Neighbor is BIG TIME feeding the raccoons.

[Little Fuzzy]

This is an interesting display of intolerance. In many ways I am like the old lady feeding the raccoons. When we moved onto our ground, it had just been laid fallow to extremely heavy grazing with a beef cow-calf herd. The pasture vegetation was dominated by fescue that wildlife and insects beneficial to me had little use for. The woodlot was dominated by a thicket of trees where larger trees would die from damage to roots and the understory is dominated by toxic plants the cattle did not like to eat but otherwise are not typical of natural understory plants where I live. As soon as I moved in the process to promote / establish native plants began. Intent was first to make area more suitable for true free-range keeping of chickens as I deem fit. Second was to promote abundance of wildlife. When we first moved in very few rabbits or squirrels were present and we had few native birds. Rabbits in particular are building up in abundance where they can reproduce very successfully on my land. Then many have to emigrate to neighbors where the rabbits are putting moves on gardening efforts like they are doing here. Additionally raptors like the Great-horned Owl and Coopers Hawk are really working my ground and surrounding properties. At least some of my neighbors are not happy about the increase in abundance of wildlife that is obviously centered on my little patch. Still I am doing what makes me happy, not unlike the little old lady with her raccoons. They would be sticking their noses into my business telling me to stop efforts. I am not saying anything as of yet about how their efforts to keep manicured lawns and continuous supply of pet food and trash dumpsters suppresses abundance of most wildlife with exception several urban tolerant invasive species. The species list includes the following; raccoons, dogs kept as pets, cats, European Starlings, Eurasion House Sparrows, Eurasion Collared Doves and rats. I can deal easily with all but the starlings and sparrows that not only eat a lot of feed and defecate on equipment, they also bring in disease. We have conflicts. System that works I do what I do without being overtly critical of neighbors and they do what can to protect their own with efforts restricted to their properties. Neighbors, like me, need to stay within the law.

Amen!

 

[Little Fuzzy]

Nature's way of thinning the herd.... and not the bison herd!

Since you can't shoot every raccoon coming to your neighbors property (I assume you work, sleep etc, so there is 16 hours a day gone) and what about foxes, coyotes, bobcats, hawks, eagles, falcons etc. I decided since I can't kill all the predators that I would build the best defense possible to keep my chickens and ducks safe. Step one was cutting back the woodlands to put some open space between the wild animals and my chickens and ducks. No point in making is easy for them to sneak up on your birds. Step two was an electric net fence from www.premier1supplies.com. This made the difference from 1-2 losses a month to 0 losses in 3 years. Step 3 was a predator proof run and coop. Step 4 is my dogs that claim my property as their own and love to mark every bush and tree. Sure I have guns and traps but that is my last line of defense. I have predators a plenty, but keep the at bay without killing them.

You can't keep your neighbor from feeding the raccoons, but you can keep them from coming on your property and getting your chickens.

Here's my predator gang. I get pics of most of them 1-2 times a week.













And here are my defenses!

Wow ! Wish I lived there.

 

[Little Fuzzy]

Lol if you feed and gather rabid animals for pets, I'm glad I'm not your neighbor too

Wow! I was concerned for the lady and suggested a call to do a welfare check, and you think that's bad?

Wow, just. Wow

* oh, it was the shooting comment.... Why pick on me lol, half this thread would shoot the buggers anyway, ESPECIALLY since I'm a property owner, and yep, I will shoot and kill ANY predator that threatens my livelihood. I live in CO, too, so I can shoot a PERSON threatening my livestock as well.... To each their own

First of all, I'm sorry I upset you with my joking comment, I guess it was inappropriate for your situation. Second-I don't feed wild animals and am against that too, Third I'm a tree hugger but a common sense tree hugger. I shoot my rats! Am not against shooting other predators and against trap and release. I just think neighbors should try to be Neighbors not informers. Try going over with a plate of cookies and talking about the problem your having and check out her house yourself before you have the authorities involved. That makes for future bad relationships that can escalate into all kinds of bad behaviors on both sides. Remember your going to be old someday also, I don't think you would want the police to be called out to inspect your house on some noisy neighbors whim. As a retired authority I had to go to many of these types of calls and you cannot just haul someone to the old folks home because they are Horders. Plus it is easy to find out who called the police on you, all you have to do is file a freedom of information act to get the call info. I have seen many a neighbors go into long term battle mode over stupid things. I'm not saying you don't have a valid complaint, I think you do. Just encouraging you try to handle in a Neighborly way first. God Bless. Now I'm done with this thread.

