Ongoing Raccoon Invasion

[Poultrybonkers]

Knew it. Was a baby opossum I was dealing with. He’s slow cooking now for my chickens for dinner. Lol

 

[DemeterAD9]

Caught a little possum, let it go across the creek this time.

Gave the birds the raccoon for lunch. The turkeys were not impressed but everyone else was into it.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Another day another coon. Big fat female with no babies in sight. Will be cooking this one for the birds as well.

 

[DemeterAD9]

An even bigger female, this one was getting a nice winter coat already. They seem to really be traveling the trail I have this trap on.

 

[DemeterAD9]

I think I’m at 11? Not including this spring.

Small female.

 

[DemeterAD9]

Today is possum #3. I let the first two go (one had babies the other was tiny) but this one didn’t get a free ride across the creek like the others. Turkeys were not impressed.

 

[UncleDougsChickens]

I find the best raccoon deterrent is a .22 LR. They can't come back if they're 6 feet under. Keep up the good work defending your flock!

 

[DemeterAD9]

I forgot to update, caught a medium female on Friday. Next one I catch may get cooked as it’s been a couple weeks since their last protein day

I find the best raccoon deterrent is a .22 LR. They can't come back if they're 6 feet under. Keep up the good work defending your flock!

Yes I agree that a more permanent solution via execution is the best option in my situation. I used to use the .22 LR but I think .22 pellets are a bit cheaper, that and it seems I’ll never use that pellet gun otherwise. Should start hunting squirrels with it, there are plenty around.

 

[DemeterAD9]

It's been uneventful for a few weeks now, we had a stretch of rainy cold weather that turned the cat food in the traps into goop. I pulled 4 traps and left 3 out with fresh bait. Noticed one trap was pulled out of the dirt and set off but nothing was in it and no obvious catch circle/disturbance of the soil.

With the weather looking to be set in stone for a cool fall I figured the coons would be moving more. Maybe I've cleared out the main local population and it's just a matter of time before some new arrivals come around looking for food. Their hides should be getting prime by now, thinking about setting some traps in state land to try and find a big darker or silver one to tan and put on the wall.

 

[DemeterAD9]

First snow of the year and caught a little one, maybe this year’s litter. About the size of a fat cat.