This raccoon in my yard is one step of us! Learned the trap, works around it!?

Question

We have been trying to trap a raccoon for the past 2 weeks... initially we had set up the trap incorrectly in a way that it would close the door but not lock it. So the raccoon would go eat its bait and back out of the trap. Well, we finally realized that there is a way to set it up that it would not be able to back out of it. So now that I set it up with all its treats in the back of the trap, the guy walks in - but not far enough to set the trap. I check the 2 traps and both of them are empty of treats - and NO raccoon! The place it is supposed to step on is near the back, so I assume he goes just far enough to not step on it anymore, graps the food in the back and backs out WITHOUT setting the trap door! I hear they're smart and it may have learned over the week that we set it without the lockign mechanism that it shouldn't go that far. My question is NOW WHAT??

By the way, animal control doesn't care about raccoons where I am. And locking garbage cans wouldn't work because it's ruining our backyard, not our trashcans.

Thanks for all of the wonderful advice. It is a Havahart trap... I am going to try to tie the bait to the back of the trap so hopefully it will move closer to try and get it... if this doesn't work, I will look into all of these options you recommended!!

Well... we caught the raccoon and I saw him and enjoyed watching that little sh*t in the trap... only to come back out 30 minutes later and he opened the trap and took off. So much for that!!!! Thanks again for the help!

Answer 1

Are you using a live trap? If so put it against something like a wall ect ect. Then place something over the side to guide hin into the trap. make it so he has one way to look into the trap. he might be reaching through the cage and grabbing the treats from the back side of the cage. I would use a can of tuna fish as lure this always works. open the can up but not all the way make him work to try to get the food out of the can while doing this it should set the trap. drip it from inside the cage to out in front of the of the cage.
good luck
suro

Answer 2

ummm last I knew raccoons were raccoons and people were people I didn't get that memo that they are people too. How big is your trap? Maybe you need a bigger one some raccoons can get huge. If you can't catch it I suggest keeping stuff away so they just don't come around. once they learna trick they know it and yours probably isn't the only one they get away from. Animal control I don't think would help to much mor eof a waste of money becasue all they're going to do is set traps and what if they can't catch it either then you're out whatever you have to pay them and still got coons. My only guess is bait and wait and shoot and kill them if thats what you want to do, or just make it so they don't come around anymore.

Answer 3

Well it sounds like you are using a Havahart trap. I would buy some of those leg-clamp trap things and tie it to your trap and put them just before your bait. Then when it puts its paw in one of the clamps it is caught. Then you have to shoot it.

OR

You can try making a snare in your trap too so when its caught you just have to be careful and dispose of it somehow (however you have planned).

And if you arn't using a Havahart trap then get one and yoru job will be done.

Answer 4

try this -- go to your local hunting/outdoor store and pick up some fox urine (no kidding it is used to cover human scent while deer hunting) then sprinkle -SPARINGLY- this is strong stuff so DON'T GET ANY ON YOU sprinkle this around your yard and especally around where the coons are getting in your yard and the coon will think there are foxes in that space of your yard. it might cause the coons to leave without either trapping or shooting them. this will work as long as the scent last so you may have to renew the scent every so often
in between this try to use ammonia (yes the household cleaner) in a spray bottle around your yard this also causes the coon to think of predators and it is not expensive and really helps the plants in your back yard try these suggestion and see if they work

Answer 5

I don't know where you live, but if you google Squirrel Dog Central, or Full Cry I bet you can find someone with a dog that will solve your problem for you. They also have links that can show you how to modify the trap so that it will work.

Answer 6

get a spot light and a handgun and wait for it to come at night and when it does havesomebody light it up with the spot light and shoot it.....if you dont wanna do that get a leg hold trap and put the bait right on the pan and when it puts it foot on the pan to get the bait it will hold it in the trap....also put some food around the trap

Answer 7

I see your problem. Your trap is to small, you need a wider longer and taller trap. Or you can get a foot hold trap but then you would have to shoot it in the trap or whack it with a stick.

Answer 8

Set out a couple of large rubber snakes. It sounds funny but works like magic.

Answer 9

If you don't live in an area restricting firearms use, I would recommend shooting it. Although I would advise against using high-caliber firearms
just because that is a little over-kill.

Answer 10

I take it that you are trapping him or them cause you don't want to k-i-l-l them.

Q: what are you going to do with it when you catch it? You said animal control don't care about them?

I say, 1 shot to the heart and its all over, skin it and you've got a coon hat for winter: keep you head nice warm and toasty.

what ya think Tracker Joe, Will Pocahontas mind?