Saturday Duck #1(Luna, may she RIP) completely vanished without a trace, last night our mighty "Darthvader" (who thinks she's a drake) sounded the alarm...upon opening the door, my dog Lola took off beeline to the duck pen and fought off 3 raccoons causing it to let go of Duck #2 "Bolt" who got away with minimal injuries. I should have realized it was a raccoon when the first duck vanished but there was absolutely NO trace, not even a loose feather left behind and I had always heard that raccoons were vicious killers.
Ok, so ducks are locked up at sunset but sunset has been coming EARLIER and EARLIER each night. Is it really ok to lock ducks in from 9am to 4pm when that is the extent of daylight hours?
If so, there is still the issue of my dog who has been getting locked inside at sunset also because she's been scuffling with the raccoons and getting badly injured. Now I realize she's been guarding the ducks (GREAT DOG!) but I'm afraid for her safety as well since she is a Rat Terrier and about the same size as those mean masked bandits.
I've realized the only solution is to get rid of the raccoons...
I know the only way to guarantee the raccoons are gone is to kill them, but I really can't do that. I can't even kill a mouse in a mouse trap. It's so bad I actually spent 50$ on a rat zapper to humanely kill them without having to see them, since I can't stand seeing them in glue traps or regular snap traps and even then I still feel guilty for taking an innocent life. I have issues eating things that can "see" me. It's something I'm working on...but in the meantime how the heck am I supposed to kill a raccoon?!? Especially the baby ones!!
I was thinking of getting electric fencing, but how will that affect the ducks and my dog? At the feed store they have deer repellent which claims to repel raccoons also...has anyone had positive experience with that? I was thinking of some kind of poison food but then I'd have to fear the ducks/ dog or other animals that I actually LIKE eating it.
Darn raccoons, I'd be willing to buy them food and feed them if it meant they would leave my pets alone!!!!!! (but yes, I know that would only make the situation worse) I did also searched the BYC site for "raccoon" and found many creative ways of killing them, I just know I can't do it.
I'd really appreciate some help. Thanks.
Ok, so ducks are locked up at sunset but sunset has been coming EARLIER and EARLIER each night. Is it really ok to lock ducks in from 9am to 4pm when that is the extent of daylight hours?
If so, there is still the issue of my dog who has been getting locked inside at sunset also because she's been scuffling with the raccoons and getting badly injured. Now I realize she's been guarding the ducks (GREAT DOG!) but I'm afraid for her safety as well since she is a Rat Terrier and about the same size as those mean masked bandits.
I've realized the only solution is to get rid of the raccoons...
I know the only way to guarantee the raccoons are gone is to kill them, but I really can't do that. I can't even kill a mouse in a mouse trap. It's so bad I actually spent 50$ on a rat zapper to humanely kill them without having to see them, since I can't stand seeing them in glue traps or regular snap traps and even then I still feel guilty for taking an innocent life. I have issues eating things that can "see" me. It's something I'm working on...but in the meantime how the heck am I supposed to kill a raccoon?!? Especially the baby ones!!
I was thinking of getting electric fencing, but how will that affect the ducks and my dog? At the feed store they have deer repellent which claims to repel raccoons also...has anyone had positive experience with that? I was thinking of some kind of poison food but then I'd have to fear the ducks/ dog or other animals that I actually LIKE eating it.
I'd really appreciate some help. Thanks.