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jtamlin
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# Posted: 26 Sep 2017 16:10
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I have several "cabin" cats who provide a necessary mice elimination service. The cats are well cared for, lack nothing and up until now I have maintained an outside feeding station for them. This last weekend it was raided by a raccoon, as evidenced by the scat left behind at the scene of the crime. I am not going to provide processed cat food to such a rude visitor. Any "elimination" of said rude guest must take into account that I do not want to harm the cats. I am going to try live trapping this weekend. I don't like poison as it is dangerous and non discriminatory. I don't mind shooting said rude guest but I am sure the crime took place in the late night hours. Any thoughts/suggestions?
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95XL883
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# Posted: 26 Sep 2017 17:08
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A couple of thoughts. First, check your local game laws before trapping/shooting. You want to know what you may be getting into. I have a raccoon problem on my ground. Unfortunately, I am only allowed to trap or hunt them during furbearer season. The bad part for me is that coincides with deer season so the pests get a pass.
If you look at trapping, there is something called a dog-proof trap. Basically the raccoon reaches inside to grab the bait and their paw is held until you release them. The beauty of the trap is that it supposedly only works on raccoons. I haven't tried it as I'm not on site often enough to trap but knowledgeable, experienced trappers recommended it highly.
If the raccoons can get to the feeder, they will clean you out. When the could get to my deer feeder, I was going through 200 lbs of corn a week. Now that I have it mostly raccoon proof, I'm going through about 75 pounds a week.
Good luck. They are nasty pests.
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Just
Member
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# Posted: 26 Sep 2017 18:02
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Live trap them and deport them to another county. or livetrap and wash the cage for about 10.min. in deep water . I like a raw egge in a tin can at the back of the trap for bait.
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Salty Craig
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# Posted: 26 Sep 2017 21:22
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I see them right at dark. They don't sleep in. Also, they are slow. Keep a bright light and an accurate gun handy. Enjoy a beer or 6 while you wait. Next winter, wear your coonskin hat with pride. It will serve as an example to the others.
Yer buddy Salty!
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moneypitfeeder
Member
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# Posted: 26 Sep 2017 22:56
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Honestly, you would do better to focus on mouse-proofing your cabin, and finding appropriate homes for the cats even if it was a barn, then to try to solve this never-ending issue. First it's raccoons, which may have been visiting the feeding stations for much longer than you were aware of. Next it's mice, rats, possums, and any other critter that will eat cat food. If you aren't there all the time to see who is actually eating the food, you really can't be certain that your cats are fed (enough) and that you aren't just donating to the local wildlife. Relocating or killing a raccoon is really just a bandaid; the problem will come back in some form even if it isn't a coon and that just snowballs from there. We have mice at our cabin, but we have gotten the population way in check, I would be glad to share any of the tips we have found to reduce the population if you are interested.
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old243
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# Posted: 29 Sep 2017 20:59
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Try feeding you cats in the morning, just give them what they clean up right away. They will soon learn when meals are served. The food wont be sitting around tempting , critters. The cats will have the day and all of the following night, to concentrate on supplement their diet, if they need extra. I feed my cat once a day, and put any extra food away before dark, saves a hassle.
No harm in live trapping, just don't take them and drop them off , you are just giving your problem to someone else. dry cat food works well as a bait. If you catch a cat that you don't want to dispose of, shake the cage very well before you let it out, you won't catch it the second time, they remember.. I keep a trap set , this time of year as the critters are looking for a place for the winter. Good luck old243
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toyota_mdt_tech
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# Posted: 26 Nov 2017 20:10
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Anytime you feed pets outside and have food available, it will bring in other pest. Best thing to do is feed them inside, if you must do it outside, when they are done, remove the food dish. Pet food brings in mice, rats and about everything else. The raccoons are just opportunist, trapping them and relocating them might be the best option short of killing them. Caution, they are as mean as a badger. You will see when you have one trapped. I mean, real ornery little guys.
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95XL883
Member
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# Posted: 26 Nov 2017 21:13
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"Caution, they are as mean as a badger. You will see when you have one trapped. I mean, real ornery little guys."
That may be an understatement. I've read a recent thread in another forum about a raccoon that was shot, fell 30' out of a tree and still ripped up two big dogs. They are tough and mean.
As Toyota advises, feeding your animals inside will help a lot. Good luck.
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creeky
Member
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# Posted: 27 Nov 2017 21:09
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racoons will beat almost any dog. and if you get one riled it will ...
however. I was out for supper with some friends and we had egg rolls. egg rolls have cabbage. me and cabbage. well.
so about 2 a.m. a huge roaring sound wakes me up. some of you know what that roaring sound was.
through the open window and outside I hear "chitter chitter chitter."
dang. a raccoon. I thinks to meself.
then. another roaring sound. okay. for youze who haven't got it. the roaring sound emanates from beneath my blankets.
outside I hear. 'chitter, chitter, chitter." Except its two raccoons now.
did I mention cabbage already?
anyway. about a half hour goes by. every 5 minutes or so we've got that roaring sound.
and the crowd outside is growing too. chitterchitterchitterchitter
I've never had a problem with raccoons. Oh they've been into the compost. very tidy they are. I had a nice conversation just the other day when heading out at 4 a.m. for what old guys do at 4 a.m. with a raccoon a couple of feet from me. he was pretty mellow. just sort of rambled off. neither one of us was much bothered.
the thing with critters is if you don't hassle them. live and let live is their policy too.
but if yer dog thinks he's tougher than an old male. well he may be in for an unfortunately early departure from his mortal coil.
. good to remember. critters will come back to a place they have found food for years. just in case today is the day.
as for friends who share a similar sense of humour. well. what the heck. i don't mind sharin'.
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Jebediah
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# Posted: 11 Aug 2018 11:18 - Edited by: Jebediah
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This is an old thread; but still useful advice; Its pretty simple use a live trap, with a wooden box extension on it with a door secured with a gate hook.. only the racoon will be able to figure out how to open the door....
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neb
Member
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# Posted: 11 Aug 2018 16:55
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There is trap called Dog Proof or Z traps for catching the mask bandits. They work very well and can use around critters you call pets.
This trap will only catch raccoons so no worry of catching a skunk. You bait then your chances of catching a skunk is very high not with the Z trap.
Check the laws firsts.
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PeterMurphy
Member
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# Posted: 8 Dec 2018 08:09
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Very correct said. It is important to check on the law first. The professionals will do it better.
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orangetom1999
Member
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# Posted: 10 Dec 2018 11:49 - Edited by: orangetom1999
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I have a pet door on my garage and from time to time raccoons enter and try to set up a nest.
They also, like many here, go for the dried catfood...even the wet canned cat food when I put it out...
I have to use good judgment when putting out the cat food and not in huge quantities to last all day and night or it will draw raccoons.
They are most notably active at night.
They can become quite a pestilence and can get into many things.
When I need to ...I use this foot trap baited with a marshmallow.
https://www.amazon.com/Duke-0510-Coon-Trap-Pack/dp/B00P4HHZ0C/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid= 1544460281&sr=8-4&keywords=racoon+foot+traps
The trap is secured with an all thread rod...two washers and two nuts ...then driven into the ground after baiting.
You do not try to cut them loose from this trap as they can be quite vicious when caught.
Marshmallows are a treat for which my cats are not interested.
These raccoons are tough and not at all impressed with my cats. They just move right in.
So far I have not caught a skunk.,..only racoons.
Thanks
Orangetom
Not an Ishmaelite
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