City folks - killed our first raccoon

[Beed]

We have big raccoon problem too. One of them has recently figured out how to pull screen out of the front door. I don't think we will be able to shoot them as we are both softies. We do have a "humane trap" from ASPCA. I guess we could relocate them but that probably won't cure the problem. Years ago some folks downtown would give you 10 bucks for a raccoon. They love to eat em. Probably tastes like chicken-ha!

 

[SunnyChic]

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Thanks everyone for your encouraging words. I really debated on even posting this. However, there are more and more city people keeping chickens and I'm sure I'm not the only person with this problem. Maybe someone else will read this post and it will help them decide for themselves what the right course of action will be for them.

Yes, thank you for posting. I live in town and there are raccoons in our neighborhood. I will be starting on my first coop and run and know that the raccoon living in a tree two houses down (and all his next of kin) will show up, probably sooner rather than later. I have to decide now, before my chooks start living in the backyard, what action I will take when predators start arriving. I'm leaning heavily towards purchasing electric poultry netting from Premier for my run and to surround my coop to help in creating a line of defense.

 

[danielbrown]

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For those who live where its illegal to discharge a firearm. Bows are quiet, deadly and have a short range.

 

[cmjust0]

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....move to where it isn't.

 

[redtailross]

Wow the Gun shot detector thing was interesting...

We live on 10 Acres in the semi bush...and I am in a simiar situation I have a fox (thankfully just a fox and not a bear...yet) that is "visiting" my coop, it has already eaten 12 chickens and a turkey. Now have a strong coop.

I have been holding off for about three weeks now mainly cause Im not a great shot, or like to use Guns (Britsh and have never been too comfrtable with the concept, but its a necessity here).
Now I also have a husband who is a great shot, and comfortable with guns, but is deployed, so Its down to me... I have been walking my dogs around the coop, making sure they leave lots of scent...not really working as the fox now has his eye on my geese who swim on the pond at night...

This morning, I finally loaded the gun... couldn't get a shot by the time I went out there.
But I understand your feelings, I am a wildlife biologist by trade and really love foxes and find it hard to "do the deed" but its proetection of life and property...

You did the right thing. Try to feel OK about it.

Feeling guilty means you did not do it in cold blood, and that you really care and have a heart. But you have to take the hard road sometimes. The balance between wildlife and humans is a fine one...

 

[corporatecowgirl]

We had a racoon that was too comfortable around our yard and us. We were seeing him\\her every day at dusk and it actually got in my garage via the cat door. We ended up deciding to trapped it and took it 20 miles away. Far away from other homes, farms etc. We had the gun out in case it went after my chickens. It never did, but it was a matter of time. We got the have a heart trap and problem solved.

 

[Boyd]

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it is generally illegal and immoral to relocate unless you are in an area that the DNR has allowed, or have animal control come out and dispose of the predator. Please do not relocate!

 

[amazondoc]

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It is also illegal, and arguably immoral, to discharge a firearm within city limits. Would you like to condemn the OP as well?

 

[Boyd]

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It is also illegal, and arguably immoral, to discharge a firearm within city limits. Would you like to condemn the OP as well?

Nope... a firearm isn't necessary to dispose of a predator. Bows, crossbows, and any high powered pellet gun from K-Mart/Wal-Mart ($35 dollar range) is both legal and humane. I realize not everyone on the boards here lives in "The Country" but with a little thinking, this all can be done.... and I gave an alternate other than SHOOT THE CRITTER....... have animal control come out. Easy Squeezy Lemon Peasey!

 

[cmjust0]

Hmm... Living in a place where it costs $400 to have someone remove a nuisance animal, yet where it's also illegal to shoot it or relocate it creates an interesting dilemma.

What to do, what to do...

How about you trap it, drive it out to the country way outside city limits, THEN shoot it.

Problem solved.