The raccoons keep on coming...

[techbsmith]

About 3 weeks ago I posted a thread on dealing with raccoons - since then, I've trapped 2 additional raccoons and last night, had very clear evidence of another in my chicken areas. I have a 55 gal plastic drum that I keep feed in, the lid was off this morning and a small bucket containing meal worms was inside with the lid pulled off and meal worms scattered on top of the feed.

I've now moved traps from the outside perimeter to the inside and will be baiting with meal worms. I will be glad when I've wiped out the raccoon population in my area. I noticed some evidence of them attempting to get into the main run where I have a bunch of 4 month old pullets. Mainly, it looks like tiny hands have tried to pull the hardware mesh away from the door that goes into the coop. This one is constructed of PVC so there are only zip-ties holding the fencing in place. Thus far, it's held up well, but I believe I will be rebuilding the main run with lumber so I can cover the joints/edges with furring strips to make it more difficult to penetrate.

 

[N F C]

Sorry you're having trouble with the raccoons. We were having trouble with them coming in through a cat door where we work...DH found one of the things he's had the most luck with for bait is grape jelly. Maybe give that a try with your traps?

 

[Folly's place]

The young raccoons are out there too right now, and they are never ending! Definitely upgrade your coop, because they are very smart, and very strong. You can't really overbuild, IMO.
Traps set with cans of cat food, with holes punctured and wired to the cage, or marshmallows, or just about any food item will work. Setting two traps at a time is good too.
Mary

 

[techbsmith]

I've successfully used marshmallows and sunflower seeds. I've got multiple traps out right now - I've got a live trap, and then old faithful, my Duke DP Trap. I'll give them credit for being persistent... I've had a good bit of experience with trapping them, just hoping it will end soon.

 

[llombardo]

About 3 weeks ago I posted a thread on dealing with raccoons - since then, I've trapped 2 additional raccoons and last night, had very clear evidence of another in my chicken areas. I have a 55 gal plastic drum that I keep feed in, the lid was off this morning and a small bucket containing meal worms was inside with the lid pulled off and meal worms scattered on top of the feed.

I've now moved traps from the outside perimeter to the inside and will be baiting with meal worms. I will be glad when I've wiped out the raccoon population in my area. I noticed some evidence of them attempting to get into the main run where I have a bunch of 4 month old pullets. Mainly, it looks like tiny hands have tried to pull the hardware mesh away from the door that goes into the coop. This one is constructed of PVC so there are only zip-ties holding the fencing in place. Thus far, it's held up well, but I believe I will be rebuilding the main run with lumber so I can cover the joints/edges with furring strips to make it more difficult to penetrate.

I have a pvc run and I used both zip ties and bolts. It ain't pretty but it's strong.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

About 3 weeks ago I posted a thread on dealing with raccoons - since then, I've trapped 2 additional raccoons and last night, had very clear evidence of another in my chicken areas....

Be advised that raccoons live in groups or colonies and there is no such thing as just one raccoon in any given area. Often your friendly neighborhood raccoon population will den or sleep together and it is a raccoon trait that all raccoons in any given ares will all make use of a common latrine. Often this will be a hollow tree or in more built up areas the crawl space of your home or the attic of your house.

Raccoon control is basically a 24/7/365 operation.

 

[bruceha2000]

I've had a good bit of experience with trapping them, just hoping it will end soon.

I presume they are not physically able to return once they leave the trap.

 

[techbsmith]

I presume they are not physically able to return once they leave the trap.

You presume correctly

 

[techbsmith]

Be advised that raccoons live in groups or colonies and there is no such thing as just one raccoon in any given area. Often your friendly neighborhood raccoon population will den or sleep together and it is a raccoon trait that all raccoons in any given ares will all make use of a common latrine. Often this will be a hollow tree or in more built up areas the crawl space of your home or the attic of your house.

Raccoon control is basically a 24/7/365 operation.

Yeah - I'm fairly familiar with the lil buggers, it's just been a higher than normal season for them it seems this year. I've caught 2 large adult males, an adult female, and several juveniles over the past two months.

Most of my problems started with my neighbor, she's a nice lady who kept birdseed, actually the black oil sunflower seeds in a bucket on her back porch to fill bird feeders. The raccoons were coming up on her porch and eating the seeds. She has since stopped keeping the seed on the porch where it's an easy meal and they have travelled to my back yard to investigate my chicken coops/runs.

You can read all about the neighbor discussion on this thread.

CAUTION - Graphic Photo's of dispatched predator in this thread.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/raccoons-warning-graphic-photos.1255775/

 

[aart]

I will be glad when I've wiped out the raccoon population in my area.

Course you know that will never happen....not completely.