Predators Visiting

[MinxFox]

My dad was taking his trail cameras home and I remembered to ask him if I could use one for the peafowl pen. Other than getting lots of photos of the peafowl and even some photos of the white squirrel, I got some photos of a raccoon and an opossum. I haven't seen any predator sign but I kind of had a hunch that something was visiting the pen at night. I don't think they have been stealing eggs. I think they are just eating leftover peafowl food. Soo we are going to trap them with some tuna. I have only had the trail camera up for two nights. I still have it out but moved it to another location. I think I will keep using it for a while now.
The white squirrel darting around.


Opossum


Coon


We are hoping this is the same coon and not a different one.

 

[MinxFox]

I set up the trail camera in a different location and we set up lots of traps yesterday. We didn't catch anything but I did get more photos of the raccoon and the opossum. They seem to only be entering the pen to eat leftover seeds.











Hopefully we will catch them tonight. Since they are only after eating leftover seeds we are going to release them far away in the woods somewhere instead of killing them.

 

[zazouse]

Minx,
i will tell you like i told my parents when i trap coon from their home in town, you should never relocate for many reason .
You can't guarantee that they will not end up in someones back Yard again only now they are trap wise.
The resident coons will try to kill it and it will most likely die from starvation or injuries.
As you know Racoon's are carriers of rabies, this means they can carry it but not show symptoms so if you relocate one like this it could cause other coons to become infected also.
I love animals very very much, i do not trap them unless it is an absolute emergency like in my parents case, they were breaking into the house via the bathroom under the tub, but when i do i put them down, it is never easy
i know what can happen if i just turn them loose on someone else.

Follow your head not your heart on this one Minxfox. just sayen

Nice shots by the way.

PS
I do not know how them critters got in but as you see no matter how many you get rid of there will be more to take their place ALWAYS so i would beef up the pea pen before that happens again, the birds have no way to escape when they are penned so it is just a matter of time for the wrong critter gets in as you learned long ago

 

[KsKingBee]

I keep five traps set all the time. So far since the first of this year I have caught four opossums, five skunks, and 16 coons. I am lucky that we have a local 'Skunk Man' that comes running for the skunks, he sells the scent and pelts. The rest have all had 'swimming lessons' and gone to our 'pet cemetery'. One of the skunks killed five chickens in one night. Some of the skunks and coons have been eating the duck eggs but no other losses for us this year.

 

[Trefoil]

Zaz- coons don't "carry" rabies. They can only pass it on if they have rabies. That said, trying to trap predators is a losing battle and its the peas on the losing end. You really need to make your pens predator proof. 1/2 or even 1/4" hardware cloth is very effective and can be put over your existing wire, up 2' with an electric wire if you are afraid of climbing predators and either down or out 2'. Take care that there are no gaps, like where your door/gate meets the fence. You want to do this before you start losing peas, its easier to convince a predator to move on before they get a free meal than it is after. Once that is done, your peas will be unaffected by whatever you have roaming around at night as long as you don't have large (bears) predators. I don't have bear but have been told that electric wire works on them if done right.

 

[zazouse]

Perhaps i should have worded it differently, i
, i was told growing up by the old timers that they could carry the virious , they called it inaparent but that it can turn into full blown rabies and that is what makes coons such a danger as pets and well cause they are wild animals.
Human or Domestic Animal Exposure:
Veterinarians should discourage ownership of raccoons or any wildlife. No parenteral vaccines are approved for use in raccoons and prior vaccination does not contraindicate euthanasia and testing. Captive raccoons in exhibits may have been incubating rabies when caught and, therefore, should be quarantined for a minimum of 180 days before exhibition.
Google info on rabies.

 

[KsKingBee]

Skunk Man was here just today to pick up a skunk and part of our conversation was on this very subject. He told me that coons do carry rabies without showing any signs of having it. That said I have very well built pens and are as predator proof as I can make them. I can tell you this, in my opinion my trapping and shooting has really made a difference in the population around here.