Coon hunt tonight (excuse the whining in post)

[Lady of McCamley]

Okay...we've set the trap cage, placed the bait (in a jar attached at the back with holes poked through and some bacon wrapped around it too). Hopefully the banded rascal will take it.

Thus far this opportunistic vandal has killed one of my best layers

and mauled one of my expensive breeders

(Cream Legbar...came out to save her just in time and caught him in the act...she's stunned with swollen face and missing feathers...she's moving around but very low key today...hopefully she'll recover with a little TLC).

I got caught up with the holiday fervor earlier this week and left the gate open after dark

...Yup. He helped himself to my first bird (found her leftovers the next morning)...and that has now set me up for a nightly visit thereafter. He's now learned to chew through and tear up my run wire as he knows the goodies to be had inside.

I've got my girls now locked up in bolted wood coops (just no longer able to freely access their enclosed wired run).

The stinker was out today at 3:30pm for the hunt...before twilight even. Sigh. Had to chase him off to save the flock again (won't say how... but he is unhurt... just annoyed.)

Tonight though. He. Is. Mine. (Hopefully).

Take the bait you rascal. It's legal by statute for me to trap and euthanize you on my resident property when you are attacking my livestock or have become an endangerment.
(Please no bleeding heart responses about how I should relocate...can't that's illegal here....or endure and live with nature...he's picking off my birds rapidly...or lock things away...he's coming in daylight now during range time...my birds have to range sometime).

Wish me luck and him a quick adieu into that long good night.

LofMc

 

[Zoomie]

I am so sorry for your loss, and I hope you get the little So-And-So. Good luck!

I sat up all night waiting for them once. (Usually I would just set a trap but this time was really different.) I kept going out every 15 minutes with a flashlight. FINALLY saw it. OK, THEM!!! There were FOUR!!!! Got them all too, and since it was about 3 AM, no one heard me which amazed me. I was screaming at them.

In my state they are considered an introduced nuisance animal. I hope you get the culprit tonight!

 

[dekel18042]

Quote:sometime). The good news is that raccoons seem to be one of the easier predators to trap, along with opossums. We've found raccoons can't resist either tuna fish or canned cat food. Good luck!

 

[bobbi-j]

Good luck! I have to ask, though - do you live in an area where you are not able to shoot them when you see them out during the day? We are fortunate enough to be able to do so. Sometimes I forget that not everyone is. I now have a dog that seems to think it's his job in life to keep our farm raccoon free, so that helps, too. As far as I know, he got two this year. A youngster this summer and a full-grown one this fall.

 

[chickluvinfreak]

Sorry about your chickens and I hope the one makes a full recovery.

Good luck catching him and making him pay

 

[centrarchid]

Raccoons are edible. Barbecued not bad when young. You could also feed carcass back to flock offsetting feed bill a little.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Illegal to fire guns with live ammo. Neighbors too close. Powered airsoft with biodegradable pellet is a legal and fun backyard hobby...for some... in the area.

Trap sprung but jammed against corner of coop so no coon last nite. Had evidence of a visit last night.

Trap reset with better goodies. Hopefully it was a rat that sprung the trap last night...don't think coon could have squeezed through the space left, otherwise we may have blown our chance to trap.

Good news. Injured bird lives and appears to be mending.

Round. Two.
LofMc

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Well he's baaaaaack.

Caught him in the wired run again tonight...but birds safely locked up in the wood coops.

Dog chased him to the rafters (good doggie). Since I can't shoot him, had to pull dog off so he would come down. Checked a few minutes later, and he was gone.

Sure wish he'd find the trap easier and feast in it tonight. Would make life a lot easier.

His temper is getting nastier. Snarling and hissing now at dog and me.

But so is mine.

LofMc

 

[Folly's place]

Good luck tonight! Mary

 

[bobbi-j]

Well he's baaaaaack.

Caught him in the wired run again tonight...but birds safely locked up in the wood coops.

Dog chased him to the rafters (good doggie). Since I can't shoot him, had to pull dog off so he would come down. Checked a few minutes later, and he was gone.

Sure wish he'd find the trap easier and feast in it tonight. Would make life a lot easier.

His temper is getting nastier. Snarling and hissing now at dog and me.

But so is mine.

LofMc

Are you snarling and hissing back??

Seriously, I hope you can get him Is the trap in the run where he's trying to get in? Too bad you can't just shoot the thing.