What to do about the raccoons?

[birdlover2]

This thread has gone on a long time, lol, has the poster already fixed their problem? As to whether killing predators is exceptable, I don't believe there is anything morally wrong with it, but I wouldn't have the heart to do it I don't think....I was never aware that traping and relocating would simply give the problem to other people until now, and it's certainly something to think about.

 

[Flyinbolts]

Had a raccoon kill 4/7 baby ducks a year ago. Was sick for the whole day after seeing the slaughter. The raccoon didn't even eat anything. Never again.

I'll let a lot of stuff live because I'm not stone hearted but raccoons are on the gone if I see them list along with skunks.

I sat out with the 22 and broadsword and took care of my raccoon problem the next night and have fortified the area for my ducks since and will not hesitate to protect my flock.

Also if you want to catch one for some reason all you do is cover the sides so they can't reach in. You need an oversized live trap.

 

[gpresdo]

Relocating in my county is only giving my problem to my neighbor. Why would anyone want to rescue a racoon? They look cute and cuddly but they are a viscous animal that can't be domesticated. What's worse, they know they look cute and cuddly.

In the city, I had a neighbor who's daughter bought an supposedly domesticated raccoon for a pet that had been defanged and declawed. That raccoon. when it became an adult, completely stripped the walls bare of any drywall and was not safe for anyone to be around, even without claws and fangs. So, rescuing them means collecting raccoons until you have so many, you can't afford to feed them. I would not expect to find any domesticated animal shelter that would take a raccoon.

You can domesticate (?) them as long as you do not confine them. LOL

 

[gpresdo]

Relocation for me is an act of futility where I live. I have a forrest full of them. All I can do is stand my ground.

I feel bad when I have to kill something. Where I live is farm and livestock country. The local farmers around here were born and raised to hunt for food and protect their livestock. Some of my local friends were raised on hunting racoon to put meet on the table. I moved here from L.A. and while I am a carnivour, I don't have that bread into me. But, I will do what I have to do.

You are making no more head way on the numbers by killing them than taking them down the road in open...maybe state/federal.... land and releasing them. While we have a basis for killing them it should be done very selectively.
We must prepare the secure housing for our birds realizing the following:
They are sly
They are excellent parental providers
They are opportunist
They are cunning
They are determined
They can be vicious
They are strong for their size
They are disciplined
They are killers
They are vigilant
They are relatively fearless
They are innovative
They are very creative
They are known to be rabid, often.
They must eat also and do not know that anything is ......off limits
They are nocturnal but, are often seen carousing during the day time.
They DO NOT make good pets ( I tried decades ago and was very sorry for the effort)
They are cute as heck
etc.
As a young boy I and my 1/2 shepherd/1/2 collie dog often ran raccoons in fall and winter. I would never allow him to get near/attack one because they can kill a dog...in a NY heart beat.

While God gives us dominion over His creations dispatching them should be done, rarely.
You get the idea of my thought.

We reside 150+- miles east of you in western Ky. Your problems are our problems alike. (Also, we have had to deal with eastern diamond backs and baby birds).
We have secure fencing and night housing but we also set live traps 2/3 x's a week in our yards at night.
That is our procedure to raise birds in our area with our predator challenges. Our secure /protective methods have saved a number of birds, I am sure.

 

[Flyinbolts]

Anyone who says a raccoon is cute has not seen the devastation of a flock of birds.

 

[esme13]

They are not cute and I am so heart broken of the devastation they can do and not even eat the poor chicken. They just tear things apart and leave them. Ugh for a predator they don’t seem to have the full purpose of being useful in my opinion. I understand predators killing to survive and to me that is justifiable. But when you see something be killed and left there, it’s very sad.

 

[Headhen3]

I don’t understand not wanting to kill something that is killing your chickens. Don’t the chickens have a right to live also? I have trapped and killed 4 racoons and an opossum in the last month. And I know it is a family group because one of the younger ones was hanging around one morning when I went out to let the chickens out. So now I need to make sure I get every single one that knows where my chickens live.
I use box traps and at this time of year I bait with an ear of sweet corn which they can’t resist. In my area it is illegal to relocate.
The opossum I literally speared with a pitchfork as it was eating eggs.
Both species carry nasty diseases and ticks and other nasty things so I show no mercy.
But I can’t think of a worse death for a nice hen than to be eaten alive by a predator so my choice is to eliminate the predator.

 

[BigECart]

I posted earlier that we were in a wait and see mode with our egg thieving raccoon - it would wander through the flock but hadn’t attacked, not even the ones in the nest box. Well, the issue as resolved itself - hadn’t seen it for a week. Today I saw a dead raccoon on the road by our house, so no more missing eggs and the chickens are a little safer.

 

[Flyinbolts]

I posted earlier that we were in a wait and see mode with our egg thieving raccoon - it would wander through the flock but hadn’t attacked, not even the ones in the nest box. Well, the issue as resolved itself - hadn’t seen it for a week. Today I saw a dead raccoon on the road by our house, so no more missing eggs and the chickens are a little safer.

Wait and see when it decided to kill one of your birds.. luckily someone hit it first. Never wait and see with a raccoon.

 

[gpresdo]

Anyone who says a raccoon is cute has not seen the devastation of a flock of birds.

You are right......and I plan not to see such under my management program.
What about yours?