Raccoons, continued

I was awaken at 3AM to the sound of kits playing in the backyard. I saw moving shadows so I grabbed my flashlight which revealed three raccoons. I think one was the momma. There was some activity in the honeysuckle tree so that makes four and then one came leaping off the fence, five.

My reaction to this was to grab my cow bell and make them scatter. It worked - for now. Since the temperature has been 50, 60 and 70 degrees, I expect a lot more activity.

I came across this cow bell at the flea market last year and I keep it within reach for this specific reason.
 
It just occurred to me that some people would chuck lethal bait onto the adjoining property. I would not necessarily recommend unless one understood (and accepted) the legal considerations, although others might observe that desperate times call for desperate measures...and raccoons present a significant health risk to humans. Plus, if they ever find entrance into one's home (usually attic) they will cause extensive damage and might not be easy to get rid of.

This site lists some that are widely available in stores for rodent control, and that have been reported to be effective against raccoons.

There are several concerns:
-Secondary poisoning of non-target critters (dogs, cats, maybe children if any are present)
-The bodies may attract scavengers, but those would not linger after the buffet is gone
-Death may take hours or days, and the animal suffers...often in your presence
 
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John Brunner said:
It just occurred to me that some people would chuck lethal bait onto the adjoining property. I would not necessarily recommend unless one understood (and accepted) the legal considerations, although others might observe that desperate times call for desperate measures...and raccoons present a significant health risk to humans. Plus, if they ever find entrance into one's home (usually attic) they will cause extensive damage and might not be easy to get rid of.

This site lists some that are widely available in stores for rodent control, and that have been reported to be effective against raccoons.

There are several concerns:
-Secondary poisoning of non-target critters (dogs, cats, maybe children if any are present)
-The bodies may attract scavengers, but those would not linger after the buffet is gone
-Death may take hours or days, and the animal suffers...often in your presence
Click to expand...

I am to the point that something more effective is necessary. It's five now and no doubt, it's only going to increase. I have been tolerating this situation for too long.
 
Von Jones said:
I was awaken at 3AM to the sound of kits playing in the backyard. I saw moving shadows so I grabbed my flashlight which revealed three raccoons. I think one was the momma. There was some activity in the honeysuckle tree so that makes four and then one came leaping off the fence, five.

My reaction to this was to grab my cow bell and make them scatter. It worked - for now. Since the temperature has been 50, 60 and 70 degrees, I expect a lot more activity.

I came across this cow bell at the flea market last year and I keep it within reach for this specific reason.
Click to expand...
Maybe a can with some pebbles in it thrown at them? Do your neighbors like the raccoon noise or the cow bell better? :ROFLMAO:
 
Mary Stetler said:
Maybe a can with some pebbles in it thrown at them? Do your neighbors like the raccoon noise or the cow bell better? :ROFLMAO:
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Mary, I have tried some crazy tactics and now have graduated to the cow bell. It is very loud and seems to become louder the harder I shake it.

No one has said anything to me about the noise or the cow bell. I'm tickled the neighbors probably think of me as 'that crazy lady with the cow bell.' :ROFLMAO:
 
Have you tried an electric fence? That is the only thing that kept the raccoons out of my pond. Put a grounding wire a few inches from the hot wire on top of the fence. It may take two hot and two ground wires, but a few jolts and they will go to a friendlier yard.
 
John Brunner said:
There are several concerns:
-Secondary poisoning of non-target critters (dogs, cats, maybe children if any are present)
-The bodies may attract scavengers, but those would not linger after the buffet is gone
-Death may take hours or days, and the animal suffers...often in your presence
Click to expand...

I remember having these concerns early on but they have eroded away. Dogs should be on a leash with owner; cats don't care; and I would be cautious on its location where children are concerned.

I have my shovel handy should I find corpses around hopefully before scavengers do.

Good ridden I hope they will be in so much turmoil to make it back here unless they want more. I know it sounds cruel, but hey, do they care?
 
Von Jones said:
I remember having these concerns early on but they have eroded away. Dogs should be on a leash with owner; cats don't care; and I would be cautious on its location where children are concerned.

I have my shovel handy should I find corpses around hopefully before scavengers do.

Good ridden I hope they will be in so much turmoil to make it back here unless they want more. I know it sounds cruel, but hey, do they care?
Click to expand...

War is Hell. And I doubt that domestic critters will be anywhere near the raccoons.

You be careful around the corpses. You would certainly know if any of those critters have rabies. When alive, they display the typical symptoms of aggression and foaming at the mouth. When deceased, not so much. I would use one of those high-shelf reacher things so as to not get close to the body, and keep it in a bucket of strong bleach water when not in use (unless others have a better suggestion for what to put in the bucket.)
51OE4ch1VfL._SL1000_.jpg
 
John Brunner said:
War is Hell. And I doubt that domestic critters will be anywhere near the raccoons.

You be careful around the corpses. You would certainly know if any of those critters have rabies. When alive, they display the typical symptoms of aggression and foaming at the mouth. When deceased, not so much. I would use one of those high-shelf reacher things so as to not get close to the body, and keep it in a bucket of strong bleach water when not in use (unless others have a better suggestion for what to put in the bucket.)
51OE4ch1VfL._SL1000_.jpg
Click to expand...

Thank you John B.
 
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