Sawyer Rob
Super Member
They are a VERY good night time bait, they can easily see it.
I use mini's, a couple leading them in, and more in the back of the trap, they will eat them as they go in the trap.
SR
Killing raccoons (NC)
- Thread starter CMV
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I use mini's, a couple leading them in, and more in the back of the trap, they will eat them as they go in the trap.
SR
Sawyer Rob
Super Member
OP
CMV
Platinum Member
So I've had some success. Just setting up at night and waiting for them to come eat works, but is difficult to distinguish possum, feral cat, fox, etc when real dark. Set out 2 live traps & check daily. 2/3 of the time it's possums, but getting some raccoons that way also. Between the 2, that has gotten the raccoons down from 6-8+ at a time to maybe 1 a night coming by. I haven't killed that many, but have apparently at least scared them off, maybe just temporarily.
What is interesting is what i've learned about possums. I had no idea those things were so docile. A trapped one could care less that the trap is opened or i'm there messing with it. They'll stand up, walk a circle or two, then lay right back down - just like a dog does. Eventually after dark they wander off, but could care less about just sleeping in trap all day even though door is propped open. Will take food out of my hand, will drink if i put a little container of water in the cage, but will not get up and leave
So they're annoying, setting off traps that might otherwise nab a raccoon, but I don't think they're hurting anything. Probably also serve as coyote bait? No idea, but having possums frequent might help attract the coyote that's left to dispatch as well. I only see her on camera about once a week or so and NEVER when i'm set up to hunt. But I thought the coyotes were dealt with, but still seeing one occasionally on camera.
What is interesting is what i've learned about possums. I had no idea those things were so docile. A trapped one could care less that the trap is opened or i'm there messing with it. They'll stand up, walk a circle or two, then lay right back down - just like a dog does. Eventually after dark they wander off, but could care less about just sleeping in trap all day even though door is propped open. Will take food out of my hand, will drink if i put a little container of water in the cage, but will not get up and leave
So they're annoying, setting off traps that might otherwise nab a raccoon, but I don't think they're hurting anything. Probably also serve as coyote bait? No idea, but having possums frequent might help attract the coyote that's left to dispatch as well. I only see her on camera about once a week or so and NEVER when i'm set up to hunt. But I thought the coyotes were dealt with, but still seeing one occasionally on camera.
Billy Bee
Silver Member
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- Lowell Michigan
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- New Holland TC 33, John Deere 3020
I use marshmallows also, great bait for my " Duke's Dog Proof " traps. I also have 2 live traps, and my cats don't monkey with marshmallows. Sometimes the marshmallows are gone in the morning and the live trap is not sprung. Those masked bandits must be reaching in from the back and sides, I even set the trap on top of the marshmallows with the grid pinning them down, and still they managed to get the bait. If they reach into one of the dog proof traps, it will be the last time. Even caught one with both "hands" in the dog proof trap. They are very effective for trap shy 'coons.
Bill
Bill
the old grind
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What SR said. 'Coons might even be good to eat, but they're more work than a coyote likes to go through to prepare, unless desperate.
Many bait robbers are small possums or 'coons that don't weigh enough to trip the pan. ('night latch' your trap triggers or ask me how to) I had a Duke 1112 cleaned out several days in a row like that. I used sticks to narrow the entrance and set a coni 160 across the smaller opening. I got 3 young possum in three days and the adult on the fourth.
Possums are largely benign and are tops for getting rid of ticks. Their very bad aspect is contaminating stored hay by parasites and/or fecal matter. This is a constant threat to horse owners/breeders who MUST keep them away from barns. You guys knew that.
Sawyer Rob
Super Member
Mice steal marshmallows ect.. out of live traps too. Another thing to put in the trap is a ball of alum. foil about as big as a jaw breaker...
SR
SR
Billy Bee
Silver Member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2014
- Messages
- 216
- Location
- Lowell Michigan
- Tractor
- New Holland TC 33, John Deere 3020
OLD GRIND: I've got the live traps set with pretty much a hair trigger, if a red squirrel got on the pan, it would trip. I use Crisco to lube the mechanism so it doesn't smell like petroleum. I shoot the possums because they get in the garage and get into the cat food. I shot 7 possums one summer inside the garage. I used .22 CB shorts.
My barn cats are actually garage cats, so we leave a door open so they can come and go. The cat food is in sealed containers, but sometimes there is food left over in their dish that the possums get into
SR: Do you put the bait inside the foil? Not sure what to do with the foil, but I would like to foil some 'coons. You are probably right about the mice, I didn't think about them.
My barn cats are actually garage cats, so we leave a door open so they can come and go. The cat food is in sealed containers, but sometimes there is food left over in their dish that the possums get into
SR: Do you put the bait inside the foil? Not sure what to do with the foil, but I would like to foil some 'coons. You are probably right about the mice, I didn't think about them.
Sawyer Rob
Super Member
No bait in the foil, coons like shiny stuff, and they can easily see that shiny foil at night.
I change up my baits, it seems different things work better at different times of the year...
SR
I change up my baits, it seems different things work better at different times of the year...
SR
Semper Paratus
Silver Member
So I've had some success. Just setting up at night and waiting for them to come eat works, but is difficult to distinguish possum, feral cat, fox, etc when real dark. Set out 2 live traps & check daily. 2/3 of the time it's possums, but getting some raccoons that way also. Between the 2, that has gotten the raccoons down from 6-8+ at a time to maybe 1 a night coming by. I haven't killed that many, but have apparently at least scared them off, maybe just temporarily.
What is interesting is what i've learned about possums. I had no idea those things were so docile. A trapped one could care less that the trap is opened or i'm there messing with it. They'll stand up, walk a circle or two, then lay right back down - just like a dog does. Eventually after dark they wander off, but could care less about just sleeping in trap all day even though door is propped open. Will take food out of my hand, will drink if i put a little container of water in the cage, but will not get up and leave
So they're annoying, setting off traps that might otherwise nab a raccoon, but I don't think they're hurting anything. Probably also serve as coyote bait? No idea, but having possums frequent might help attract the coyote that's left to dispatch as well. I only see her on camera about once a week or so and NEVER when i'm set up to hunt. But I thought the coyotes were dealt with, but still seeing one occasionally on camera.
Possums are really bad news if you have horses. Their scat carries equine protozoal myeloencephalitis, and lepto...So bad news for your ponies
