How do I get rid of a raccoon?

Question

There are two gigantic raccoons in my backyard... the first one is at least 30 pounds... I would guess like 30 inches and fat, the second one is skinny and all I have is my hands and a couple of really long sticks (I could use a knife) and nothing else to get at it. I mean, its been harrassing my dog and I want a way to bring that this down... I want to teach it a lesson so it gets out of my property... how would you recommend I do it?

Answer 1

I can tell from the answers that you have gotten that they have never dealt with a coon or animal control. Animal control will not come out ant trap the animal unless you can prove it is rabid, so for get trying there. Racoons always, and I do mean always come in at least two's, or more, but usually just two. Getting rid of one will not get rid of the other.

There are only two effective ways. Get rid of the racoons thenselves, or get rid of the food sources.
You can try shooting them with pellet guns, BB guns or throwing hot water or what ever and that only takes care of them for a couple of days. I even used an electrified fence so that when they leaned on the feeder they would get zapped, again good for only a couple of days.
You can try trapping them, and you have to get both of them. It means setting a trap every night for at least a week. You have to let them go at least 5 miles away from where you live and if possible with a different water source. The problem with that is another family will move in within a month.
The best answer is to remove the food source. Don't leave any open food or water out at night. You can switch food bowls at night, one laced with a lot of red pepper works pretty good..
Once they find out that there is no easy food they will go away. But if you start putting it out again, they will be back within two weeks.pp

Answer 2

If you can bring your dog in for the night, put some "treat" with some freon or large quantity of rat poison out for it. It's a rodent just like a rat or a opposum. We had two in our attack and I set off bug foggers and baited the attack with rat poison stuffed in white bread. The raccoons were gone within a week. Haven't had that problem since. And I would do it all over again. As far as animal control goes, you may want to call them first, they can set out traps to catch them and take them away, but usually where there's one there's another.

Answer 3

I would recommend a live animal trap, and then releasing it no more than a mile away from your neighborhood, into a woodsy area. But I used to volunteer with the local wildlife rehab place, so I learned how to release these guys back into the wild...

SO, if you don't want to deal with releasing it, yourself, you could call your local wildlife rehab and ask them to please send a volunteer to your property to release the animal.

If this is not a possible solution, here are some other suggestions I found online: A product called "Critter Out" http://www.deerout.com/critter/

I got that product info from this Yahoo Q&A: http://au.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070127103449AAdyVb7&show=7 Other people also mentioned some of their solutions.

This article also mentions some really good ideas... Imay look into some of these, myself... http://www.howtogetridofstuff.com/pest-control/how-to-get-rid-of-raccoons/

Good luck!!

You definitely need to get them away from your yard. They are cute, but very hostile. I tried to get rid of my pesky raccoons by locking up the rabbit food and cat food. As a result, a mama raccoon busted into my bunny enclosure and ripped one of my bunnies apart. My one bunny lives indoors, now.

JUST remember this... summertime is "baby" time for raccoons... removing easy food, will NOT guarantee them to go away... they will kill cats, dogs, rabbits, whatever is available to feed their young. You need to invest time, and maybe money, to repel them and/ or remove them. Live animal traps are available for rent (for a refundable deposit) at most feed stores.

Answer 4

Do not leave dog food out. Feed your dog just what it will eat twice a day. Sit with it until the dog finishes if necessary.

If you live within city limits call animal control. If you outside the city limits call your state's DNR or Game Ranger.

Answer 5

Really big bug zapper....

just kidding. I would call the game warden, they will come and live trap the animals and remove them from your property. They will relocate the animals to an area where there are less people and they are less likely to be a nuisance

Answer 6

Contact Ministry of defense

"first dont kill it or hurt it publicly at least they are protected
and next i think there are racoon removing or preventing websites" - Or call the RacoonRemoverz

Answer 7

first dont kill it or hurt it publicly at least they are protected
and next i think there are racoon removing or preventing websites
use peppers or strong hot stuff in your yard or call human society
i had one fall through the roof into my house when i took the lid off of the atic door he came in the hall way

Answer 8

dont kill the poor animals get a something or someone to get rid of it an exterminator or throw a steak to the next door neigbors yard.

Answer 9

RPG. Or call animal control. Though really, I'd recommend an RPG.

Answer 10

Shoot Them. Or if you dont want to kill it shoot it with a bb gun. Or throw some hot water on it. Dont get to close though they may have Rabies.