raccoons during the day

[bobbi-j]

If a coon is out during the day, it has rabies so be careful.

This is not necessarily true. Raccoons are opportunists. They will eat when they're hungry, day or night.

 

[nbenevento]

Hi All. First post.

We just started caring for some 15 week old BO's. The first night we had them in their coop, my son set a live animal trap near the coop/run using cat food for bait. We caught a raccoon the first two nights - they were removed from the property. He has since set the trap each night (it has been 3 weeks) and we have not caught anything else. BUT - it is a comforting measure of security.

The coop is quite secure. 

Here is a similar trap we are using: http://www.globalindustrial.com/p/o...mpaignId=T9F&gclid=CMqjpcjLgLkCFYSf4AodZ0cAUw

I think wild animals will take the path of least resistance - easy to get cat food vs. chasing live prey.

Here's hoping.

Here's the problem with that trap...they don't kill the raccoon and apparently you aren't either. If you release it within a few miles of your home, it will find its way back. This time thou, it has learned about that trap and won't get caught in it again. You have also made the raccoon a problem for someone else to deal with which isn't really fair to them especially considering that they won't be able to trap it in that type of trap either. The best traps for raccoons that I have ever used by far is the hand trap. It won't catch anything else except raccoons. When they are trapped, you walk up to it and shoot it or kill it in some other manner. I know lots of people don't like to kill wildlife but sometimes it is a choice between the raccoon and whatever it is you are trying to protect.

 

[mithious]

X2

 

[barra060]

Personally don't see much of a problem with ridding the world of a few rabies-infested raccoons (worse than possums). My chickens are on my land, which has no electricity, but is only a couple miles from my house. Before I was able to bring them out there, my wife insisted I make the run predator proof. Being the tinkerer I am and belief I'm always broke (dad grew up during the depression so I inherited a figure it out with little money attitude), I made a solar and battery powered electric fence for around 100 bucks total. The actual shocker was a bit of an overkill, but I couldn't find a small 12V powered one. I bought the parts from eBay and amazon (10W solar panel, charge controller, and 12v sealed lead acid battery for about 15 each, and the shocker for 45). Have not had a problem in the two months its been running. Even if it rained for several days, the battery will keep it going. I did finally add a switch that's accessible from the outside to be able to shut it off when the kids come out.