Problem Coon

[gramps]

I have been trying to catch a raccoon that is getting into the Avairy at one of the large city parks in Walla Walla.  There are 30 or 40 different specie of birds and waterfoul inside of this enclosure.  Although the enclosure is in poor shape, the caretaker keeps the holes patched up.  I have one of my trail cameras positioned near the traps and have gotten several pictures of the coon near and 1/2 way into the traps...but have not caught him yet.   He has killed several birds and consumed them and he has been in the enclosure on several nights and has not killed anything. 
I and the caretaker have checked the fence and netting everyday and there are no holes...the grate over the creek that flows through has a 4 inch gap( his fur is dry in all the photos) ...so we can not find out how this critter is getting in side.  The kills have been a week apart so I can not imagine that he is somehow inside all the time and only feeding once a week.  My trap is 15" high and his back is higher than that when he was standing beside the trap.
Any suggestions would be very welcome.
Using sardines and dry cat food for bait.
Thanks
leo

[lokidog]

Use a bigger trap.  My parents had coons that would not go into a single door trap so they tried a double door one and caught something like thirty of them that summer.

[gramps]

Thanks....gonna set a bigger one tonite.

[Machias]

Do you think he is trap wise or just so dang big he's not comfortable going inside?  If he is trap shy a bit I like to put my traps in a garbage bin or use the bucket trap kits, which use two 5 gallon buckets.  Then I like to hang two big white marsh mellows from a piece of wire hanging from the roof of the trap just behind the pan.  Then I'll put a marshmellow on the floor and one at the door.  Great eye appeal and I have caught a few trap wise coons trying to get the marshmellows off the wire hanging from the roof.

[C-Money]

My Dad used a piece of a Subway sandwich and caught his trouble coon. Billy the exterminator uses grape jelly. I agree with going witha bigger trap!

[gramps]

Not sure if he is trap-wise or not.  Urban critters can be pretty smart.  I have been having trouble catching tree squirrels in these traps also and there have been about a dozen ducks that have waddled in and tripped the door.    Tried the marshmellows and peanut butter.

[Sumpnneedskillin]

Growing up there was a family of racoons living in the attic of an old bunk house.  One of the guys dad worked with used to feed them frozen twinkies.  You could wave just about anything at them and they'd stare at you from the hole in the roof.  Break out a frozen twinkie and they'd get almost arms length away.

[Machias]

 

[pianoman9701]

Try some fish.

[quadrafire]

Growing up there was a family of racoons living in the attic of an old bunk house.  One of the guys dad worked with used to feed them frozen twinkies.  You could wave just about anything at them and they'd stare at you from the hole in the roof.  Break out a frozen twinkie and they'd get almost arms length away.

Bet they would really go ape over a deep fried one

[CastleRocker]

Like was said....bigger trap, and marshmallows.  I used to put a little peanut butter on some of them for the 'coons that seemed to have a more refined palette, (or maybe they were just picky).  Never tried twinkies.   Used to get the big marshmallows and peanut butter at the  local "liquidator" store for real cheap. 

[Hannibal]

Is the floor wire covered?  Is the trap clean?  Is it set "stable"? Are you using what they are there to eat?

Often a female will be weary until her young mature.....

My guess is it is not trap shy if it went part way in,,,,,,

[Elkrunner]

My Dad used a piece of a Subway sandwich and caught his trouble coon. Billy the exterminator uses grape jelly. I agree with going witha bigger trap!

Billy the exterminator!  I am glad someone else watches that.  My wife thinks that I am crazy for watching it...

[jackmaster]

Do you think he is trap wise or just so dang big he's not comfortable going inside?  If he is trap shy a bit I like to put my traps in a garbage bin or use the bucket trap kits, which use two 5 gallon buckets.  Then I like to hang two big white marsh mellows from a piece of wire hanging from the roof of the trap just behind the pan.  Then I'll put a marshmellow on the floor and one at the door.  Great eye appeal and I have caught a few trap wise coons trying to get the marshmellows off the wire hanging from the roof.

:yeah:and try mixing peanut butter and anise oil

[gramps]

Thanks for all the comments !!
The trap is stable, floor covered with fresh dirt and  I have tried using portions of the Ducks and Peacocks that have been killed with no luck so far.
I may spend part of the night there soon in a small blind.