Can a racoon open a barn door latch?

[Danny188]

About a month ago I caught a raccoon after I noticed fish guts were dug up from the mulch pile. I set a trap and made the mistake of letting it go, because I figured my set up was strong enough, it had also dug up dead chickens from a dog attack a week before. Then 4 days later I catch a baby so now I'm afraid they will open my barn doors that my coop is inside, we have 4 door to the barn with the same twist latches. I bent nails to put in were the lock goes. It would be too much of a hassle for locks so are carabiners coon proof? Inside the barn It would be easy for a coon to get into the coop, I have open vents on the top and a chicken wire door that one could easily break/crawl through, the barn is solid other than the doors.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Yes, absolutely. Put a padlock on it, and lock it.

 

[middle TN Nancy]

On my coop and run doors and on my nest box access door I use the kind of carbiners that have a threaded screw-type closure. I also have barrel bolts on the doors but I don’t trust them against raccoons- they are just extra to keep the doors tight against the frames.

 

[blackdog043]

I'd use a carabiner or snap link.
I use snap links on my run door.

 

[IamRainey]

A carabiner backup will do the job. They're devious! But both squeezing and rotating at the same time is too much for them. Thank god!

 

[Katesfunnyfarm]

Raccoons are incredibly intelligent, strong, and determined. At day at the very least a carabiner, but a lock would be the best option if you can do it. My barn that only houses my two miniature horses has turned into a hotel for raccoons we’ve found out recently. My coop is on the other side of the property, but I keep my food barrels in the barn. I have those metal garbage cans holding my food. And those lids fit on very snugly. Every morning I find the lid off and the food broken into. I’ve tried bungee cords, heavy objects on the lid, sharp objects on the lid, tying the lid even tighter with baling twine. No matter what, if a raccoon is hungry and food, or chickens, are available for them to snatch, they will find a way

 

[Folly's place]

Hope their rabies vaccinations are up to date!
I'd want those rotten critters out of the barn for sure.
An old chest freezer works to keep feed out of reach at the barn, or we built a solid tack room to hold out garbage cans with feed.
And trap and shoot your resident freeloaders!
Mary

 

[Flockincrazy]

Yes absolutely they are smart little jerks I put locking hooks on my coop, run and nestboxes

 

[Katesfunnyfarm]

Hope their rabies vaccinations are up to date!
I'd want those rotten critters out of the barn for sure.
An old chest freezer works to keep feed out of reach at the barn, or we built a solid tack room to hold out garbage cans with feed.
And trap and shoot your resident freeloaders!
Mary

Oh you bet!! They haven’t bothered the horses luckily, although I pasture as much as possible when the weather is nice. Hey now that’s an idea with the freezer!! As far as shooting...I’m afraid it may get to that point. There’s babies as well. I don’t like the idea of things coming to that...but they are nasty little buggers. Anywho, thanks for the idea! Don’t mean to hijack OP

 

[Danny188]

I found some threaded chain link things, I'll go to the hardware store soon to pick up some carabiners and locks for the doors I dont use.