Raccoons, what to do?

[MarkV]

Any ideas on how to discourage raccoons from making my deck their home. We have a weekend home that hangs on the side of a mountain. The front edge of the deck is 20’ above ground level. Our local raccoon neighbors have decided that climbing a tree adjacent to the deck and enjoying the view from the deck is the thing to do. We would not mind if they wouldn’t rob the bird feeders and they had better bathroom habits./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

I have thought I might try tacking up some metal flashing around the tree hopefully making it to much bother to climb. Sure would like to hear any other methods anyone has. The wife is not to keen on the “shoot, shovel and shut-up” method.

MarkV

 

[Thomas]

Maybe use a Have a Heart trap..than relocate them near a frog pond.

 

[beenthere]

I don't like the deposits on the deck either, as just shoveling it off doesn't keep them from coming back repeatedly.

I have had success cleaning the area with soap and water after shoveling it off. Then, I use a mild bleach solution to spray the area. This seems to upset their locating the deposit area, and usually lasts the rest of the season. Some apparently use moth balls to discourage repeated deposits and hanging around.

But the live trap and 'disposal' method is the best. Raccoons' dung, when dry, includes a very bad disease that apparently lasts as a tiny spore for years and years. Quite harmful to humans, especially youngsters. If I can find the name and information about it, I will post it. They are not the clean lovable creature we usually read about. Until I rid the area of over 70 raccoons in two years, I could not get a clutch of bluebirds to reach adulthood. Now I get two to three (started a fourth hatch last week but I removed it as thought it was too late to have the young make it through the winter) each summer. But it is getting time to start the trapping routine again.

Good luck.

 

[exeter_acres]

I'll go with Thomas... a Havaheart(sp) trap is the way to go.. after you catch them, through them in the truck and take them at least five miles away and off they go...

Of course a .22 is quicker and saves on gas. You could always tell your wife that it was "relocated!"


Good Luck..
Curtis

 

[Carl_NH]

Mark,

Try cutting a 5 gal pail with a hole to fit around the trunk of the tree, then duct taping/strappng it back together around the trunk about 4-5' off the ground. They can't climb up beyond that usually. A garbage can will do the same thing but bigger around for trees with girth.

Put the can/bucket upside down so they crawl into, but not beyond..

They are after the bird food, so they could also come up the posts on the deck too. Try some cayenne pepper I think in the bird food - doesn't effect the birds but racoons will get the effect.

They are curious and smart fellows, so it might take some time to figure out the best solution.

Carl

 

[Wil]

Racoon is pretty tasty meat, broiled or bar-becued.

 

[MossRoad]

 

[DaveNH]

MarkV writes <font color=blue>The wife is not to keen on the “shoot, shovel and shut-up” method.
</font color=blue>
Most wifes aren't keen on this method, that's why the last part is critical! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[Ozarker]

The proper method for getting rid of critters and keeping wife happy is as follows:

1. Get live trap and capture critter.
2. Gently place trapped critter in the truck.
3. Transport critter to the other side of the county.
4. Release critter.
5. Shoot critter.
6. Tell wife how happy critter looked as you released it into it's new home.

 

[MarkV]

Thanks all! We have managed to get a block of time and are heading to our place today for the long weekend. I will give some of the ideas a try.

Beenthere, interesting information. I didn’t realize that the coon droppings were as bad as they are. I will for sure get more aggressive in my quest to be rid of our furry friends.

Carl, sounds like your garbage can method is about what I was going to do with a couple of section of 12” metal flashing. I think you may be right and they will use a deck post if the tree does not work. The deck does cantilever several feet past the posts but I don’t think that will stop a coon. Cayenne pepper sounds interesting. We will try that.

The live trap or the “shut up” method is most likely what will end up happening. We will see if we can work out an agreement first.

Thanks,
MarkV