killed raccoon last night- question

[nursemeh]

Well, my 16 yr old son did. he even picked up the dead carcass(wearing gloves) and placed him in the garbage bag for me. aren't kids great!!!!

Anyway, now our problem is figuring out how he got in. I have scanned the coop looking for how the predator got inside and can't see any signs of entry. We usually close our coop door at dusk after they have roosted. Last night we "forgot" and didn't close it until after 9pm.

The squawking was heard at 11:15pm.

Question:

Is it likely that the coon was already inside the coop at 9pm and WAITED FOR 2 HOURS before beginning what was his last (attempted) meal????

I am going out to look again for signs of entry. He was a good size raccoon, I should see evidence of his forced entry somewhere right? how do I reinforce my coop if I cannot find where he got in?

All 9 chickens are fine and dandy today, no signs of bites/scratches that I can see.

Mary

 

[lynxs1981]

He could have been in there nosing around for feed and you just didn't notice. If your coop off the ground? Any details about coop construction might help pinpoint entry.

 

[Shaun]

He might have been in there when you shut them in, he would have been attracted by the feed. He may have just cleaned out your feeder - lucky you! We have regular problems here with 'coons - we dust at least a half dozen a year, and we're at the edge of a subdivision. Check everything over, esp up at the top - they can get in the in the darndest places.

 

[aprophet]

a coon will go through a hole as small as 4" until you watch it happen it is pretty hard to believe

 

[NA]

I bought a raccoon trap at TSC and have caught 5 coons already. It's illegal to relocate them but that's what I've been doing. I take them far enough away so they have to cross an interstate hwy and a couple major roadways if they want to come "home".
I usually use cat food and marshmallows which attracts them but the last time I just accidentally left the trap door open and one walked in without any bait at all. They're on the lookout for the chickens so I'm on the lookout for them.

 

[jmc]

Quote:
was that one of those hav-a-hart live traps????
i had a mink visit by night lasst week a couple times. he gave up though. my ducks are in a fort knox type cage.............

but may wanna get a couple sizes of havahart..................

?? tx

 

[BayouPoules]

Quote:
They're like little furry Houdinies!

 

[CarolAnn]

I'm going to buy an animal trap/cage to have on hand when I even think I night have a problem. Out here we have lots of raccoons and opossums roaming around different times of the year. Opossums seem to be around all the time and the coons especially in the colder months when my bird feeders are out. DH needs to tighten the latch on one of the pop doors cause it seems to loose to me. I hate those hook and eye latches with the spring safely thing, hard on my nails and I scratch my building using needle nose pliers working the thing, but they're probably not going to be easy for the varmits to work either.

 

[NA]

Quote:
was that one of those hav-a-hart live traps????
i had a mink visit by night lasst week a couple times. he gave up though. my ducks are in a fort knox type cage.............

but may wanna get a couple sizes of havahart..................

?? tx

Yes..It's a large Hav a heart. People think I'm crazy for driving them away. Raccoons are not a popular species.

 

[jmc]

NA thank you!