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
 

I've decided from now on I am going to relocate coons to the "afterlife", it is the law after all. Over 50% of the raccoon population carried rabies.
 
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? 

Raccoons have the same problem with carriage of rabies that people do. It kills them. A rabid raccoon will only live a short time after symptoms (and infectious state) develops, and unless your county is littered with dead raccoons, you can be pretty sure that 50% carrying rabies is a myth. Even during epizootics of wildlife rabies, such a large percentage of infected animals is highly unlikely. It is true that among wild animals diagnosed with rabies, the raccoon is the most common species. It does not follow that a large proportion of the raccoon population is infected. That proportion is derived from the analysis of a couple of thousand wild animals tested for rabies because they showed signs of infection or were involved in bites to humans. Among animals selected for these reasons, who would be expected to have a very high prevalence compared to the healthy popluation at large, less than 15% tested positive for rabies. No one has done a random sample of any wild species to determine the prevalence of rabies generally. An infected raccoon is potentially capable of transmitting the disease whether dead or alive, so if you intend to be handling a lot of dead raccoons be careful and consider getting vaccinated. It is impossible to tell from their behavior whether a dead raccoon is infected or not. 
 
Human rabies is very rare in the US, typically 1-3 cases per year. That includes a large number of people who trap or shoot raccoons and handle then pretty carelessly. I see several dozen raccoons on my property daily, and I do not feel obligated to do anything about them other than watch and be amused.
 
http://avmajournals.avma....0.2460/javma.243.6.805
 
 

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
 
 
 
 

slartabartfast
Raccoons have the same problem with carriage of rabies that people do. It kills them. A rabid raccoon will only live a short time after symptoms (and infectious state) develops, and unless your county is littered with dead raccoons, you can be pretty sure that 50% carrying rabies is a myth. Even during epizootics of wildlife rabies, such a large percentage of infected animals is highly unlikely. It is true that among wild animals diagnosed with rabies, the raccoon is the most common species. It does not follow that a large proportion of the raccoon population is infected. That proportion is derived from the analysis of a couple of thousand wild animals tested for rabies because they showed signs of infection or were involved in bites to humans. Among animals selected for these reasons, who would be expected to have a very high prevalence compared to the healthy popluation at large, less than 15% tested positive for rabies. No one has done a random sample of any wild species to determine the prevalence of rabies generally. An infected raccoon is potentially capable of transmitting the disease whether dead or alive, so if you intend to be handling a lot of dead raccoons be careful and consider getting vaccinated. It is impossible to tell from their behavior whether a dead raccoon is infected or not. 
 
Human rabies is very rare in the US, typically 1-3 cases per year. That includes a large number of people who trap or shoot raccoons and handle then pretty carelessly. I see several dozen raccoons on my property daily, and I do not feel obligated to do anything about them other than watch and be amused.
 
http://avmajournals.avma....0.2460/javma.243.6.805
 
 

Thanks for that... I will be more careful. I am really careful with my fingers etc and I don't think I've encountered a rabid animal but I'll be careful with the traps.
Yeah... I'll probably continue to just drive them about 12-25 miles away, across a river and an interstate hwy.
I don't want them around the house because they won't stay out of the porch. I tolerated the one eating the sunflower seed until they started to come the porch and make a mess. I leave the door cracked for the cat. I know they are just looking for food but they are looking in the wrong place. If I didn't have a cat involved I'd close the screen door and let them be but that isn't the case.
I'm glad I posted, I'll reconsider killing them... I really don't want to and it will probably be safer for me to carry them off than to risk getting their blood on me... and I really don't think my wife would cook one for me, so no need to kill it... I'll give it more thought.
Thanks.
 
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.

I found evidence of ANOTHER one this afternoon... where are all these coons coming from?? Rain tonight, will trap tomorrow.
 
I am not worried about shooting around here. You can hear people shooting guns pretty regular, hunting or target shooting. I've set up bags of soil and sighted in a .22 in my driveway before, just shooting back toward a cedar fence. I used to live a few miles from here at the end of a cul de sac by some woods. I used to shoot dove flying over the backyard into the woods going to roost in the evenings. It is GA, no one says anything... at least they haven't yet. A couple of shots and no one will say anything. Maybe if I shot off 100 rounds at night I might draw some attention, not in the day. Actually silencers are legal here because people don't like hearing all the guns... works for me, I should get one.
BTW, you know if you poke at a opossum enough it will roll over and play dead.
 
J