coon sizes and relocation - *graphic pics page 3*

[shmccarthy]

Don't relocate it. Like the others said, it just spells bad idea all around. It will wise up to the trap, and will not be caught as easily next time. Not to mention, predatory mammals have a very high homing instinct, and unless you relocate it 30 miles+ it will more than likely be back. It will either come back, or become someone else's problem.

 

[Righteous Rstr]

Glad someone was listening ,I've received a lot of negative responses.
As Raccoons have marked Territory's another will expand his to fill the
void in a few weeks every time. RR

 

[av8torcrj]

Just walk up to the live trap you caught it in and let it snarl at you once or twice with chicken feathers between its teeth. I can assure you it won't seem so cute.

 

[Roo Boy]

I had 3 babies squeeze through a 2x4 inch hole to enter our run a few nights ago.

 

[Righteous Rstr]

Where you relocate it at depends on your desire to ruin someone else's peace of mind!

 

[Righteous Rstr]

Call the waaghbulance,STAT!!!

 

[Righteous Rstr]

Then don't gripe about eaten chickens. Some of us feed family and friends NOT A HOBBY.

 

[Righteous Rstr]

You got that right!

 

[hrhta812]

Thanks i'm sad i should just "dispose" of it i'm not big on killing any animals.

I understand. I used to feel that way, too, but I've lost enough chickens to predators over the years to have that feeling wear off. Coons will reach in, if they can't get in, and pull out feet or heads and chew them off. Chickens are slow to wake, so even though a coon isn't particularly fast, they sneak up while the birds are asleep and what you find left the next day is not a pretty sight.

My state DNR web site says they recommend euth. any nuisance wildlife that you trap, and they discourage relocation because it can spread disease. Relocating sounds nice, but the reality is that it's just moving a problem, not solving it. There may be a maxed out predator population already in place where you drop that animal off and it may be bringing disease along with it. Or, some other person is going to then have their chickens or pets put at risk.

We've had heavy losses at our place over the past month and any remnants of warm fuzzy feelings I ever had about the predators are gone now. I even dispatched a predator myself [my first time], and it didn't upset me at all. I didn't enjoy it, but I was able to do it.

 

[DB123]

I used to relocate until one came back and killed my golden pheasant. I caught him the next night and recognized him by his size and tears on his ears. Most adequate enviroments are all ready loaded to capacity with racoons anyhow. And moving causes problems. They are WAY over populated in most areas due to no natural predators also. I hate to kill them but it must be done.