I've got a coon! Help please!

[techbsmith]

I've had excellent luck using Duke's Dog Proof Traps -

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B005KW3AY6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've baited with marshmallows and sunflower seeds - I have also put a small dish of water next to the trap for them. These traps work very well - I've heard others having success with the wire cage/trip traps as well. If you can get electricity out there, I definitely second the notion of a hot wire. I wasn't able to get electric out to mine either - so I had to do with trapping/shooting.

 

[MillersFarm]

Trap em' and shoot em' 22. rifle does the job just fine.

 

[karenerwin]

@newchickenownersandy Hopefully you made it through last night without losing any birds! Hope you have nice weather today for any up grades you are going to make!

 

[bobbi-j]

I'm worried reading that they will cut through chicken wire. My coop run is completely enclosed in chicken wire with it going over the top and a roof on top of that. But if he's gonna cut through then....
Guess I need to think about a live trap

Or electric wire.

I don't have electricity running out there, but could learn how to do this. I've read several posts suggesting it.

We use a battery operated one. It's run by a car battery. We have it around our sweet corn to keep out coons and deer.

Another thing to think about. Get some welded wire fencing and put it up right on top of your chicken wire. That should help keep out smaller things like mink and weasel that can get through the welded wire.

 

[itsasmallfarm]

Duke dp traps work great caught 3 in them this year.

 

[Eggs82]

As other have said. I’ve had great luck using the box style traps. Can or sardines and a .22 short. Caught tons of raccoons that kept raiding my deer feeders and tipping them over.

 

[Cayuga momma]

I use a live trap I got from TSC with a cheap can of wet cat food (fish flavored). I've caught two so far.

 

[karenerwin]

We don't even bait or live traps and we have caught too many to keep count of! We don't usually set it unless we know something has been coming around.
Be careful though, we've also caught several skunks!

 

[pfeiffer farm]

electric fence. I have on top and on bottom for the critters that dig. its not expensive to run. dusk to dawn timer it is about 5bucks a month. worth it to me as my birds are pets.

 

[lazy gardener]

Agreed with all of above: chicken wire is not a deterrent for coons. I have my birds shut in coop every night, with an auto pop door.

If you trap it, you must kill it or release it on your property. In most states it is illegal to transport trapped animals to release on someone else's property. Plan ahead about how you will dispose of the predator if you trap it.

Electric fence can be set up with deep cycle 12V battery. A single charge will last almost all summer for me. An other option is a solar charger, but I do not know anything about the $$ or management of solar. @Howard E may weigh in re: electric fencing.