Please, don't shoot raccoons....

[Buff Hooligans]

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What? [holding hand to ear...]

 

[Kathryn4629]

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[twentynine]

Smug--- not me.

Lucky--- that's me.

With all the wire, electric fencing, lights, noise makers and everything else I got, I am never fooled into believing I am predator proof.

I will and would shoot anything that is consistantly persistant in trying to get in. So far ( and only so far) so good. Had a few coon tracks up to the wire, they get a dose of the charge and they light out. Got'em on the game camera.

It would not suprise me that the coons wouldn't find a way around my barriers.

 

[ranchhand]

Would someone please answer that telephone????

 

[mikeksfarmer]

Correct for the void, remove the outdoor food. Improve your Enclosures. If your a trapper consider this a boon! Our houses and our practices encourage raccoons. They are proven to be the most benifited native animal in North America due to mankinds practices. More Raccoons are killed on roads in America than any other animal. Your killing one did not bring more. It could be that you took care of the dominate one, and the others were more free to make their presence known. For every one you see there are 3 others in the bushes. In the end its your choice and your land. It is a free country. When I clean the Raccoons out from under my deck the Opossums move in. Why not its a great place for animals that are opprtunist. After the opossums I should be smart and block up all holes. Been lazy the last couple of years. This year I have my trenches dug and wire in place. Prevention first, then kill the affecting animal. Good luck for all it will do.

 

[CityChook]

I'm just wondering (and sorry if this is seen as highjacking....)

... but if you killed a pred and left the body out for a couple of days (gross, I know, but hear me out), would it be frightening enough to other preds that were considering taking up his/her residence and encourage them to move it along? I don't know. I'm just asking.

Seems like "death" is one of those things that most animals still fear...

 

[Stonerowfarm]

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I'm thinking it probably wouldn't matter as so many of the predators are carnivores and opportunistic and would probably just eat it. I would worry that it probably would just attract more predators. I know my chickens mortally wounded a rat and I believe his rat buddies made quick work of him.

As far as predator proofing, I thought I had a tight little set up for my bantams. An enclosed shed, insulated walls, insulated ceiling with a small vent on the sides, about 6" to 8" off the ground. Well, there was a very small space between the floor and the bottom of the door. By small, I mean really small. I left it there stupidily thinking it would allow some ventilation without a draft. Well, long story short in a span of six days I lost two silkies to a rat.

 

[Tala]

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While I agree with you, I don't think "nature" is ever balanced in the city where I live. Once a raccoon learns of my birds, it's toast. Just the way it's got to be, because humans are the only real predators that are ALLOWED to live in the city.
I also build my "coop knox" with raccoons in mind, because I don't want any losses, but ya just never know. So far my only losses have been to TWO LEGGED predators, so I also invest heavily in padlocks. It's a sad world we live in.

 

[geepy]

I have gotten rid of coons that have gone after my chickens. Funny thing is I now have a pet raccoon that is afraid of my birds. Darndest thing I have even seen.

 

[Iowa Roo Mom]

Wow! Quite a few responses....

Fancbrd, the title of this thread was meant as a joke. I know that just because I killed one they didn't multiply.... I know alot of people don't get my sense of humor, but it is what it is. I'm just finishing up my new run- it'll be Fort Knox. 1/2" hardwire cloth all the way around and to the top- which is covered by the panels from the old chain-link dog run. The only thing missing is the skirt at the bottom.

I'm not trying to "eradicate" all the predators

but I don't want them around the house. In the past the coons have damaged the coop, attaked my cat, broken two different bird feeders that my mother gave me- not to mention the 'possum that tangled with Baby D and bit his leg and the skunk that got in the garage a while back.