Raccoon Control

[lazy gardener]

There is a dog proof trap where only a coon (and sometimes a possum or skunk) will put its paw in and get caught. These are great and I use them around town quite often. they pay for themselves very quickly.

Can a cat get caught in this trap? If I bought one of these traps, and it did catch a coon, would it be yelling? I have absolutely no issues about dispatching a coon, but would not want one yelling to upset the neighbors.

OK, now that makes more sense.

My meter says it's putting out 10 jewels, but yes it felt like a flick or pinch that I described earlier to my hand. I didn't take my shoes off though, I might have to go try it!

Good to know, thanks for sharing.

Yeah, you gotta try it with a bare toe! I'm of the theory that it's a good idea to know what I'm dealing with, and as long as it's not harmful, I'm happy to test it out. That way, if my dog or one of my grand kids got close and personal with the fence, I'd know what she was dealing with!

However, if you have cardiac issues, or a pace maker, I suggest you not try this at home.

 

[Molpet]

It's been touched on here, but I use portable electronet from premier 1 with a 1 joule solar charger. It's been fairly successful at keeping critters away from the chickens. On my portable shelters I run hot wires every three inches, starting 3" off the ground to discourage the little buggers.

I LOVED my net and solar charger.. until the sun dropped lower in the begining of oct.... I'm at the bottom of hills and woods.. can't get enough sun for a charge... maybe when the leaves drop... I have to bring it up and charge it w/120v adaptor.. holds a charge about 4 days on the 3 nets... walnuts keep falling and touching the net draining it too.

 

[rjohns39]

I LOVED my net and solar charger.. until the sun dropped lower in the begining of oct.... I'm at the bottom of hills and woods.. can't get enough sun for a charge... maybe when the leaves drop... I have to bring it up and charge it w/120v adaptor.. holds a charge about 4 days on the 3 nets... walnuts keep falling and touching the net draining it too.

We had a day with probably 5" of rain, and mud got tangled up in the net. Battery was totally dead when I went out and checked it, good news is the critters were already afraid of it. I have extra batteries and keep them charged up and in the barn for such occasions, after that incident.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Yeah, you gotta try it with a bare toe! I'm of the theory that it's a good idea to know what I'm dealing with, and as long as it's not harmful, I'm happy to test it out.

Yes, I feel the same way. That is why I already tried it... but I didn't realize my shoes were making a difference. Now I'm sceered! Just kidding, maybe I will try it today.

 

[Molpet]

I use the back of my hand... the palm will close on the wire when shocked... as a kid it seemed like forever before the pulse stopped lol... fencer with a weed burner so stronger.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I use the back of my hand... the palm will close on the wire when shocked... as a kid it seemed like forever before the pulse stopped lol... fencer with a weed burner so stronger.

What's a weed burner?

 

[Molpet]

What's a weed burner?

some of the fencers in the 1960's had the power to literally burn the weeds that grew up into them... when they seen a heavy load they would increase the on time to burn the weed.. or what ever was there... prone to starting fires in dry areas...

 

[Mr Pink]

Dog proofs are awesome easy to set and extremely effective

 

[Howard E]

The dog proof traps come in two types. The Duke shown above (and most others) have a one way trigger. Coon reaches to the bottom, grabs the bait (dry cat food) and pulls it out. Pulling it out trips the trigger to nab him. What makes it dog and cat proof it it requires a grasping hand to grab the bait to pull it out. Dogs and cats have paws, so can't grasp. About the only varmints traps with one way triggers catch are coons, possums and maybe skunks.

Second type of trap has the push/pull trigger. It will go off pushing or pulling, so dogs and cats can set it off, as can a fox, coyote or anything else that gets it's paw in. Technically, these are not dog proof. BTW, some also say they have seen dogs set these off with their tongue, trying to lap the last of the cat food out of them. Ouch.

A caught coon will chatter and chirp and maybe squall, but it won't wake the neighbors.

This is one of my favorite videos on setting and using these traps to nab coons, and why you want to use them vs. a live trap:

 

[Molpet]

glad to know release is possible w/the dog proof ... I bet they don't go back in one though
I would be wearing heavy gloves and jacket.. I have had a coon climb up the pitch fork when I was trying to separate the dog from one.