Raccoons

[svh]

Eliminate with extreme prejudice.

Besides re homing being illegal in many places, it just puts your problems in someone elses lap.

 

[feather13]

We just dealt with this same problem. A very cute, very big raccoon attacked our chickens at 6pm one evening and killed one. I always put them in a predator-proof coop in the evenings, but usually around 8pm. It looked like the hen suffered a lot and this was heartbreaking.

We put out a large no-kill trap baited with cat food. Our local ASPCA will pick up animals caught in live traps. Unfortunately (?), the raccoon was caught, but found its way out of the trap. There was a lot of blood left behind and we suspect it was injured and hasn't come back.

I grew up on a farm, but live in the suburbs now. I don't have issues with wild animals because they're just doing their thing and they are natural parts of healthy ecosystems. It's my responsibility as a chicken owner to keep my pets safe. However, raccoons (especially with babies) become very territorial. If you can, as others suggest, I would contact animal control and see what your options are to rehome them.

 

[Howard E]

Yes I agree. That’s why I’m here asking for advice.

Advice on if you should get rid of them? If living in your home or under your porch....Yes. If your coop isn't up to the task of protecting them.....Yes.

Or advice on how to get rid of them?

If you call a wildlife control expert, 99% of them are going to show up for a job like yours with cage traps (more than one), of which 99% of those traps will not be a Havahart One of those will catch most coons, but the big ones will probably tear up a Havahart and escape. The traps professionals use (Tomahawk, Safeguard, etc........there might be 10 or more brands out there) cost about $90 each before shipping (99% are sold online....) are strong enough to hold any coon going. They will also probably charge you about $50 per coon......so if you are up to the task, you can buy a couple traps and do the deed yourself.....unless you are unable or unwilling to dispatch, in which case, best let them do it.

Catching coons in cages is easy enough, but you can only catch them one at a time. One large step up in effectiveness (in terms of catch rates and speed) .........and difficulty for someone lacking experience....... is the dog proof foot traps. But a half dozen of those will thin the herd PDQ. Assume those to be mandatory dispatch on your part.

 

[Rldad1]

Raccoons are very dangerous even if the kids are cute. They carry rabies without showing any symptoms. If you get bit or scratched you will be looking at a series of rabies shots unless you have them captured so they can be tested. They will kill dogs and Lord knows they can harm children. There are only two kinds of raccoons, those that are dead and those that are far, far away!