Raccoons here

[llombardo]

Discharge of a firearm is illegal in my city, its cruel and I hate doing it but I fill a large garbage can full of water and throw the trap in that.

That is consider illegal here, they have that listed as cruel. Once you get the permit you have to bring it in to be euthanized. That is the only way it's legal. So most people just pay a licensed wildlife person to trap and they legally can relocate. In the end it will cost about the same money wise

 

[imnukensc]

Depending on where you live you can't trap and shoot on your own property without a permit. So before everyone starts chiming in about how it's illegal to relocate, it may be illegal to trap and dispose of without having that permit. Unless people think its ok to break the law by killing an animal but not ok to break the law to relocate?

Absolutely true. I wasn't suggesting that anyone break the law, but I was suggesting that they don't break it by trapping and relocating for the reasons so clearly pointed out by others. Follow the law whether local, state, or federal. I don't need a permit to trap and dispose of a 'coon that's raiding my hen house in my neck of the woods.

 

[blackdog043]

Depending on where you live you can't trap and shoot on your own property without a permit. So before everyone starts chiming in about how it's illegal to relocate, it may be illegal to trap and dispose of without having that permit. Unless people think its ok to break the law by killing an animal but not ok to break the law to relocate?

I would trap and shoot because it takes care of the problem, even if it was not permitted.
If you relocate, your giving someone else your problem and relocating to another animals territory, won't end well either. Chances are the relocated animal may die in a fight for it's life, but the person relocating will not know anything about it and not feel bad.

 

[Kris5902]

I’m lucky in that we live on a farm and can kill animals harassing our livestock without concern for legal issues.

Relocation can spread disease, harming other raccoon populations, pets, or other people perhaps even more than killing just the individuals raiding your coops. Most people aren’t able to relocate without dumping the problem on some other person. Even if you can take the animal to the “wilderness”, what are it’s chances for survival there if it’s accustomed to living off people and their chickens?

Check to see what your legally allowed to do, trap and disposal wise... if you aren’t permitted/cannot kill it, don’t trap and release! Please consider hiring a professional pest/animal control company to handle the matter for you. Overall I think that is more humane.

@Compost King is there any way you could more humanely kill them without breaking a law? Maybe drive out to where you can shoot them or something faster/more humane than drowning? They are pests and kill and injure our pets and livestock, and it’s a personal choice which I respect. But at your comment... I just had thoughts of kittens being drowned in a pillowcase.

Sorry, I’m sure you didn’t intend that, but it doesn’t seem a good way to die. (I consider good to be as quickly and painlessly as possible) I understand the issues: captive bolt or decapitation wouldn’t be safe for you... a gun really is the best option, unfortunately not legal in your location though.

 

[Kris5902]

Depending on where you live you can't trap and shoot on your own property without a permit. So before everyone starts chiming in about how it's illegal to relocate, it may be illegal to trap and dispose of without having that permit. Unless people think its ok to break the law by killing an animal but not ok to break the law to relocate?

I really don’t think that breaking laws was ever the question, or the morality of killing the animal. Most people seem to be describing why relocation by the average citizen is a bad decision, as well as being illegal.

By no means do I think that people are advocating breaking the law to take care of the problem.

Always check to see what you’re legally allowed to do before addressing a pest problem! You check to see if you can legally have chickens where you’re living... checking to see how you are allowed to address predators is just as easy! Seems like the laws vary a LOT from state to state, and city to rural areas.

 

[Howard E]

I'm surprised a thread like this can go this long before someone points out the obvious, and that is if the coop is built right, there is no need for the trapping / killing vs. relocating debate. (Mary did point this out.....but was ignored).

If the house/coop is built to be predator proof, it won't matter how many coons/foxes/coyotes/bobcats/skunks/possums et al, are hanging around outside........they all leave with an empty sack (and stomach).

Dream on.

 

[aart]

I'm surprised a thread like this can go this long before someone points out the obvious, and that is if the coop is built right, there is no need for the trapping / killing vs. relocating debate.

I wonder that on almost every single predator thread....
...plus that fact that killing one pred doesn't mean another will not come along.

 

[Kris5902]

Well, every two years or so, when they get bad at lambing time, we will kill a pest raven and hang it up in the lambing area... keeps them away for the rest of the year, and sometimes even two or three years after.

I suppose it depends on the predators though. Raccoons with their little hands, weasels that can fit through tiny holes, and rats that will chew those holes straight through 1” wood! It’s a slow and sad learning experience I think... while the construction of Fort Knox, the chicken edition evolves.

Remember some of these animals also pose a very real danger of disease and violence to our other animals as well, cats and dogs!

 

[Compost King]

I'm surprised a thread like this can go this long before someone points out the obvious, and that is if the coop is built right, there is no need for the trapping / killing vs. relocating debate. (Mary did point this out.....but was ignored).

If the house/coop is built to be predator proof, it won't matter how many coons/foxes/coyotes/bobcats/skunks/possums et al, are hanging around outside........they all leave with an empty sack (and stomach).

View attachment 1623409 Dream on.

Her post got 8 likes, I don't believe it was ignored

 

[itsasmallfarm]

relocating is most likely illegal, and inhumane to the animal.

trap it and dispatch it. cage traps work well, i use duke dog proof coon traps, so far .22 short CB work well same with .22LR (though LR rounds do more damage to the pelt then i like)