Crafty Coons

[Birdsonghill]

I've had coons testing the fortress for over a 5 months.. They've torn the tarp, tried a bit of going under the wire, scratched at doors etc.. I know there coons because the wife went out 1 night and there were 10 of them or so surrounding the coop..Also in the last 15 years we've had 4 or 5 cats disapear, i've always suspected coons, but now i'm almost convinced...... I got a live trap.. So far i've caught 5 possums and finally 1 coon..... But the amount of baight i've went thru is crazy.. i tried tuna fish-only caught possums.... went to some old hering in the freezer and it would vanish, even wired it in the cage, they would still get it without setting off the live trap.... went to marshmellows, after 3/4 of a bag i finally got a coon-about a week ago... now i'm back to losing 6-8 marsmellows a day.... it amazes me that they can steal that much bait without stepping on the paddle to set the trap off....... i was also amazed how vicious the one coon i caught was...

Peanut butter smeared on the traps trigger sometimes works well. Jack mackerel will draw all predators around here, but you may have to just poke holes in a can of sardines and wire it to the trap just behind the trigger plate or Raccoons and Opossums will eat you out of bait! Coons often run in very large groups in the cities and suburban areas! Do not get too close to them! Very dangerous animals, actually, when they do attack!