Raccoon War

[Jstpssng]

Another alternative for those who can't shoot them is to cover the trap with a tarp and run a hose from your truck exhaust into it.

 

[MickeyDBC]

Check with your local game warden and see if the coons in your area are known to carry diseases and if not they can be pretty good eating (just don't fess up to it). Best way is to brine them overnight and then slow cook them in a smoker with a pan of cheap beer underneath them to help keep them moist. Season to taste (cajun seasoning is good on them with a few added peppers) and make sure to get up to at least 180 degrees. We ate quite a few in college at the end of the semesters when being broke and grilling collided.

 

[Looking4new]

Check with your local game warden and see if the coons in your area are known to carry diseases and if not they can be pretty good eating (just don't fess up to it). Best way is to brine them overnight and then slow cook them in a smoker with a pan of cheap beer underneath them to help keep them moist. Season to taste (cajun seasoning is good on them with a few added peppers) and make sure to get up to at least 180 degrees. We ate quite a few in college at the end of the semesters when being broke and grilling collided.

It is amazing what hungry people will eat. The same goes for what smokers will smoke if they don't have enough money for tobacco.

 

[tjkubota93]

On Monday morning heard big BOOM outside that sounded like a shotgun then electric went off. Thought the transform had blown up, checked it out with binoculars and saw a Raccoon head on top of transformer. Thought he was dead but checked again 1/2 hour later and he was gone! Those dudes are like mini Grizzly bears, tough as nails! Anyway that was the straw that broke the camel's back. They have been raiding our bird feeders and digging holes all over the yard so I have declared war on them. Today caught one in a live trap and released him 4 miles from home. Hopefully he won't find his way back. Amazing how fast they can run with those short legs, no human can run that fast!

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The shotgun sound was a fuse blowing. If the transformer blew, it would have made a BIG BOOM.

I don't have anything to compare it to, but transformers, oil switches and capacitors are loud! They usually spew oil too.

I've not seen an animal get into substation level equipment, just the aftermath.

 

[two_bit_score]

Was it singing "you can't catch me I'm the Gingerbread man? "

:drink:

 

[PhysAssist]

Our coon and possum problems were solved when we quit leaving cat food on the back porch at night. Now our cats get to come inside to eat.

Have seen a small fox in the neighborhood recently though. Last time I saw it was when it ran acros the street in front of my car about two blocks from my house. It had something white in itç—´ mouth and was running fast.


TBS

We have taken to pulling our cat's food bowls in at night, and for a while we were also leaving the bright LED pot-lights in the porch ceiling on, and within about a week of that, they seem to have stopped coming by.

Before they did though, they DEstroyed a gallon jug of blue pond dye we had left down there for convenience.

Oh, and they somehow carried a 4-5" diameter ceramic dessert bowl from off the table they were on for the cat [actually, so SWMBO doesn't have to bend down to feed the cat] down to our pond about 50-60 yards away- w/o breaking it like they did 4 or 5 others by knocking them off the table onto the porch floor.

 

[PhysAssist]

The shotgun sound was a fuse blowing. If the transformer blew, it would have made a BIG BOOM.

I don't have anything to compare it to, but transformers, oil switches and capacitors are loud! They usually spew oil too.

I've not seen an animal get into substation level equipment, just the aftermath.

We had one blow just down the street from our family's 4th of July picnic- it was the loudest/deepest boom I ever heard- and you forgot to mention the sizzling actinic light and showers of sparks- we were amazed at how long it lasted.

 

[rekees4300]

The shotgun sound was a fuse blowing. If the transformer blew, it would have made a BIG BOOM.

I don't have anything to compare it to, but transformers, oil switches and capacitors are loud! They usually spew oil too.

I've not seen an animal get into substation level equipment, just the aftermath.

Yes the fuse is what the repairman said and he didn't even need a lift to replace it. Used a fiberglass extension pole. Took steady hands but no problem for him. The raccoon hasn't been back up there far as I know. Guess he learned his lesson the hard way?

 

[mapper]

Friend of mine has a lot of cherry trees on his property, he is also surrounded by neighborhoods. Coons come around when the cherries are ripe and will do a pretty good job stripping the trees. Since they are out at night he uses a headlamp and a 22 rifle with shorts, when you hear one rustling around up in the trees look around until you see their eyes reflecting the light. Then it's pop! Thunk!

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Seems distemper is rampant in our coon population...dogs HAVE to be kept up on their shots.