Trapping/killing residential racoon???

[SPDKLZ]

I bought a new place last month. The place and neighborhood and numerous large oak and pecan trees as well as a drain river about 200 yards away from me.

My first order of business was cutting down five large oak trees (about 70 years old) and 18 smaller pines, saplings and oaks. The tree cutting guys said there was a raccoon in a neighbors tree and while they were up there cutting branches hanging on my side, it tried to bite them.

Well, shortly after moving in, the trash on my back patio was all over the place. I put up motion lights for my wife's peace of mind. Several nights a week, I see the lights come on and often find one of two raccoons walking around. One is pretty fat (maybe a pregnant female??) and the other is a little slimmer. I watched one for a while and sure enough, he crawled up my chain fence and then jumped a few foot to hook onto my neighbors tree. It climbed up the tree and went in. On top of that, I have also seen Possums cruising around.

I want to get rid of these this weekend. I thought of using my bow and tree climber and taking them out, but I am in a residential area, albeit removed from most of civilization. I am looking at setting traps out and relocating the critters.

Anyone in the Grand Prairie/Dallas are mind lend me a couple of small trips for a few days? If not, where can I buy some? Any thing in particular works best to get the critter into the trap?

Thanks in advance,
Rodrigo

[TimH]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKs8GZfaQ1Q"]Raccoon Trapping: Raccoon in 220 Conibear - YouTube[/ame]


Set it up this way.

[gingib]

DP coon traps...best and easiest

[oktx]

Watch out for kitty cats with the Conibear. They dont recover very well from it.

[ChickenWilly]

Yeah the dog proof traps are awesome! And super easy to use. If you can find a couple of those that's what I would try

[gingib]

DP's are $13 a trap or so and are easy, and small!

[RR 314]

Watch out for kitty cats with the Conibear. They dont recover very well from it.

Yessir. Would not use the Conibear in your area. DP trap ore good ol' live catch/Haveaheart would be good. I'm sure someone in your area will chime in with some to borrow.

[yanta61]

I would go with dog proof traps or leg traps before the Conni traps....A 220 will kill anything that sticks his head into the bucket, even a big dog... a 160 would be a little better because it has a smaller opening but still pretty dangerous.

Tractor supply sells some cheap cage traps and they will work but a big coon can break out of them given enough time. most any feed store should also carry cage traps. your a longs way off or I would let you borrow 2 of mine.


A newer pellet gun has plenty of power to kill a coon, with a pellet to the head.

[apolloreed]

Go with the Havahart live traps since your in a neighborhood setting. They can be bought at tractor supply, Home Depot, ace, and northern tool. I have been catching and relocating coons, possums, and the occasional stray house cat from my place for the past 10 years. I just use dog good or cat food in a bowl. Works great for me.

[M16]

Watch out for kitty cats with the Conibear. They dont recover very well from it.

And that's a problem?

[oktx]

And that's a problem?

If it makes the 10 o'clock news it is....and if the owner sees it will.

[JustinJ]

We've caught about 12 coons at our shop in McKinney with one of those cage type traps. Catch em live and relocate. I think you can get them nearly anywhere.

[Patton]

Dog proof coon cuffs- you will only catch coons, with the occasional opossum and skunk depending on your bait. (Stinky/nasty bait results in stinky nasty animals). There is not really a catch and release method with the DP coon cuffs, shoot them in the head and be done with it. For bait use marshmellows, cat food, or deer corn.

[Hawkpuppy 1]

Live or do trap probably best. Then point blank .22 shot to helmet with a .22 cb or .22 short. No telling how many feral loose neighborhood cats I've "relocated" over the years.

[TimH]

Watch out for kitty cats with the Conibear. They dont recover very well from it.

This is true! But they do get the job done.

Advantage is a dead coon is easier to handle than a live one and you don't have to worry about shooting one in the head after you catch it, especially at night in a neighborhood.

Try other alternative first, then come to this one as a last resort if needed.