 

[shortgrass]

First of all, I'm sorry I upset you with my joking comment, I guess it was inappropriate for your situation. Second-I don't feed wild animals and am against that too, Third I'm a tree hugger but a common sense tree hugger. I shoot my rats! Am not against shooting other predators and against trap and release. I just think neighbors should try to be Neighbors not informers. Try going over with a plate of cookies and talking about the problem your having and check out her house yourself before you have the authorities involved. That makes for future bad relationships that can escalate into all kinds of bad behaviors on both sides. Remember your going to be old someday also, I don't think you would want the police to be called out to  inspect your house on some noisy neighbors whim. As a retired authority I had to go to many of these types of calls and you cannot just haul someone to the old folks home because they are Horders. Plus it is easy to find out who called the police on you, all you have to do is file a freedom of information act to get the call info. I have seen many a neighbors go into long term battle mode over stupid things. I'm not saying you don't have a valid complaint, I think you do. Just encouraging you try to handle in a Neighborly way first. God Bless. Now I'm done with this thread.

That was an awful lot of assumption right there. And see what happens when we "assume".

I'm already " old" lol

This would be an occasion for a private message after reading the entire thread instead of " assuming" I'm not neighborly or don't know my neighbors. The neighborly thing to do after trying all other attempts is a call to help the poor lady. I never said go over there and kill em all and have the lady arrested. Around these parts, we have a separate department for situations like that, called human services. Oddly enough, they serve humans with resources and aid to help in situations such as this. I'm not the OP, and have no idea what kind of resources they have, and did not inquire whether or not anyone took any cookies over to her or not. I was addressing the issue of the coon overpopulation, which can be a very serious issue. Sorry for not fluffing it up all pretty but the truth can be ugly when one of these cute cuddly things bites your kid or you have to watch your dad euthanize all of his cats because of rabid coons.

I've never even killed one. DH, my folks, and my aunt do that. I'm a terrible shot and don't like to waste ammo, its too expensive

 

[Lilki]

To those saying to talk to the neighbor- we have. In the OP I stated that. I don't want to be a bad neighbor and I don't want to get her in trouble. I do want her to stop. My pets are secure but What she is doing is destroying the native wildlife and spreading disease. I've found dead raccoons on my property and in the creek. If it's happening in our yard it's happening all up and down the creek. This isn't healthy. Even if we shoot them- it's a losing battle if she keeps feeding them. I'm done being the good neighbor. She created a massive problem, in a sensitive area, that some else will have to fix.

Anyway I emailed the wildlife authorities about the laws for dealing with nuisance raccoons, and will go from there.

 

[Folly's place]

Lilki, all the best, and I hope there's a good solution for this miserable situation. I've had good experiences with the DNR here in southern Michigan, and I do hope that your wildlife people will help; feeding raccoons isn't a good idea here, for sure. Mary

 

[shortgrass]

Lilki, all the best, and I hope there's a good solution for this miserable situation.  I've had good experiences with the DNR here in southern Michigan, and I do hope that your wildlife people will help;  feeding raccoons isn't a good idea here, for sure.  Mary

X2

Except the Michigan part, lol

IMO, giving them at least a heads up is a good idea, that way they can track progress and have counts etc... We've always had good response here, too. They really are there to help.

Sorry about the thread getting out of hand, too, @Lilki. I feel I could have paid more attention to what you were saying in your last few posts, but hey, who needs reality TV when you have this kind of entertainment?

Best wishes, do keep all us nosy pests updated lol

 

[Folly's place]

It is very hard to leave Colorado; I've visited often, and it's beautiful! Mary

 

[Flock Master64]

I'd just trap and kill them if they're causing that many problems.

 

[melliston]

What melliston said. I don't know if it is legal or not but that's just crazy.

down here in Florida according to my local Wildlife Commission officer the only way you can take care of raccoons is to trap them shoot them while in the Trap and then dispose of them. it is illegal to trap them and move them while still alive