Raccoon attack

[GG2]

5. If you don't like raccoons, don't make your yard inviting to them.

What am I doing wrong?

I got two cages. Caught several of them and released them far away. New ones come and leave droppings. I put down grounded peppers to keep them out. When the rain washes it away, they're back.

There are also spotlights that come on whenever there is any movement, and I also keep one light on at all times which I was told keeps them away.

They come around during the night when everybody I'm asleep. The garden hose solution isn't going to work.

I also hit a couple of them with a pellet bullets from my pellet gun (only plastic pellet balls allowed in canada). It scared them when I hit them, but they keep coming bak.

 

[Ironhead]

Ga-damn !

More fun TERB threads. This is why I joined TERB. No I do not hobby, not since I met my wife. I used to hobby, last time was 2000. I found TERB because I was(occasionally still am) considering getting back into the game.

Some threads are great, give you a laugh, some deal with more serious issue and you get a sense of what the public opinion is or will be on certain things ... then there is a thread like this one where you wonder if these are still the same people(TERB names) posting these messages from one thread to another.

Raccoons may not be the most lovable friendly animal in the urban jungle but there are humane ways of dealing with them.
I do not think I am about to reveal a fact that you do not know, but after reading some of the responses I have to wonder.
The raccoons are just animals foraging for food.
I am not taking up the cause for the raccoon population, just throwing that little fact out there because I am beginning to think that some of you see the raccoon as an invading army with a plan. For instance N1ghth4wk makes them sound like they were attacking with ground forces and air support. 'He was defending his property.' Worf thinks reducing the police force is the answer. What ? Are you planning on a little B&E in the near future ?
GG2 ... this guy has a few screws loose. Let me guess, some of your previous employers were the CIA, Mafia, various Black Ops groups around the world.
TERBites, if you have problem with an annoying neighbour or someone who just rubs you the wrong way no matter what they do, GG2 can make the problem go away for a price. :crazy:
Blackrock, Terminator you got to know when to walk away.

 

[Rockslinger]

IT'S A FUCKING RODENT!!!!

You ain't seen nothing yet, the powerful loony liberal lobby is trying to get mice and rats on the "protected specie" list.

 

[GG2]

I don't know how they do it, but they can even get into the big garbage bins we now use, so I keep mine in the garage.

 

[GG2]

You ain't seen nothing yet, the powerful loony liberal lobby is trying to get mice and rats on the "protected specie" list.

And make monkeys our equals.

 

[Rockslinger]

And make monkeys our equals.

Don't laugh but there was an article a while back about some loony liberal group arguing that animals (but they didn't mention trees yet) are also entitled to human rights.

 

[St Nick]

It would have been a HUGE difference if he was doing that to dogs or cats, but guess what he didn't, so all this assuming that because he can shovel a pesky raccoon means he can be the unabomber is ridiculous.

I have a dog, but eat meat. I would think that people were doing this without consequence for a while up until recently, and I'm positive people around the world would also chuckle at this story as they still do it. Could you imagine if Caddyshack was remade today they would have to change the gofer hunting scene for all the sensitive people.

 

[Aardvark154]

Has the Niagara River been enough to spare Southern Ontario the Racoon Rabies Zoodemic that has run through the Northeastern U.S. and into New Brunswick?

Just wait until police are getting day and night calls about rabid racoons.

 

[Aardvark154]

There's the rub. You can't trap them, but you can call a pest removal expert to do it, $$$$. Even if you do that they can only move them a mile away from your home and the chances are they will return to their turf. It's farked.

While I agree that beating a racoon kit to death is cruel, the points you make are quite valid and they don't just get into poorly maintained houses.

 

[Aardvark154]

IT'S A FUCKING RODENT!!!!

Actually a Procyonidae.

 

[Mencken]

Racoons are an animal - pest in many cases - that have adapted very well to humans, and their numbers are increasing, as is their territory. I believe they are a threat to other native species of animals in some places, and for many reasons their numbers should be controlled, and they should not be welcome in urban areas. Having said that, they should be treated humanely, killed with a minimum of pain or anxiety - or trapped and moved far away from urban areas. If I were in a rural area and it was legal I would not hestitate to use a 22, for example. But guns are dangerous around buildings and basically if anyone lives anywhere close to the direction you are shooting...so this is not an option in most places in Ontario, rural or urban. I do not enjoy killing things, but have done so when they presented a danger - for example rodents chewing on electrical wires, living in attics, etc.

