Raccoon Control

[sylviethecochin]

Have you considered getting a dog? Our big (80 pound) lab cross has free run of the property and he's chased off all sorts of things over the years, including a fisher and what we're pretty sure was a bobcat. It would take a while to raise and train a puppy, but if you have space and time, this may be a viable option.

And I fully support the hot wire option, though I further note that if you do get it, you should always unplug it during a storm. When I was a kid, we found pieces of plastic halfway across the barn after our electric fencer exploded (lightning.) Thankfully, the warranty covered it.

 

[Embuck]

We tried a dog a while back, for guarding the garden from coons... didn't really work out.
I'm down with a severe ankle sprain, so I can't really look into fencing options right now. I can barely hobble around to do chores.

 

[Folly's place]

We lost two fence chargers within a week, a few years ago. Lightning will strike twice! Surge protectors are good, but not enough in a direct strike. The lightning will travel along the wire to it's source. Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Sorry about your ankle! The ankle brace does help, and then lotsa time... Mary

 

[Embuck]

Is lightening more attracted to fall trees, or to electric fences?

 

[Embuck]

I meant tall trees.

 

[Embuck]

Sorry about your ankle! The ankle brace does help, and then lotsa time... Mary

Thanks... I was on crutches until I got the brace.

 

[Folly's place]

I do like your 'proof' that Alexander had so many arms. Who knew? Mary

 

[Zoomie]

Is lightening more attracted to fall trees, or to electric fences?

I don't think it's a matter of one or the other, the lightning will strike the object that grounds it and both trees and fences can be struck. There are devices you can put on your fence, however... having had our house struck by lightning and looking in to this... if a downward strike goes to your fencer it's going to wipe it out no matter what you do. You can't really stop a strong downward strike. Lightning rods can help but are limited to the area they can protect.

 

[Howard E]

On lightening damage.......this from Parmak:

"Why are AC models damaged by lightning more often than battery operated models?
Battery operated fence chargers are not connected to AC power lines. Most lightning damage to AC powered fence controllers comes in through the AC power line. The lightning may actually strike a long distance away from the fence charger but is transmitted through the power line and will damage equipment connected to power lines, such as televisions, stereos, fence chargers etc. Parmak AC powered fence chargers are equipped with lightning arresters and a 1 amp fuse (model HS-100 has no external fuses) on the AC line. These lightning arresters help to eliminate much of the lightning damage, however, it is impossible to stop lightning damage 100%. It is recommended whenever possible that the fence charger be disconnected from the AC outlet during electrical storms. We also recommend that you plug your AC fence charger into a surge protector (see information on the Parmak Electro-Gard). The surge protector will give additional protection to your fence charger. If a Parmak fence charger is damaged by lightning, it is covered by warranty and the fence charger can be returned for service.

When using an AC operated fence charger, we recommend using the Parmak Electro-Gard lightning protector for increased protection of your AC fence charger from lightning damage."

This is, in part, why I use 12 volt chargers.

A photo of the area to be protected would help, but almost any place can be surrounded by an effective hot wire setup, which is far and away the best choice. I too have coons galore, plus foxes, coyotes, dogs, etc. To date, no losses at all to predators.

BTW, the shock the animal feels should not be a prick or poke. More like a violent shock to make them believe their teeth just got knocked out. Something they will never risk having happen again. That level of discomfort.