Raccoons near my coop

[yesfantina]

After the recent snow storm we realized that a mamma raccoon decided to have her babies in a hollow tree about 50 feet from my coop. The coop itself is pretty secure, but we're used to free ranging the girls for a couple hours/day. I'm not sure what to do. I had a wildlife removal company out today and they will charge me $600 to trap the mom and then grab the 3 babies and relocate them. But most of what I've read says that the mamma is going to run and the babies will end up orphaned. I'm not sure WHAT to do at this point. I'm scared to let the chickens out now which isn't fair to THEM, but I dont' want to pay 600.00 and then be responsible for 3 baby raccoons being orphans. ugh. Any suggestions?

 

[Millworker26]

I would get another quote. $600 is ridiculous for what should be an easy job. Find in independent trapper rather than a company, they should be cheaper. I hired a guy to remove an incredibly hard to catch red squirrel in the walls of my house. He charged me $100.

 

[SueT]

Buy a live trap for $40 and trap them yourself.....

 

[0wen]

Buy a live trap for $40 and trap them yourself.....

Then a box of .22 ammunition to prevent further havoc on your flock (or someone else's if you move them)..

 

[1ADAM12]

I always have a live trap set. I have caught several opposum and raccoons. Most of the time I relocate them but I have shot some because they look rabid.

 

[aart]

Quote: Ditto Those^^^^

 

[Ronnie2]

Do a search for "Coon Cuffs" to see what they areI have a pair that I set out. They are a lot cheeper than live traps. What I do is set the trap with the drive in the ground pick on the bottom, and trap is chained to a tree nearby. I take a corner of a piece of bread, and swipe some peanut butter on the bread and drop it cafully on the trigger, and then a large marshmallow on top of the pipe. The coon first see's the sweet marshmallow, and then smells the p.n.butter. Viola, alive coon in the morning. Do a search, raccoons don't have feeling in there feet.

 

[JiveTofu]

Do a search, raccoons don't have feeling in there feet.

That is absolutely not true AT ALL. Their feet are the MOST sensitive part of their bodies. The most humane and responsible option is to live trap, then dispatch with a clean shot if relocating isn't an option.
They are not evil, just wild animals trying to get by. They do not deserve needless torture, no animal does.

 

[Ronnie2]

• JiveTofu, I do stand to be corrected, you are correct. I should have never stated such. Raccoons do kill house cats, and I just lost one of two. I can't even say for sure it even was one, but will set game camera out tonight.

 

[bobbi-j]

That is absolutely not true AT ALL. Their feet are the MOST sensitive part of their bodies. The most humane and responsible option is to live trap, then dispatch with a clean shot if relocating isn't an option.
They are not evil, just wild animals trying to get by. They do not deserve needless torture, no animal does.

You were close. The most humane and responsible option is to live trap, then dispatch with a clean shot. Period.

Relocating should never be an option. You risk spreading disease where there hasn't been such disease previously. You are taking a chance on dumping off your problem animal on someone else. You are potentially putting that animal into another animal's territory, maybe causing fighting to the death, possible starvation or dying of dehydration.