Archive for July, 2008

Raccoons are a nuisance animal that if not controlled they will destroy your property in many different ways. Raccoons will destroy your garden, get in your trash, clean out of your bird feeders, get in your attic, kill your chickens, and fish your small pond dry. These are just a few of the problems many people encounter with raccoons.

Raccoon Facts:

Raccoons generally weight 12 – 36 lbs. with larger raccoons around 36 – 50 lbs. Raccoons average 12” high and have a life span of 10 – 13 years. Mating occurs in late January or February and females usually give birth 1 – 6 baby kits in April or May. Baby raccoons often stay with their mother until fall. At that time they go off and look for a den themselves, which includes hollow trees, attics, chimneys and outside buildings.

Raccoons are not hibernators but they are considerably less active in the cold winter months. Raccoons are mainly nocturnal animals, although they do get out during the day, especially on cloudy days and in the spring. They are great climbers and swimmers especially when being pursed by dogs.

Raccoon Damage:

Raccoon damage is generally pretty easy to spot. Some signs are tipped over garbage cans, destroyed gardens, damaged crops, hollowed out watermelons, missing fish in ponds, missing chickens and house damage.

Raccoon’s amazing dexterity allows them to open eggs, doors, jars, bottles and latches. Raccoons will also get in your dog/cat food. One way to keep them out is separate the water from the food. Raccoons do not produce their own saliva so they need water to dip their food in. This is why raccoons are generally found near water sources.

Raccoon Repellents:

Best way to deal with raccoons is to deny them access to food, water and den options. If this does not work then we first recommend repellents. Critter Ridder is a Havahart product that is a pepper based repellent. We have both Critter Ridder Granular and Critter Ridder Spray. Can be used indoors and outdoors and generally last up to 30 days.

A motion activated water repellent is also a good choice. The Spray Away has motion and heat sensor triggers to detect an animal nearby. Similar to a sprinkler, once activated, the electronic valve releases 3 seconds of spray from an attached hose.

Electric Fencing is by far the best raccoon repellent. Most of our customers needing help with a garden or fish pond are very successful with a small electric fence kit like the 725RP Fence Kit, the 750RP Fence Kit or the Battery Operated SS-2K Fence Kit. These Electric Fence Kits electrify a wire that runs around your garden, pond etc.. which in turn keeps out all unwanted animals.

Raccoon Cage Trapping:

Trapping the Raccoon is generally the last resort in raccoon control. Trapping is a very effective method of removing the raccoon from your property. I will go over some suggested baits and trapping methods. Please check local state and game regulations before trapping in your state.

The Raccoon is a highly intelligent animal, but not difficult to trap. The raccoons insatiable curiosity, unquenchable appetite and willingness to eat just about anything makes it quite susceptible to being trapped. Cage trapping a raccoon is an ideal solution to your problem. The Duke Raccoon Trap and the Havahart Raccoon Trap are the very best Cage Traps for a raccoon. These traps are ideal for the first time trapper.

Raccoon Leg Trapping:

Recommend traps include: #1.5 Coil Spring Leg Trap, #1.75 Coil Spring Offset Jaw Leg Trap, #2 Coil Spring Leg Trap, #2 Coil Spring Offset Jaw Leg Trap, #1.5 Coil Spring Rubber Jaw Leg Trap

I will go over the dirt hole set for trapping a raccoon using a leg trap. All you need to do is dig out a very small dirt hole and place your bait in the bottom of the hole. Right outside of the hole you place your leg trap and cover it up with fine dirt, place some lure at the entrance of the hole and this should catch your raccoon consistently.

Raccoons are large and powerful animals. When caught they often lunge and leap often breaking a weak trap chain or pulling loose from the trap. We would recommend using a drag rather than anchoring the trap with a stake. The drag ( usually a piece of log or branch) gives when the animal pulls on the chain and doesn’t allow the full force of the pull on the chain or trap.

Suggested Baits & Trapping Books

Some of the recommended baits include. Fish (fresh or canned), honey or sugar covered vegetables, smoked fish, watermelon, sweet corn, cooked fatty meat, crisp bacon, marshmallows and honey buns.

Below we have listed a variety of very effective baits and lures. These lures work best for trapping raccoons in the wild using a leg trap. The animal bait trapping kits work best for cage trap. Also for first time trapper we have listed some very helpful books that will teach you how to humanely catch a raccoon.

Baits and Lures include: Coon Candy, Canine Select, Bait trapping kit for Raccoons and Opossums and Raccoon Urine.

Recommend Trapping Books: Cronks Raccoon Trapping, The Dirt Hole, Land Sets and Trapping Techniques, Trapping Tree Climbing Animals.

Hope this helps out,

Eric Fleming