Josh Centers 03.14.25
Eggs ain’t getting any cheaper, so in the event you’re good, you could be contemplating elevating your personal layers. Chickens are pretty simple, however there’s only one downside: Rooster is scrumptious and each criter within the animal kingdom agrees. The worst of the lot are raccoons.
WARNING! This text comprises graphic pictures of useless chickens and raccoons. Take into account your self forewarned.
Little children and metropolis slickers love raccoons as a result of they’re cute they usually do humorous issues in YouTube movies. However these of us who’ve spent any time dwelling 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 onerous to thwart.
Conventional raccoon looking occurs at evening, with educated canines and lights, which is a major expense each in money and time. The tactic we’ll element right here entails trapping and taking pictures, so it’s extremely environment friendly, and we’ll present you the right traps to set that received’t journey up canines 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 can be usually used across the farm, like on hen coops. They are going to take a look at and determine weaknesses in your fencing, or dig underneath it solely.
If you happen to’re rising corn, raccoons will fortunately wreck it, very instantly, 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 little bit nibble out of every ear, so you’ll be able to’t even salvage what’s been knocked down.
If you happen to suppose raccoons are imply to corn, it’s best to see what they’ll do to a hen. In late 2022 and early 2023, a household of raccoons started choosing off my chickens one after the other.
I attempted all the things I may 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 obtained particularly nasty. There was nearly nothing left of this poor hen. At the least I feel it was a hen.
Nonlethal Strategies Are Ineffective towards Raccoons
There are a lot of nonlethal options to raccoons, however sadly, I’ve but to seek out one which works:
- Fencing: Good fencing can dissuade raccoons, but when they’re sufficiently motivated (i.e., hungry), they’ll determine a approach to route round just about any fence, whether or not it’s climbing, digging, and even ripping a gap in it.
- Loud music: Establishing a radio in a single day with music or discuss 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 seek out one which works.
To cease the raccoon downside, you both must take away what attracts them, which is undesirable in the event you’re attempting to develop corn or elevate chickens, or should get rid of them solely.
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 get rid of your undesirable trash pandas, be sure you perceive the legal guidelines the place you reside. The tactic detailed right here entails trapping and taking pictures a nuisance animal.
For 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 September twentieth. Nonetheless, 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 massive recreation underneath the situations offered for on this part, is required to acquire a allow for destroying such massive 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 gives a number of good the reason why relocation is a nasty thought. It’s dangerous for the raccoon as a result of it then has to struggle for brand new territory, and it’s dangerous for the native ecology as a result of raccoons are harmful.
These are simply examples of issues it’s best to think about earlier than dealing with your raccoon downside. Test your state’s wildlife useful resource company, and in the event you’re nonetheless confused, give them a name to be sure you’re inside the confines of the regulation.
Why Dwell Traps for Racoons Are Ineffective
It’s tempting to go to the Tractor Provide and purchase a few of these stay animal traps, they usually can work, however they’re problematic.
One downside: Since raccoons are so intelligent, they’ll usually determine the best way to seize your bait with out springing the entice.
The opposite downside is that undesirable animals can wander into your traps, like this poor possum.
Let’s talk about a greater resolution.
The Finest Lure for Raccoons
You want a specialised entice, usually referred to as a raccoon entice, an arm entice, a hand entice, or a cuff. It’s a steel model of a Chinese language finger entice: It’s a protracted tube with a set off on the backside. When a little bit paw reaches in, the entice is sprung, and the entice securely latches onto the raccoon’s arm. The great factor about these traps is that they’re very efficient towards raccoons, however received’t entice different critters like canines.
While you decide up your entice, you may additionally think about a set software in case your fingers are weak. A set software is a straightforward U-shaped piece of metal that helps you set the entice. I simply squeeze the spring with my fingers.
I’ll warn you prematurely: As soon as the little bastard is trapped with one in all these items, there isn’t a protected approach to take away it from the entice alive. Even be forewarned that raccoons usually carry rabies, so that you don’t wish to take an opportunity.
Which means it’s essential to shoot it, so that you’ll want a firearm. A .22 LR is ample, and you may in all probability get away with a compound bow or a sufficiently highly effective air rifle if noise is a excessive concern. Nonetheless, in my expertise, .22 LR usually doesn’t make for a clear one-shot kill, so I desire utilizing an AR-15 chambered in 5.56. That will look like overkill, and it’s a little bit messy, however it will get the job achieved in a single shot.
In addition to a entice and a gun, you want some stakes to safe the entice to the bottom. 18-inch rebar stakes are cheap and efficient. Plus you’ll need a heavy mallet to pound within the stakes. The picture above illustrates the significance of the stakes. The raccoon pulled the entice 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 entice tags the place you’ll be able to jot down your identify and tackle so authorities know who the entice belongs to.
Lastly, you want bait. Simply one thing candy to drop into the entice. I used outdated Nutrigrain bars, however a standard bait is a single marshmallow. There’s no purpose to purchase speciality racoon bait.
Right here’s your buying checklist. You should purchase the entice and equipment at Cabela’s:
- Racoon entice
- Set software (if wanted)
- Rebar stakes
- Lure tags
- Mallet
- Marshmellows
- Disposable gloves (for disposing of the carcass)
- Skinning knife (in order for you a cool hat like Davy Crockett)
Eliminating Raccoons
The important thing to profitable trapping is realizing the place to set the entice. When it got here to saving chickens, that was simple: I set it up proper behind my hen 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.
After getting a spot, put the stake by the loop on the finish of the entice chain, and drive it into the bottom with the mallet. Set the entice into the bottom (faucet it with the mallet if want be), after which set the entice mechanism. Fastidiously drop your bait into the tube—don’t stick in your finger!
If you happen to 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 entice’s chain with a bit of wire, which ought to be included.
Now… you play the ready recreation. Raccoons are nocturnal, so the precise trapping will in all probability occur when you’re dozing. So very first thing within the morning, it’s essential to verify on the entice. That is of the utmost significance! Leaving an animal trapped longer than crucial is merciless, even when it’s a raccoon. While you verify the entice, exit together with your firearm and no matter else it’s essential to get rid of it.
If you happen to’ve caught a raccoon, method with warning. Keep at the very least 5 yards away so it might’t chew or scratch you. Raccoons additionally will play useless, 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 hen 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 useless. Poke it together with your rifle or a protracted stick to ensure. As soon as it’s completed, placed on some gloves, take away it from the entice, and get rid of it. The way you accomplish that is as much as you. If time permits, you may bury it. I simply toss them into the sting of the woods. If you happen to’re resourceful, you may 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 completed, you’re not! Set the entice 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 entice?
Marshmallows are extremely efficient, as is any candy deal with. Canned fish can be efficient.
What’s the simplest approach to catch a raccoon?
Use a specialised raccoon entice baited with one thing candy. Dwell traps
Easy methods to scare away raccoons at evening?
Don’t hassle. Lure them and get rid of them as a substitute.
What time are raccoons most lively?
Night time. If you happen to see a raccoon throughout the day, assume it’s rabid and get rid of it from a distance.
What to not do to a raccoon?
Don’t deal with a stay raccoon straight. Raccoons can carry rabies.
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