Racoon problems need help

[Lead ball 54]

hello I need advice, I live in a no shooting neighborhood I have a Racoon family living under or in a storage shed I have set out a live trap and managed to catch my cat so what do you guys suggest thanks.

[callturner]

Keep trapping , SSS.

[jdb]

Where do you live? Use bait that’s sweet, marshmallow, fruit, etc.

[Jingles]

Not saying to break the law if you're worried about it that much but F & T Harvester's has a simple and easy to use trap specifically for raccoons FB1 They are dog and cat proof and are very effective, and 22 shorts are extremely quiet, just have to keep one's yap trap closed if using.

[treeclimber2852]

Honeybuns are like crack to raccoons....and cats don’t like them one bit.   As a plus- possums also like honeybuns.  Trap them and then you decide if they live another day several counties away or if they end up in the landfill. 

[pianoman9701]

Not saying to break the law if you're worried about it that much but F & T Harvester's has a simple and easy to use trap specifically for raccoons FB1 They are dog and cat proof and are very effective, and 22 shorts are extremely quiet, just have to keep one's yap trap closed if using.

A 33-gallon can full of water is also very quiet.

[CP]

Is "no shooting" just firearms?  There are alternatives: archery, air rifle, crossbow ...   

[Norman89]

Ya let's not be recommending illegal dog proofs here as we are fighting just to keep our trapping rights as it is. Cage traps are cheap can get them anywhere use sweet bait and dispatch on sight, do not attempt to relocate as that is illegal as well. Or even post this to the trapping section and get some advice from better coon trappers then me since the season just opened yesterday and the 700 or so of us that trap still are fired up for the season

[Bill W]

Not saying to break the law if you're worried about it that much but F & T Harvester's has a simple and easy to use trap specifically for raccoons FB1 They are dog and cat proof and are very effective, and 22 shorts are extremely quiet, just have to keep one's yap trap closed if using.

A 33-gallon can full of water is also very quiet.

I would favor teaching them how to swim also.

[wadu1]

Ya let's not be recommending illegal dog proofs here as we are fighting just to keep our trapping rights as it is. Cage traps are cheap can get them anywhere use sweet bait and dispatch on sight, do not attempt to relocate as that is illegal as well. Or even post this to the trapping section and get some advice from better coon trappers then me since the season just opened yesterday and the 700 or so of us that trap still are fired up for the season

Thank you Norman89, this needs to addressed legally. 

[Yelper Guy]

I recently read that Racoons don't like loud music, they had them in the attic.
The homeowner contacted an exterminator and they wanted hundreds of dollars to do the job.
A friend suggested putting a boom box up into the attic, and turn up the volume.
He tried it and it worked pretty fast, saving him $$.

[Lead ball 54]

I'm allowed to trap without a trappers license but if I want to release them I have 2 choices 1 I have to release them on the same property they were traped, I live on less than an acre they stand a hood chance of finding there way back lol 2 I can release them on bonified state or private zoological land I think those are my 2 legal options

[brokentrail]

I used to live trap coons when I was a kid and needed one for training pups.  My suggestion is use your live trap, cover the bottom with aluminum foil and use marshmallows as bait.

[idaho guy]

hello I need advice, I live in a no shooting neighborhood I have a Racoon family living under or in a storage shed I have set out a live trap and managed to catch my cat so what do you guys suggest thanks.

 

********** Racoons are usually easy to catch in a live trap
keep using the live trap my experience is you might catch the cat a few times but most of the cats figure it out.I would also set out multiple live traps as many as you can. If you let those coons go they will be really trap wise to the live trap next time. I like to cover the bottom of the trap inside before the pan with light dirt leaves etc they dont seem to like walking on the metal. I also kinda camo up the trap with sticks and stuff laying around the outside of the trap. Just make sure nothing gets in way of pan or the trap door and trigger.   All bait mentioned works- I like sardines best. You can dispatch the coons a lot of ways but I wouldn't release they will just become harder to catch next time. We used to live trap a lot of coons and this seemed most effective. Most important is dont mention catching the cat to the wife    just release and shut up no harm no foul

[idaho guy]

and use the biggest live traps for racoon you can get

[jeffro]

Gamo Whisper Cat
Ear hole
SSS

[LDennis24]

Put the cat in a kennel for a week if you have to. Then live trap. Then take them to the nearest Liberal politicians house at 1:00 a.m. and let them out of the cage just to have a talk, with full intentions of taking them back to your house for release. Make sure you sound like you mean business when having the talk.

