OT Raccoons

We had a family of about 8 raccoons on our deck last night. This is new
and not something I want to see often.

Any tips on handling this potential problem? A Have-A-Hart trap and trips
down to the river are all I've thought of, thus far.

On Jan 22, 7:22*am, "Larry L" wrote:
We had a family of about 8 raccoons on our deck last night. * This is new
and not something I want to see often.

Any tips on handling this potential problem? *A Have-A-Hart trap and trips
down to the river are all I've thought of, thus far.

There are some pellet guns that will kill them but I have been
reluctant to spend the $300 or so for one.
The county here has provided a "yard waste recycle bin" for collecting
grass clippings etc. The Have-a-Hart" trap fits nicely into the bin.
So far not one raccoon has been able to swim with the trap.
I took a couple to the county animal shelter. They were all affraid
of it and I had to leave the trap until the one person who could
handle raccoons showed up. The put trap and all in an enclosuer and
simulated a plane ride to 30,000 feet or so where the critter went
peacefully and permenantly to sleep. All this for only $35.

"BJ Conner" wrote

There are some pellet guns that will kill them but I have been
reluctant to spend the $300 or so for one.


I have several shotguns and cases of shells, and live in the country, where
I could use them. Guess I'm just an old softy but I was going to release
them near the river g


Larry L
( Who thinks they are kinda cute .... :-)

On Jan 22, 7:54*am, "Larry L" wrote:
"BJ Conner" wrote

There are some pellet guns that will kill them but I have been

reluctant to spend the $300 or so for one.

I have several shotguns and cases of shells, and live in the country, where
I could use them. * * Guess I'm just an old softy but I was going to release
them near the river g

Larry L
( Who thinks they are kinda cute .... *:-)

They come back.
As an old softy myself I think of the Coyotes and buzzards that need a
meal.
The dogs a couple of house down once chased a bunch from under a
deck. They came down the fence to our yard and almost surrounded the
main squeeze who was reading a book in the back yard. I was given
double 00 satatus for raccoons after that.
They can kill your cat, do serious damage to your dog and if they
scratch or bite your kids (or you ) they are in for serious rabbies
shots.

On Jan 22, 10:22*am, "Larry L" wrote:
Any tips on handling this potential problem? *A Have-A-Hart trap and trips
down to the river are all I've thought of, thus far.

Kinda depends on where you live IMO. If you're in an urban setting, I
should think it's an Animal Control issue with all of the health risks
associated with strewn garbage, insect pests, & potential rabies.
OTOH, if you're a human encroachment into rural terrain; I'd say you
might want to cut the little critters some slack until they become
repeat & habitual or dangerous offenders. They're pretty much like
any other pest - don't feed 'em & they'll go elsewhere. If they
challenge you physically, lethal force is authorized.

If you want to annoy them without blood & death, a Daisy BB or pellet
rifle will dissuade them. Repeated harassment of that sort will make
your deck less desirable to them (and they *are* quick learners.)

Joe F.

"rb608" wrote

OTOH, if you're a human encroachment into rural terrain; I'd say you
might want to cut the little critters some slack until they become
repeat & habitual or dangerous offenders. They're pretty much like
any other pest - don't feed 'em & they'll go elsewhere.


That is the approach we've decided on. My kid saw the family on the deck
when the babies were young, in July, and this is the 'next' time ... not
really a problem. But there were a lot of 'em, all 'big' and I've heard
tales od raccoon woes .. so I kinda freaked out beyond real need. ah, thus
far.

We've had coyotes in the back yard too, that I had to discourage when they
started eyeing my neighbor kid's 4H lamb from closer and closer distances.
I just discouraged them and suggested they look elsewhere for breakfast.

"Larry L" wrote in message
...

"rb608" wrote

OTOH, if you're a human encroachment into rural terrain; I'd say you
might want to cut the little critters some slack until they become
repeat & habitual or dangerous offenders. They're pretty much like
any other pest - don't feed 'em & they'll go elsewhere.


That is the approach we've decided on. My kid saw the family on the
deck when the babies were young, in July, and this is the 'next' time ...
not really a problem. But there were a lot of 'em, all 'big' and I've
heard tales od raccoon woes .. so I kinda freaked out beyond real need.
ah, thus far.

