Raccoon out in the day and in my willow tree

[saritastar]

I thought they were nocturnal! It was at about 8 this morning. We threw rocks at it and sprayed it with a hose. I left for 20 min. and came back and it was gone.

I just built a chicken tractor (for day use only) and used chicken wire. I figured it was okay since it's just daytime use, but now, the raccoon has found a new hangout.

, right over the tractor.

This was a bad idea, wasn't it (chicken wire instead of hardware cloth). Crap. The chicks need to be out during the day and safe. Would a raccoon really go for them in broad daylight? (they don't usually get put out until about 9:30)

 

[vstoltzfus]

I had a raccoon chase my chickens around my yard in broad daylight. We treed him, and then my son bonked him in the head with a rock. The raccoon fell out of the tree screaming, and then high-tailed it off our property. I asked a Naturalist about it, and he said the possibilities were that it was rabid (which he didn't think it was because of the way it was acting) or a juvenile. But I have seen other raccoons out in daylight. Raccoons can get through chicken wire, so you may want to reinforce your tractor. Good luck.

 

[CityChook]

While not frequent, I've seen daytime raccoon action in the spring when they had pups to feed. They are very bold and persistent. Your chickens are an easy target. Unfortunately, the chicken wire will not keep the baddies out, but it sounds like you already know that. And realize that when you see one coon, there are probably 10 more that you don't see. Wishing you good luck -

BTW, I grew up in CdA. My folks are still there. So beautiful.

 

[archerobx]

When I see a nocternal varmint out during daylight I also figure its sick. But this time of year they may also have pups and she needs to eat.

 

[rancher hicks]

We used to have some that slept in the top of a dead tree. We could see them up there. I sprayed them with the hose. If you see them walking around in the day, suspect a sick or rabid animal.

 

[aprophet]

most of the grocery stores here have dumpsters the coons feast in them with trucks arriving all hours of the night and day the coons cannot "get on a schedule" like they can when you go to sleep for the night it is not uncommon to see them here in the daytime fairly frequently I will see 5-10 coon a week ( during daylight hours 6 am -7 pm) and think nothing of it

 

[chickensioux]

Quote:
We trapped one during the day, it was acting strange, it was diagnosed with distemper.

 

[ColbyNTX]

You should have been throwing lead at it! It will be back and find a way into your tractor and you will be kicking yourself. It is not normal to be out in daylight. Like the others said, it more than likely needed to feed young. Here in Texas, we have to suspect rabies on a sick coon in the daylight but it is usually distemper. If you have any puppies or unvaccinated dogs, it will spread and more than likely kill them. It didn't sound like your coon was sick. Rabid or distemper would not have left.

 

[Dogfish]

SHoot it. Coons out in the daylight are not always sick, you could just have lucked out in seeing him. A .22LR would do the job.

 

[aprophet]

Quote:
most times when coon have distemper they seem drunk it looks like they cannot balance themselves , your last seven words say it all