[Humptulips]

I'm allowed to trap without a trappers license but if I want to release them I have 2 choices 1 I have to release them on the same property they were traped, I live on less than an acre they stand a hood chance of finding there way back lol 2 I can release them on bonified state or private zoological land I think those are my 2 legal options

That is not correct. Yes you can trap on your own property nuisance wildlife without a license.
You cannot transport live wildlife without a special permit from WDFW and they are not going to give it too you for a raccoon.
The legal options are release it on location or dispatch it on location.

A 33-gallon can full of water is also very quiet.

I'm don't want any one to break the law but I will just say I have subsonic rounds that fired through my 22 rifle are extremely quiet. When fired from a distance of less then 12 inches and pointed downward I have used them at a resort very close to occupied buildings and nobody ever knew until presented the bill.
If swimming lessons are given please do it out of sight and keep it quiet. There have been instances of citations being issued for animal cruelty, a felony, and although they were eventually dropped you don't want to deal with it and we do not need the adverse publicity.

[Jingles]

Ya let's not be recommending illegal dog proofs here as we are fighting just to keep our trapping rights as it is. Cage traps are cheap can get them anywhere use sweet bait and dispatch on sight, do not attempt to relocate as that is illegal as well. Or even post this to the trapping section and get some advice from better coon trappers then me since the season just opened yesterday and the 700 or so of us that trap still are fired up for the season

Didn't actually recommend anything other than keeping the yap trap shut regardless of what you use and I will stand by the statement that the FB1 is extremely effective, My property I'll use what works for me. rest of the state can get stuffed

[konradcountry]

Don't bother with trapping.

Just shoot one with a 22 from inside the house at 3AM.

The others will get the message.

[Wanttohuntmore]

I used to live trap coons when I was a kid and needed one for training pups.  My suggestion is use your live trap, cover the bottom with aluminum foil and use marshmallows as bait.

Curious why you'd cover with foil?

[Jonathan_S]

Zero reason to break the law, even from an efficacy standpoint. Cage trapping raccoons is too easy. Pre-bait in cages for the best result. Marshmallows and Nilla Wafers are a good place to start.

[Lead ball 54]

not sure how to put quotes in but as to being wrong about releasing on private or public zoological land I thought I read RCW 77. 15. 250 in that paragraph if I'm reading it right I can, it's if you are transporting from out of state you have to have a permit. Sorry I dont know how to post the RWC 77. 15. 250

[I-Snipe-Varmints]

I like to shoot racoons in the head with a .25 cal airgun. I prefer something about 32 grains. JSB and H&N make the right weight pellets to deliver the blow. One good shot does the job. They'll do the death dance if you hit em right. Tail wagging and head down 


One such recommendation https://www.dynamicairrifles.com/products The earlier recommendation of a Gamo Whisper Cat might be fine too

[Bango skank]

Go buy a couple 50lb bags of cat food and make friends with them, thats my suggestion.  Theyre neat critters.

[I-Snipe-Varmints]

Go buy a couple 50lb bags of cat food and make friends with them, thats my suggestion.  Theyre neat critters.

With all due respect:


Coons are kind of neat. But when they start killing cats, attacking dogs and become a threat to small kids in the yard, they stop being so neat.


I couldn't dismiss your idea completely, but let's keep this in perspective. They can be a real problem and can carry rabies. I'd prefer not to treat them like a dog or cat. They can invade into crawl spaces and setup home in attics where they are unwanted.. Have you had coons in your attic? it's worse than squirrels.

I just want to keep perspective here. Some people have real problems with coons. I couldn't knock someone for enjoying a night with a group of coons, feeding them as well..

But when it comes to pests, they are one of the worst.

[Humptulips]

If anyone thinks feeding raccoons is a good idea I wish they would research raccoon roundworm and transmission to humans.

[rasbo]

What town do you live in