Okay what would you do with this pest

[upcdayz]

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Those ideas may work well when you're trying to defend your life, or the life of someone else, but we're talking about a raccoon here, not a terrorist.

 

[dancingsquirrel]

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X 1000

 

[TinyChickenLady]

As the daughter of a trapper I can offer a few (free) solutions.
1. Drown the poor bugger. It's safe and for the most part, humane.
2. Shoot it or cut it's throat.
3. Try to contact a small town pest control (private contact - no animal rescue ties) and they will dispose of it.
4. Drive at least 10 miles away from your home, find some woods and let it go.
My personal opinion is to drown them. That's what my father does. But sometimes he skins them out and sells the skins, which I don't think is an option you want to explore.
Good luck with this pest. They are a pain and I can't stand them no matter how cute they are.

 

[Ole rooster]

You know, I did consider that. I still don't see the issue with it. Would you rather my dog just fight, chew on it till it dies. It's going to die either way. You can be a thoughtful as you care to be, me, anything that comes to do harm to my animals will die by any means available. I still perfer to shot um cuz I can. This party cannot shoot in their area, so water boarding is a good way to rid themselve of the problem. Just do what you have to.

 

[mitchell3006]

Trying to cut a raccoon's throat is a good way to get eaten alive. Those of you recommending it have probably never seen much less held a live raccoon. They are resilient, fast, and have a mouth full of teeth. Their is actually little danger of rabies if they are still eating and thinking clearly enough to get into the coop.
The easiest and most humane way to dispatch the raccoon, assuming shooting is out, is to use ether (automotive starting fluid). It comes in a spray can for under 2 bucks. Set the raccoon and trap in a large barrel with a lid. Spray a rag well soaked and if you are worried spray the barrel full of fumes. It really doesn't take that much. Put the lid on and seal. The raccoon will go to sleep and die peacefully in his sleep.
Don't try to handle a live, wild, scared coon or you will have plenty of war stories.

 

[rungirl]

To those who are recommending drowning the raccoon - do you realize what a horrible death that is?

Child please!

Do you realize what a horrible death a chicken experiences when a raccoon knaws its head off while it's still alive? I have no sympathy for raccoons. Drowning might be a little frightening, so what... I bet it doesn't hurt as much as having your neck chewed off and I bet the poor dead chicken was frightened too.

Lisa​

 

[galanie]

Quote:
Child please!

Do you realize what a horrible death a chicken experiences when a raccoon knaws its head off while it's still alive? I have no sympathy for raccoons. Drowning might be a little frightening, so what... I bet it doesn't hurt as much as having your neck chewed off and I bet the poor dead chicken was frightened too.

Lisa

X2000

Often, as humans, we try to avoid situations which, if we do avoid, means we just aren't dealing with it. Kind of like the ones that dump starved/sick kittens or puppies off the side of the road to "give them a chance" rather than do the responsible thing.

 

[Ridgerunner]

If you cannot shoot it, and if you live where a richochet can hit a kid I do not recommend shooting it unless you really know what you're doing and are willing to live with the consequences, I find drowning the best thing to do. The OP has already clearly stated that animal control will not take it even if he delivers it. The other methods may work if you are careful.

My concern in this is that no human gets hurt. To me, that is more important than the raccoon. I've seen raccoons up real close. I would never attempt to cut its throat or anything like that.

Drowning is a standard way of dispatching an animal if you want the fur. It does not get damaged that way and is a recommended method.

If you do kill it, which I would, you still have to dispose of the body. A lot of times, the trash or garbage hauler will not take it. The options I have are to either bury it or drag it away from human habitation where the vultures, coyotes, and other scavengers will dispose of it. If you do bury it, you probably should put something over it so critters like dogs, raccoons, coyotes, whatever cannot dig it up. I use some wire fencing weighted down by cinder blocks or pavers.

If something is killing your chickens, you need to do what you need to do. I recently had to kill two very large male unneutered dogs that killed several of my chickens and then came back for more. Somebody dropped them off in the country and gave me their problem. I did not enjoy it at all. Matter of fact, I was very upset at having to do it for the dogs sake as much as for the chickens. I just did not see any other choice in those circumstances. I have taken dogs dropped off in this area to the shelter when I have that option. You try to do what you deem is right, but you do what you have to do.

 

[Tiss]

I just dispatched 2 raccoons this morning (2 coons in one live trap!). I'll tell you they are growly, snarly, hissy and full of nasty teeth. There's no way I'd let them out of that cage alive. I don't think drowning is the ideal way to go, but if it were my only option, it sure beats a coop full of bloodied, dead chickens. I'd go that way or bring the whole cage to animal control. I hope you have a pickup truck, b/c the cage sure gets stinky. I wouldn't want it in my car either.

 

[galanie]

When it's in a trap, you can just shoot it by shooting straight down toward the ground. No concern there with hitting others unless you are really so inept with a gun that you shouldn't have one in your hands, even a pellet gun.