Racoons...

I've noticed for a few weeks a raccoon at night laying on top of our "squirrel proof" birdfeeder. It lays across the top and leans down and gets seed with the front paws. I checked and it doesn't eat much and it hasn't come on the porch, so I've left it alone. Night before last I put a little food out with the cat as usual, she goes out in the middle of the night. Something came onto the porch and ate all her food. I knew it was a coon because they always move the bowl, eat all the food, and splash water out of the water bowl.
So.. I set a trap last night. When I went to let the cat out there was a coon in the trap, one laying on top of the feeder, and another one walking around under it. I suspect one, probably the one on the feeder is a female in heat.
Took the one I trapped off this AM. It will have to cross a very large lake (reservoir), a river, and an interstate highway to get back here.
Setting TWO traps tonight...
 
On another note, I had to free a chipmunk about an hour ago. She brought it in the porch and it started to climb up a screen. I tried to catch it with a big aquarium net but it was having none of that. I managed to get it behind the neck and hold it until I got it outside, it wiggled free before I could get it to a cedar fence, I thought I was about to be in danger of being bit so I dropped it, another chase ensued but it got away... every day, it is a lizard, a vole, a mouse, a chipmunk, a baby bird, a small snake, something every day...
 
Maybe if I get two coons I'll remember to take a picture.
 
J
 

jbow
Over 50% of the raccoon population carried rabies.
 
J

Is that really possible? You should have raging raccoons running all over and everywhere then?...Or can they  carry it without getting sick? 

I am not sure. I just know that the state says they are carriers. Thinking about it... I don't know what reason I have to believe anything anyone from the government says. As for rabies in wild animals raccoons top the list at about 40% of the cases. All licensed trappers are required by state law to dispatch them when trapped. I don't remember where I heard the over 50% figure but it would have to be carriers because rabies will kill a coon in about 3 days, IIRC.
They become a real nuisance because they are smart and have hands.
I knew a lady who thought it was a good idea to feed them on her deck. She had her attic stairs pulled down one day putting stuff in the attic. She went in the kitchen and felt something on her leg. A coon had come down from the attic and was in her kitchen standing up on her leg like a dog begging... she was not amused, lol.
 
Anyway, I trapped an relocated the other two that were here. Our cat is much happier now.
 
BTW, when you trap them in a Have-a-heart or other similar trap, you have to stake it down or they will roll the trap and get the food. Once trapped they will eat all the food in the trap then they reach out and dig, I put my traps on a 1x10 and they still manage to pull a BUNCH of dirt or clay into the trap. Straw and leaves in not on ground... if it is rainy, they come on the deck and leave a huge mess. They get in the pet water and leave it full of dirt etc then track mud everywhere. One of the two I caught Friday had pulled a bucketful of clay into the trap, then it rained. He looked like a huge orange rat with that mud all over him. I sprayed him off with the hose before taking him off, I figured that was the least I could do, I just couldn't leave him like that.
 
I say I am going to kill them but I might change my mind. I have live trapped and relocated rats to county dumps before. I don't really like to kill but I wonder, in this case, if it would really be the right thing to do... I don't know. These coons were healthy, at least they didn't have rabies. It is pretty easy to tell. They had lots of ticks on their ears.
 
J
 
 
 
 

Racoons are carriers of lots of bad things from rabies to parasites. Some of those parasites are quite nasty. Certainly, be very careful around the critters.
 
Coons are normally nocturnal so seeing one out on it's own in the daytime is a warning sign. Not necessarily a confirmation but something to be aware of. If they are acting aggressive as opposed to trying to run away, which running is SOP for them, is another danger sign.  If you get bitten, you probably need to see a doctor ASAP and take the rabies vaccine course of treatment, so avoid the teeth. I don't know that 50% number is correct, but in some isolated area, it's possible. They do like to travel in family packs so if one is a carrier, the chances are good the others will be exposed too.
 
Shooting them is one way to eliminate them. Just be aware of the local "discharging a firearm" ordinances if you are in a town's jurisdictional area. A suppressed weapon is best. I think some of the newer .22  and .177  caliber air rifles with a suppressor built in would be ideal. 1200fps muzzle velocity should easily do the trick, and quietly. And use disposable latex gloves when handling the carcass for burial.
 
I have occasional problems around here (in town) with possums. This baby possum (pic below) was after the dog & chicken food in the containers. This one was lucky.... it managed to elude me. By the time I got my shoes on and went outside to catch it.... it was gone. I have trapped and relocated a number of these in adult form from my back yard. On occasion, I see them and set my traps. They also like to attempt to get into the chicken's pen at night. So far, they have not hurt my birds. I understand that they will bite a chunk out of a roosting bird and the bird dies from shock. I ran off 2 last year at night one of those in the rain.... yeah that was fun. The birds freak out when they see the possum trying to get in and my wife wakes me up and tells me to "go check on the birds" because they are normally very quiet at night.
 
I was told that possums are not carriers of the rabies virus so no danger there..... but they have a mouthful of sharp teeth that they know how to use quite effectively and that will be painful and require stitches and a tetanus shot.....  They will run if given the chance and will challenge you with hissing and teeth if cornered..... so again.... handle with care.
 

I hear they are rather tasty in a stew.

jbow
... where are all these coons coming from?? 

I really doubt that any of us here needs wants to fill you in on that... 
 

http://www.knowyourcat.info/lib/catvsraccoon.htm
 
My experience with a stray cat that lived around my place for over a year was that the raccoons usually tolerated it pretty well, and the cat was usually the one who swiped at them if they got too close. In a fair fight, however, a cat is obviously not the smart bet.

jamesg1213
I have worked for possibly the only person in Scotland to be attacked by racoons in her own kitchen.

She didn't realize that they don't like to be cooked while alive?