Keeping the raccoons away

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Yeah, needs to be a big dog. Little dogs don't have a chance against raccoons, the raccoons will literally strangle them. Use cat food or sardines (meat) in trap and you should catch it. Seeing one during the day is not a good sign. Raccoons are night animals so either this one is really hungry or somethings wrong with it. You HAVE to keep ducks penned up until you kill the raccoon....or haul it off somewhere far, far away. I kill them...we have way too many around here. Raccoons have people hands and can strength like you wouldn't believe. They can open locks, literally pull chain link fence apart. TominWa is right. It is the one animal I have to constantly be waiting for. Incredibly smart and crafty.
 
Leighe said:
Yeah, needs to be a big dog. Little dogs don't have a chance against raccoons, the raccoons will literally strangle them. Use cat food or sardines (meat) in trap and you should catch it. Seeing one during the day is not a good sign. Raccoons are night animals so either this one is really hungry or somethings wrong with it. You HAVE to keep ducks penned up until you kill the raccoon....or haul it off somewhere far, far away. I kill them...we have way too many around here. Raccoons have people hands and can strength like you wouldn't believe. They can open locks, literally pull chain link fence apart. TominWa is right. It is the one animal I have to constantly be waiting for. Incredibly smart and crafty.
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Yeah if the dog isn't big enough could get killed that's why i was asking:).
 
I have three dogs, but only let them out when ducks are in the pen. When free ranging in backyard I lock dogs in the house. Afraid they will hurt them
 
The coon knows where to find an easy meal now... It will be back...coons r relentless. Best defense is to set traps out now! Is ur pen coon proof? If not...they will be "sitting ducks" and defenseless. I would secure the ducks until u have gotton rid of the coon.
 
I know this post is from years ago, but I saw a raccoon in the trees above our house tonight. My dog alerted me to it, and I shined a light on it and it went away after staring at me seemingly frightened for several minutes completely still. It was a smaller raccoon, but not baby sized. All I ever read is that nothing can protect your ducks from raccoons. I never leave my two Pekin ducks alone in the yard unless I’m with them, but “with them” could mean me working on my laptop on the patio and them foraging or swimming in the little pond or pool. We have a small yard in the city but not so small that they can’t be out of eye sight, tho definitely always in earshot. I have hardware cloth on all windows in the coop and all sides of the attached outdoor run. But when people say they can pull apart chain linked fences, and open locks, I’m wondering how in the world I can keep them safe short of keeping them on my lap in the house! I will absolutely not kill the raccoons (not judging those who do and I believe that it is effective, but it is simply not something I will ever consider). I hadn’t seen a raccoon near our house before this, but I can’t even sleep tonight after reading page after page of horror story. I built their coop with an awareness that no opening more than 1/4 inch was acceptable, and while I originally put combination locks on all doors, I’ve slacked lately andbhave only been latching the doors and sliding a clip through it. I need some insight here, but not looking for more horror stories. I mean, I have to let my girls walk around and play and forage or their quality of life wouldn’t be fair to me. But I also can’t have them brutalized by raccoons. Wondering what ever came of this raccoon chase, and what other thoughts folks have that could be helpful?
 
No matter where we live there are raccoons fox coyote mink and the list goes on and flying preds. too. We have to just be vigilant when we let our ducks/ poultry out in our yards. I let mine be in as natural a habitat as I can give them. Not saying I haven’t lost any because I have (chickens) but we put up fencing to keep them from wandering too far and I am here almost all the time. That said doing all you can to protect and sounds like you have given them great security In their housing. So what can we do when we let them out is watch as close as we can. Is your pen secured over top so nothing can climb in that’s very important too.
 
Big dogs aren't the answer. I wouldn't let my dogs go after a coon. I have seen coon get cornered and fight with the them.
I have used a air soft gun on the one hanging out in my yard. After being shot a few times he hasn't been back.
We no longer allow any kind of food to be left out for the other pets as well.
We have lived in our house for 13 years.
This month was the first time we have ever seen a raccoon. And he showed up the night before we were going to let our chicks out for their first day .
You really don't know for sure what could show up.
Over protection is the only way to go
 

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