What kind of predator am I looking for?

[scratch'n'peck]

the pic didn't show up, but I am guessing young raccoon since you say the culprit is cute.

 

[lablover71]

 

[lablover71]

It's been a busy week. I have three raccoons for my effort. This morning I had a late comer that was caught after I opened up the coops at 6:30AM. Thankfully it went for the bait in the cage trap before it went for the chicks or chickens. On this last release this afternoon I probably had the trap door open about 2-3 inches and it got stuck. This young very small raccoon got so flat and slipped out with no problem before I could get the door catch up and open the door wider. It was amazing to see with my own eyes and I wonder if this wasn't the culprit that got in the coop earlier this week without leaving any sign of entry and killed my setting hen but didn't touch my Rooster.

 

[Heidisgran]

that's how those stupid friggin raccoons are...if ones gone and there is no evidence it's a raccoon!! I sorry about your hen!

 

[aart]

Relocating just a few miles probably won't cut it, you may be recapturing the same animals.
Relocation often just transfers the problem to other peoples livestock....not really very cool.
Relocation is also illegal in some states because of spread of disease, which makes a lot of sense.

 

[lablover71]

This is why I hate posting. I love people who read things and bring their soap boxes. If you do not know what you are talking about I would appreciate if you kept your opinion to yourself and create your own thread of ponderings. I relocated over 5 miles from my home in the middle of the reservoir. It is illegal in some states to relocate. It is also illegal in some areas to kill without a fur bearer permit, crop or livestock damage permit or if the animal is not in season. So we can run up and down the scenarios every which way and come to a different conclusion. I wasn't relocating in a community or park. And i guess these fuys could become a problem for someone else a few miles away but so could any other creature that wants to roam wild a free for miles onto their property. Nobody here asked what the relocation opinions of folks are. Never saw that anywhere on this thread. So back on topic. Since Sunday night I've caught three raccoons (all different- young adult male, female and a very small young male) and this morning I caught a very young red fox pup. I'm pretty sure that mom was hanging out because I saw glowing eyes in the distance this morning when I checked the traps.

 

[aart]

This is why I hate posting. I love people who read things and bring their soap boxes. ....

Then don't post, everyone's entitled to their opinion and I was just expressing mine.

 

[shmccarthy]

Relocating just a few miles probably won't cut it, you may be recapturing the same animals.
Relocation often just transfers the problem to other peoples livestock....not really very cool.
Relocation is also illegal in some states because of spread of disease, which makes a lot of sense.

As harsh the reality of it is, you are correct. Mammals, especially predatory ones, have a very high homing instinct. I know a fox usually has a territory of about 10 square miles and will travel that area easy. Raccoons are not much different.
Unfortunately the raccoon will most likely be back.