Getting rid of racoons

[Tpondel]

When they were away from the house I could live with it.

But last night three were caught on camera checking out the house perimeter. What’s the best way (other than shooting) to get rid of them permanently?

I’m not against shooting, just would prefer to poison them or something.

Thanks.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I wouldn't want racoons around my home either. Keep in mind that if you use poison, you run the chance of poisoning the food chain...

 

[Carl_NH]

Trap them - they are always on the lookout for food - apples etc, they aren't picky. Then relocate them 5+ miles away across a highway or river etc.

 

[bcjmmac]

I have had lots of success using marshmallows in live traps. Use sticks/something to keep the trap upright as the raccoons will roll it over to get at the bait, which will close the trap before they have to enter.
Occasionally trap skunks but have managed to avoid getting sprayed.
A string/chain tied to a tree also helps when you to pick up the trap

 

[Hay Dude]

12ga

 

[BnRidge]

Here there are woodlots, den trees, cornfields and berries like black cherry and raspberry. Lots of raccoons. Not until we started keeping chickens, sweet corn gardens, putting out bird seed did they start coming around the buildings. One night I heard scratching on the bedroom patio door and decided to get it turned around. Duke dogproof traps were the most successful. Use scent and a marshmallow, maybe some peanut butter. Yum. Catch one and it leaves more scent. I could catch one or two a night for a week till those familiar with the place were gone. They would catch nothing else but racoons. But during sweet corn season the traps attracted none because they were far more focused on the nearby corn gardens. It needs to be done before the corn ripens.

 

[psvfd]

I use the Duke dogproof traps also. I fill them with whole corn as that is why they are at the deer feeders.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

There are ways around it, easy to skirt law, some states prohibit relocation of certain animals.
I don't take the chance of animals coming back when relocating, I terminate and let they coyotes clean up...

 

[bdhsfz6]

Havahart traps:

Havahart® Live Animal Traps

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Just be prepared to deal with the occasional skunk.

 

[part-time-Farmer-NC]

Here in NC it is illegal to live trap a coon and then release it anywhere. They are rabies carriers.

Shooting them is more humane than poison, takes em out quicker. Even if you have to trap them first to get a good shot! I have taken some coons swimming when caught in a live trap, even though they are good swimmers they are not good underwater swimmers...

If you did get one in a live trap, be careful they are some ferocious critters.