Any Pro-tips on Trapping/Removing Raccoons

[Fuzzbutts]

I recently lost my entire flock (ducks and chickens) to raccoons. My husband and I managed to catch one in a paw trap roughly a week after the loss and dispatched it. We have since kept traps out and baited, but haven’t caught anything since. We were feeling relatively confident we caught the main culprit UNTIL I discovered fresh raccoon prints on my driveway today. It looks like the hunt is on, yet again, because I’ll be damned if I let another raccoon kill my babies.
I know that even if I trap a million of them, there will always be more, but I do want to trap as many as possible before I put my new ducklings outside in their run outside (which will be a fortress in itself) when they’re bigger.
Any tips or tricks anyone has used to trap these evil critters would be greatly appreciated by both me and my ducks!

 

[Welshies]

To defend your coop use hardware cloth. Never ever use chicken wire or chainlink fence, or page wire. Coons can reach through. Use latches and locks (or locking mechanisms) on all gates and doors.
Live traps with marshmallows and donuts work the best.

 

[Fuzzbutts]

Donuts huh? I’ll have to try that one (although I may end up trapping my husband). Thank you so much!!
Everything on our coop will most certainly be locked down and as secure as we can possibly make it.

 

[biophiliac]

1 minute ago#3

Fuzzbutts
NewDonuts huh? I’ll have to try that one (although I may end up trapping my husband). Thank you so much!!

 

[Welshies]

Donuts huh? I’ll have to try that one (although I may end up trapping my husband). Thank you so much!!

 

[AmazingRachel]

To defend your coop use hardware cloth. Never ever use chicken wire or chainlink fence, or page wire. Coons can reach through. Use latches and locks (or locking mechanisms) on all gates and doors.

The problem isn't the raccoons, you need to secure your coop/run.

 

[Welshies]

The problem isn't the raccoons, you need to secure your coop/run.

Exactly!

 

[Fuzzbutts]

That is most definitely the plan. Honestly after all that happened I’ve become extremely anxious about it happening again, which is likely driving the raccoon trapping drive I have at the moment.
It just broke my heart and I want to do anything and everything to keep it from happening in the future

 

[lazy gardener]

And put your ducks in a secure coop every single night.

Bait your trap with a can of tuna that has only been opened a little bit. Block the back end of the trap so the coon can't reach in through the back, sides or top to get the can, but has to enter through the front of the trap. Set the trap on a solid piece of plywood, and peg it down to the ground.

 

[lazy gardener]

You might consider investing in an electric fence. Premier 1 has electric poultry netting that can easily be moved.