Silkie gone. Nothing but feathers :( More raccoons, more deaths.

[AHappychick]

I choose to drown mine since it was too big to shoot with my pellet gun.

I tied a rope to the trap before I set it and once the coon was caught I dragged it to my pond, conducted my tresspassing and murder trial, and the jury choose death by drowning, so I tossed the whole trap in the pond it went to the bottom and the coon drowned quickly. It still managed to kill a koi fish somehow as its last act of aggression. I then took it oput, dragged it to the side of my road and called the town and asked if someone could pick up the dead coon that I "assumed " had been hit by a car

 

[phoenixbantam]

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Omg the trespassing and murder trial thing cracked me up. Ughhh I wish I had thought to tie a rope to the trap because now there's a nasty, hissing, huge coon in it.

Look what I caught! We used chinese food pu-pu platter as bait!

I guess I am going to have to either shoot is or drown it. I'm not really sure what to do with it now. lol. It is kinda cute it an ugly sort of way and I kinda feel bad for it, but then when I remember the anger and rage I felt looking for my sweet adorable blue silkie... her life must be avenged!

I also have 7 chihuahuas and the raccoon is bigger than even my biggest one, I shudder to think what could have happened to my babies. Also there was an Americana chicken outside all night that I could not find to bring inside and I was relieved to find her this morning unharmed.

Ugh now to take care of the coon. I want to make a Davy Crockett hat out of it. lol

 

[Goat_Walker]

Shooting is the most humane. but then again drowning gives food to the fishies

Id say shoot it though, I dont like to think of an animal suffering

 

[CMV]

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[lux_interior]

Yeah, I would shoot it over drowning it... that does seem cruel. maybe just drive it really far away and let it out somewhere??

 

[Boyd]

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oh no

I almost shot someone over this a week ago, thought they were breaking into one of our cars, but they were just dumping a raccoon. Sort of made them jump when I put the animal down, but then again they never saw me walk up with my .45 I strongly discourage dumping.

 

[SMan]

I wouldn't drive and release as it is illegal in a lot of places to relocate wild animals.

 

[codybird]

Call county or city animal control and ask them if they would pick it up. Tell them it was aggressive and kills chickens.

Of course they might pick it up then drive down the road and let it go.

 

[Wolf-Kim]

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oh no

I almost shot someone over this a week ago, thought they were breaking into one of our cars, but they were just dumping a raccoon. Sort of made them jump when I put the animal down, but then again they never saw me walk up with my .45 I strongly discourage dumping.

Bet it gave them a wake up call. Good for you.

I think that people would think twice if the same thing happened to ANY animal they dumped "out in the country". I bet the rate of dumped dogs and cats would drop to zero, if every time someone went to let an animal go a man with a .45 walked up and shot it. Sadly, it's what happens to many of those abandoned dogs anyway.

-Kim

 

[kipper]

I've seen this method used with possums in an urban setting:

Fill a large recycling or trash can ( the type the city provided with a hinged lid), plug any holes around the handle with silicone to prevent leaking. Fill with water and put the trap in, close lid.

I know it sounds cruel, but if you are overrun by vermin or they are killing your animals, it is a choice. I am not fond of raccoons. They can be downright mean, I've know of people who have been attacked for walking past them, unaware they were even there. They harbor disease and thrive in any environment. Yes, they are cute and fun to watch. But if they don't kill your flock they may well make them ill.

I know I sound harsh, but we have so many preditors in our area (bears, coyote, fox, eagles, raccoon, weasels, skunks, etc.) I have just made the survival of may animals a priority. We haven't had to kill any, we just made the toughest chicken house and run we could build.

Best of luck and I am truly sorry for your loss.