Ballsy Raccoon!

[leggomyegg0]

I was sitting on my deck yesterday around 5 when as pretty as you please a young raccoon walks down my fence line! Hubby ran inside and grabbed a rifle, when he came out it was almost to the small barn, tried to take a shot, but my dog (crazy thing) saw the rifle and tried to climb on top of him so he would save her from the loud boom... By the time I got her inside the raccoon was behind the barn, which is where my embden goose was sitting on her nest. She was puffed up and the raccoon made a detour into the horse barn and was walking down the middle of the isle like it owned the place. Hubby finally got a shot once it exited the barn. Got it clean... Though I admit that I was a bit freaked out that a raccoon would be so brazen to come around with us that close AND in broad daylight, My chickens didn't even pay it any mind and the guineas didn't start fussing until it quite near them. It's not getting dark until around 7:30 now and the whole thing was just WEIRD... Cleaned up the carcass and burned it just in case. I Don't think it was rabid or anything, just ballsy or stupid! Anyone else have raccoons showing up during the day?

 

[GasMenagerie]

That was either a brain damaged or rabid raccoon. I've never seen one in the middle of the day. (Well, except for the three young ones my dogs had treed one night and I didn't notice until about 11am when the dogs wouldn't come in to eat.)

 

[chfite]

Young animals of all stripes are not necessarily smart.

Chris

 

[blucoondawg]

If you don't agree with killing animals then the predators and pests section of the forum is probably not the best place for you hang out. Killing a coon isn't murder, killing a human is murder. Killing a coon is a far more responsible solution than trapping it and transporting it to a different area for it to cause problems for others, and trapping and relocating is illegal in many areas.

 

[sourland]

If you don't agree with killing animals then the predators and pests section of the forum is probably not the best place for you hang out. Killing a coon isn't murder, killing a human is murder. Killing a coon is a far more responsible solution than trapping it and transporting it to a different area for it to cause problems for others, and trapping and relocating is illegal in many areas.

Agreed!

 

[shmccarthy]

Raccoons will come out during the day, but it isn't that common. I rid of every raccoon I see during the day as a precautionary measure. I came home one day and a raccoon was in my yard, spinning in circles and twitching. This one clearly had something wrong with it and I shot it on the spot. Living on 600 acres if woods, I see a lot of wildlife, including raccoons, daily. All my experiences with raccoons have been negative. They knock over my garbage cans. They've gotten in my garage and into our animals food there, which we had to throw out. Raccoons are very prone to carrying diseases and parasites transmittable to other animals and humans. They have tried many times to get in my chicken coop. They have attacked and almost killed my cat. I see them as nothing more than pests and I shoot them on sight. And they still come every day. We don't put our trash out anymore and we make sure our garage and chicken coop is locked and they still come. They're nothing but pests to me, that are a danger to my livestock, pets and my family.
I've gotten calls from neighbors to rid them of their raccoons too because they all have the same problems as me.

 

[flowera]

If you don't agree with killing animals then the predators and pests section of the forum is probably not the best place for you hang out. Killing a coon isn't murder, killing a human is murder. Killing a coon is a far more responsible solution than trapping it and transporting it to a different area for it to cause problems for others, and trapping and relocating is illegal in many areas.

You're right about relocating but killing it opens up the territory for new critters to move in and compete for space. So killing it is a short term solution to a long term situation.

 

[blucoondawg]

So you kill the new ones as well. You are not guaranteed a new one to move in immediately it may take awhile or may never happen. Also animals move into each other's territory regardless and compete for space, it happens every day in the animal world whether one is killed or not, it is part of natural selection. Coons aren't exactly solitary animals who command a large territory in the first place, and this young coon the OP shot likely wasn't a large dominant boar.

You may want to read the rules posted at the top of the first page of the Predators and Pests forum, if you are an animal lover who believes it is a wild animals right to kill livestock and we as humans shouldn't then kill the wild animal you are in the wrong place, whether you intend it or not your opinions are going to start arguments and sooner or later the mods will step in. Killing wild or tame animals to protect livestock is legal and considered very acceptable by most people, if you don't agree that is your opinion, but it is not your place to come on here and tell others they are wrong for dealing with things in a legal manner.

 

[Mattemma]

I have caught over 40 coons and possums in one year.Been a while since I put the trap out.Yes,you just keep on trapping.It is not a big deal.There will always be house sparrows too,but that does not stop me from trapping them as well.

 

[Chickens R Us]

I had a raccoon rip off half of my cats face,so yes I will shoot every one I see on my property also Porcupines. Going to the vet is not cheap.