Cage Smart Coon

[mangled]

We've got a problem coon. Had to start taking the cat food in at night, he comes right up on the deck to eat the food. Often while the screen door is open and we are feet away. By the time I am up and out of the room for the .22, he's long gone.
We have a live trap that has served us well through the 2 years we've had it. Baited it with cat food, set it out front on the deck, and waited.
He started by tipping the trap over, taking the cat food I use as bait, and moving on. I placed a large brick on top, so now he either pulls the food out from the far end, or he pulls the trip plate ALL the way back towards him, making it impossible for him to set it.
We've tried and tried to catch him in the act and get him with the .22, my husband has even sat up in the kids' playgym for a full week of nights trying to get a shot. The coon never comes around when we're out for him.
I have a live and let live policy for wild animals, but when they're bold enough to sit on my porch and eat cat food while watching me, 3 feet away, it's time for them to go.
So, any ideas? Poisoning is out of the question. We often will catch one of our barn cats in the cage, so we have to be careful what we put in it. Simple cats, lol.
Thanks-
Em

 

[Lextextrapper]

Go to http://www.fntpost.com/Products/Dog+Proof+Coon+Traps/Lil'+Grizz+Get'rz+Dog+Proof+Coon+Trap and order one of the Lil Griz Getters. It is by far the best DP coon trap on the market, hence the back ordered status. Bait the trap with something like marshmalows or grape jelly so the cats won't be attracted to it. I have a predator control service as a side job and I highly reccomend this trap.
www.yoteman.com

 

[Uppity Peon]

How about not putting cat food out to attract the raccoon?

I feed the cats indoors where the local fauna can't reach it.

 

[mangled]

How about not putting cat food out to attract the raccoon?

I feed the cats indoors where the local fauna can't reach it.

My husband and daughter are quite allergic to cats. We have a dozen or more outside cats, ranging from sweet love-bugs who were drop-offs, to semi-ferals who are wary and barely allow contact. Feeding the cats inside is not an option at all.

Thanks for the tip on grape jelly, Lextextrapper. After smearing the trip plate on the trap we have, we apprehended the problem coon in one night, and he is no longer a problem.

Does grape jelly work for opossum as well?

Oh, and we're going to have one of the Lil Griz Getters, as soon as ours comes available.

Thanks-
Em​

 

[panner123]

If the coon is cage smart, you will need to use a pedal trap. The best way to do this is to put a shinny piece of metal on the pedal. Place the trap in some water and have the water moving with a ligth on the water. You can make the water move with a small pump. No coon can past this up.

 

[ivan3]

If you are using a standard havahart trying rigging it as follows (has to pull down on bait and trigger release arm serves in place of trigger plate). This also, occasionally (rarely), works for foxes (have watched them step over trigger plate to get bait).

Also, use a 40lb. paver on top of trap and place the trap off of the ground on a couple of 2"x2"'s (cuts way down on clean up time).

(pork end instead of pikachu)...