We've had coyotes in the back yard too, that I had to discourage when they
started eyeing my neighbor kid's 4H lamb from closer and closer distances.
I just discouraged them and suggested they look elsewhere for breakfast.

I wouldn't use a pellet gun to discourage, unless I didn't care about what
happened to the animal. They do a lot more damage than one might think. I
used to use one to kill rabbits and it did the job very well. Even a BB gun
can be lethal to small animals. Worse yet, they can inflict wounds that,
left untreated (as will necessarily be the case here), can cause a great
deal of suffering whether or not they are eventually fatal. Bottom line, I
think, is that anything which smacks them hard enough to be effective
entails a serious risk of grievous injury. Shoot to kill or, if you don't
want them dead or crippled, don't shoot at all.

Wolfgang

On Jan 22, 10:06*am, "Wolfgang" wrote:
"Larry L" wrote in message

...







"rb608" wrote

OTOH, if you're a human encroachment into rural terrain; I'd say you
might want to cut the little critters some slack until they become
repeat & habitual or dangerous offenders. *They're pretty much like
any other pest - don't feed 'em & they'll go elsewhere.

That is the approach we've decided on. * *My kid saw the family on the
deck when the babies were young, in July, and this is the 'next' time ....
not really a problem. * But there were a lot of 'em, all 'big' and I've
heard tales od raccoon woes .. so I kinda freaked out beyond real need.
ah, thus far.

We've had coyotes in the back yard too, that I had to discourage when they
started eyeing my neighbor kid's 4H lamb from closer and closer distances.
I just discouraged them and suggested they look elsewhere for breakfast.

I wouldn't use a pellet gun to discourage, unless I didn't care about what
happened to the animal. *They do a lot more damage than one might think. *I
used to use one to kill rabbits and it did the job very well. *Even a BB gun
can be lethal to small animals. *Worse yet, they can inflict wounds that,
left untreated (as will necessarily be the case here), can cause a great
deal of suffering whether or not they are eventually fatal. *Bottom line, I
think, is that anything which smacks them hard enough to be effective
entails a serious risk of grievous injury. *Shoot to kill or, if you don't
want them dead or crippled, don't shoot at all.

Wolfgang- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

In my more humane monment I use a wrist rocket with chunks of candy.
I used some kind of peppermint stuff that had a soft inside. I don't
remember the exact name but they came appart on just about everything
they hit.
Lots of soft stuff you can shoot in a wrist-rocket.
A good alternate now would be a paint ball gun. Most of them are
accurate enough that you could be sure of hitting them in the rear.

On Jan 22, 1:06*pm, "Wolfgang" wrote:
I wouldn't use a pellet gun to discourage, unless I didn't care about what
happened to the animal. *They do a lot more damage than one might think. *I
used to use one to kill rabbits and it did the job very well. *Even a BB gun
can be lethal to small animals. *Worse yet, they can inflict wounds that,
left untreated (as will necessarily be the case here), can cause a great
deal of suffering whether or not they are eventually fatal. *


I'll rescind my suggestion in the face of this assessment. I was
envisioning a more low-power, low-velocity Daisy air rifle thing; but
yeah, there are some hellacious pellet rifles on the market. #1 son
has one that only shoots at 700 fps, but is a very dangerous item when
pumped up all the way. The SOB will shoot clear though a soda can
without moving it ('course, soda cans aren't what they used to be.)

Joe F.

On Jan 22, 12:32*pm, BJ Conner wrote:
On Jan 22, 10:06*am, "Wolfgang" wrote:





"Larry L" wrote in message

...

"rb608" wrote

OTOH, if you're a human encroachment into rural terrain; I'd say you
might want to cut the little critters some slack until they become
repeat & habitual or dangerous offenders. *They're pretty much like
any other pest - don't feed 'em & they'll go elsewhere.

That is the approach we've decided on. * *My kid saw the family on the
deck when the babies were young, in July, and this is the 'next' time ....
not really a problem. * But there were a lot of 'em, all 'big' and I've
heard tales od raccoon woes .. so I kinda freaked out beyond real need..
ah, thus far.

We've had coyotes in the back yard too, that I had to discourage when they
started eyeing my neighbor kid's 4H lamb from closer and closer distances.
I just discouraged them and suggested they look elsewhere for breakfast.