Raccoon attack ! Prevention?

[Karianne]

Hi everyone, I'm feeling very stressed after an event today let me tell you!

Beautiful sunny day out, so I left my older female dog outside as she was dozing on the porch around 2pm. I took my other dogs down into the basement with me while I fixed something as they are not always well behaved. I heard some barking outside and ran upstairs and outside and found my dog fighting with a raccoon just a few feet in front of the porch!

The raccoon went off when I came outside. Any idea if it is likely to come back tonight? Chickens are all locked up now. I have one lock I'm going to improve on the run in the next few days, but they are pretty secure in the coop for now. Much more afraid to let them out now! Any ideas to help? Is trapping a good option? Do they usually live in packs? Thanks!!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

It is very likely to return. Maybe tonight or maybe not for a week. Trapping is definitely an option but when you trap out all those in the area, more will return.
Usually around here, the raccoons wait till dusk to invade. By then I can usually lock up.

 

[Karianne]

It is very likely to return. Maybe tonight or maybe not for a week. Trapping is definitely an option but when you trap out all those in the area, more will return.
Usually around here, the raccoons wait till dusk to invade. By then I can usually lock up.

This is what I'm concerned about. I'm sure the raccoon was there for the chickens and didn't see my dog sleeping? And this was still afternoon time! I really need to get a second lock for my coop door I think, but also still pretty worried about during the day.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

I'm guessing your flock are docile breeds and don't have a rooster.

 

[Karianne]

I'm guessing your flock are docile breeds and don't have a rooster.

Yes, mostly Wyandottes, no rooster unfortunately! I was outside most of the day today and then when I went inside I was banging on the side of the basement window (from inside) and all sorts of noises and talking, I'm shocked that the raccoon was so bold! It definitely would have known I was right there.

 

[TOR]

Raccoons will move in the daylight, but more prone to nighttime. Depends on how hungry they are. They will also move in family packs. Your dog was fighting with it, might be a deterrent for it to come back, maybe.
Possibly live trap it, some places will not let you relocate the animal. You would need check your local ordinance.
Depending on type of lock, raccoons can undo some locks. Raccoons can be very persistent.

 

[Karianne]

Raccoons will move in the daylight, but more prone to nighttime. Depends on how hungry they are. They will also move in family packs. Your dog was fighting with it, might be a deterrent for it to come back, maybe.
Possibly live trap it, some places will not let you relocate the animal. You would need check your local ordinance.
Depending on type of lock, raccoons can undo some locks. Raccoons can be very persistent.

Yeah, I wonder if it was a deterrent or not. It didn't seem very afraid! That thing seemed huge! I'm not sure if it was injured or what. I definitely won't be relocating it if caught.

 

[TOR]

One last note, set up a game camera for night. See if it comes back. If you are free ranging and your dog is not always there you want to lock them up for few days, raccoon will prolly lose interest and move on.
If it large coon prolly a male.

 

[Missyschix13]

This is what I'm concerned about. I'm sure the raccoon was there for the chickens and didn't see my dog sleeping? And this was still afternoon time! I really need to get a second lock for my coop door I think, but also still pretty worried about during the day.

Not sure what type of latch you have on your coop door but I use locking carabiners on both chicken coop doors and my nesting box door. It's a cheap and effective way to lock it. I also have one on my gate. Think 2 step locking. If it requires to motions to open it, you should be good. Raccoons are fairly smart but can't usually do more than one motion to open something. Hope that helps! We didn't have a lock on the access to the nesting boxes but we added one which is pretty simple and secured it with a locking carabiner. I can post pictures if necessary!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Yeah, I wonder if it was a deterrent or not. It didn't seem very afraid! That thing seemed huge! I'm not sure if it was injured or what. I definitely won't be relocating it if caught.

By far the best trap for raccoons is the duke style dog proof leg trap. They are not only more effective than a cage trap but are much cheaper. Just make sure to get the set tool with it.
https://m.flemingtraps.com/dp-coon-traps.html