal guidelines the place you reside. The strategy detailed right here entails trapping and capturing a nuisance animal.

As an example, the place I’m in Tennessee, there are two raccoon seasons: One from September twentieth at sundown till March 15. Then there’s a separate private-land-only season from July 1 at sundown by way of September twentieth. Nevertheless, trapping season is year-round with no bag restrict. There may be additionally a beneficiant coverage round nuisance animals. TCA 70-4-115 states:

The proprietor of lands could destroy any wild animals, wild birds, or wild fowl when such wild animals, wild birds, or wild fowl are destroying property upon such lands.  Any individual, earlier than destroying any huge recreation beneath the situations offered for on this part, is required to acquire a allow for destroying such huge recreation.  Such permits shall be issued by an officer of the wildlife assets company.

By regulation in Tennessee, as soon as trapped, raccoons can’t be relocated. Many scoff at this, however the state offers a number of good the reason why relocation is a foul concept. It’s dangerous for the raccoon as a result of it then has to struggle for brand spanking new territory, and it’s dangerous for the native ecology as a result of raccoons are damaging.

These are simply examples of issues you need to think about earlier than dealing with your raccoon drawback. Verify your state’s wildlife useful resource company, and in case you’re nonetheless confused, give them a name to ensure you’re throughout the confines of the regulation.

Why Reside Traps for Racoons Are Ineffective

It’s tempting to go to the Tractor Provide and purchase a few of these reside animal traps, and so they can work, however they’re problematic.

One drawback: Since raccoons are so intelligent, they’ll typically determine methods to seize your bait with out springing the lure.

The opposite drawback is that undesirable animals can wander into your traps, like this poor possum.

Let’s focus on a greater answer.

The Finest Entice for Raccoons

You want a specialised lure, typically known as a raccoon lure, an arm lure, a hand lure, or a cuff. It’s a steel model of a Chinese language finger lure: It’s an extended tube with a set off on the backside. When a bit paw reaches in, the lure is sprung, and the lure securely latches onto the raccoon’s arm. The great factor about these traps is that they’re very efficient in opposition to raccoons, however gained’t lure different critters like canine.

Whenever you choose up your lure, you might also think about a set software in case your arms are weak. A set software is a straightforward U-shaped piece of metal that helps you set the lure. I simply squeeze the spring with my arms.

 

I’ll warn you upfront: As soon as the little bastard is trapped with one in all this stuff, there is no such thing as a protected strategy to take away it from the lure alive. Even be forewarned that raccoons typically carry rabies, so that you don’t wish to take an opportunity.

Which means you want to shoot it, so that you’ll want a firearm. A .22 LR is enough, and you can most likely get away with a compound bow or a sufficiently highly effective air rifle if noise is a excessive concern. Nevertheless, in my expertise, .22 LR typically doesn’t make for a clear one-shot kill, so I want utilizing an AR-15 chambered in 5.56. Which will appear to be overkill, and it’s a bit messy, nevertheless it will get the job finished in a single shot.

Apart from a lure and a gun, you want some stakes to safe the lure to the bottom. 18-inch rebar stakes are cheap and efficient. Plus you’ll desire a heavy mallet to pound within the stakes. The picture above illustrates the significance of the stakes. The raccoon pulled the lure itself out of the bottom, however was securely held in place by the stake.

In case your native regulation requires it, you’ll additionally want some lure tags the place you may jot down your identify and tackle so authorities know who the lure belongs to.

Lastly, you want bait. Simply one thing candy to drop into the lure. I used previous Nutrigrain bars, however a standard bait is a single marshmallow. There’s no purpose to purchase speciality racoon bait.

Right here’s your buying record. You should purchase the lure and equipment at Cabela’s:

• Racoon lure
• Set software (if wanted)
• Rebar stakes
• Entice tags
• Mallet
• Marshmellows
• Disposable gloves (for disposing of the carcass)
• Skinning knife (if you’d like a cool hat like Davy Crockett)

Eliminating Raccoons

The important thing to profitable trapping is understanding the place to set the lure. When it got here to saving chickens, that was straightforward: I set it up proper behind my rooster tractor. Set it close to what the raccoon is prone to assault, and your finest guess as to the place it is going to assault from.

Upon getting a spot, put the stake by way of the loop on the finish of the lure chain, and drive it into the bottom with the mallet. Set the lure into the bottom (faucet it with the mallet if want be), after which set the lure mechanism. Fastidiously drop your bait into the tube—don’t stick in your finger!

Should you want a tag, scribe the required info onto the tag with a pen. They’re made of sentimental steel, so it’s much less like writing and extra like inscribing. Then connect it to the lure’s chain with a bit of wire, which needs to be included.

Now… you play the ready recreation. Raccoons are nocturnal, so the precise trapping will most likely occur whilst you’re sleeping. So very first thing within the morning, you want to test on the lure. That is of the utmost significance! Leaving an animal trapped longer than needed is merciless, even when it’s a raccoon. Whenever you test the lure, exit together with your firearm and no matter else you want to eliminate it.

Should you’ve caught a raccoon, method with warning. Keep a minimum of 5 yards away so it may possibly’t chew or scratch you. Raccoons additionally will play lifeless, so don’t be fooled. Intention straight on the head and hearth, after all being conscious of what’s behind the raccoon, lest you shoot a rooster or one thing else. Flinching and flailing is regular, even when it’s a clear shot.

Wait a couple of minutes to make sure that the raccoon is lifeless. Poke it together with your rifle or an extended stick to ensure. As soon as it’s completed, placed on some gloves, take away it from the lure, and eliminate it. The way you achieve this is as much as you. If time permits, you can bury it. I simply toss them into the sting of the woods. Should you’re resourceful, you can pores and skin it and make your self a cool hat. I’ve additionally heard that raccoon meat is scrumptious, however I’m leery of rabies. 

As soon as the deed is finished, you’re not! Set the lure for the subsequent evening, the evening after, and till you cease trapping raccoons. I trapped three in a row earlier than the carnage ended.

FAQ about Racoon Trapping

What’s the finest bait for a raccoon lure?

Marshmallows are extremely efficient, as is any candy deal with. Canned fish can be efficient.

What’s the best strategy to catch a raccoon?

Use a specialised raccoon lure baited with one thing candy. Reside traps 

scare away raccoons at evening?

Don’t trouble. Entice them and remove them as a substitute.

What time are raccoons most lively?

Evening. Should you see a raccoon throughout the day, assume it’s rabid and remove it from a distance.

What to not do to a raccoon?

Don’t deal with a reside raccoon straight. Raccoons can carry rabies.

Josh Centers

Josh Facilities grows gardens, raises chickens and rabbits, is a licensed ham radio operator, and is a licensed blacksmith. He lives on 5 acres in rural Tennessee.