As to the shovel beater.....I can see throwing something at them to get them to leave, but trying to beat an animal with a shovel is a bit over the top. If it was a mouse a shovel might be a quick and effective way to kill them...but it is not for a racoon.

 

[great bear]

Too many city boys getting involved here. Coons are nasty mothers. Had them chew up the aluminum siding in my barn and move in. Difficult to shoot them in the garage so a cross bow was used. Coons will kill a cat, can chew up a fair size dog. Leaving lights on is just an invitation for them, they also will eat moths and insects attracted to the lights. Coons natural diets are frogs, clams, and small minnows or if you have an outside pond with Koi or Goldfish they will clean up on them too. Coons have a reputation for spreading rabies to family pets and other wild life.

Using a pellet gun on a Coon is like using a .22 to take out a tank. Coons are not pets, they are territorial, and have a nasty disposition when challenged. Once they have found a easy food source, (grain, cat food, dog food, garbage bins, compost piles) they will keep coming back regardless of how much and how many times you attempt to harrass them in a non confrontational manner. A .22 calibre is effective a .243 or .222 is much better. Ok time to feed the cattle. Cheers GB

 

[blackrock13]

While I agree that beating a racoon kit to death is cruel, the points you make are quite valid and they don't just get into poorly maintained houses.

I guess I'm lucky. They are everywhere in my neighbourhood, apparently TO has over 250,000 of the cute cute little farkers, They don't dig in my garden much, don't get into my garbage as it's in the garage and my attic is is well sealed. I hear them on the roof sometimes but that's about it.

I'm sad to hear about GB's problems, but they obviously are country coons and not the much milder city creatures OR they know something about GB that we don't.

 

[great bear]

I guess I'm lucky. They are everywhere in my neighbourhood, apparently TO has over 250,000 of the cute cute little farkers, They don't dig in my garden much, don't get into my garbage as it's in the garage and my attic is is well sealed. I hear them on the roof sometimes but that's about it.

I'm sad to hear about GB's problems, but they obviously are country coons and not the much milder city creatures OR they know something about GB that we don't.

anyone who wants a Coon Tail hat let me know, have them in various sizes!! lol

 

[GPIDEAL]

I remember the old days when my dad, me and my bro would take shots with a .22 calibre at pesky groundhogs who ate my mom's vegetable garden (they were high up on a hill with plenty of ground as a back drop from high velocity bullets). The 22 was quiet but another neighbour's firearm was louder (a few homes had balconies to shoot into a creek valley). This is in the west end of the city.

But nowadays, you can't do that shit.

My parents neighbourhood (I don't live far from them) has tons of raccoons, fox, coyotes, etc., apart from domestic pets.

Coincidentally, a workmate has this problem northwest of Toronto and he talked about trapping, etc. but a neighbour complained and called a by-law officer.

Right now, it is raccoons' mating season so by-law officers or animal control won't remove them until later.

I don't mind them except when they dig up a lawn to find worms or bugs, etc. Secure your garbage or compost.

The only bad thing about raccoons is that their feces is very toxic and if a child comes into contact, it could spell trouble. Someone else mentioned rabies.

Animals are really innocent. I wouldn't like it if someone is making raccoons scream either. There are more humane ways of removing them from your home or grounds.

 

[GG2]

Using a pellet gun on a Coon is like using a .22 to take out a tank. Coons are not pets, they are territorial, and have a nasty disposition when challenged.

Interesting because after I shot one or two of them with the pellet gun, the situation seemed to deteriorate even more. It's like they wanted to take revenge on me and left more droppings.

The ones that I got in the cage were vicious. I can see how they can cause serious harm to other creatures and humans. So crow bar is ok? Nice.

 

[great bear]

They have to be outside of the live trap to use a crow bar. One miss and they will either run or chew up your leg. There is a new calibre on the market a .177, it is faster than a .22 with much less noise.

 

[fuji]

8. We humans have to realize that we do not have the right to be cruel to animals and other living things just because. It's simply not right.

It's certainly the law. I'm not convinced, though. Animals don't have any rights. On the other hand, I understand the argument that someone who is cruel to animals may eventually be cruel to people. Still, I'm unconvinced.

 

[GPIDEAL]

You have to get off this trip. I'm not some living stereotype you've created in your mind.

I was a terrific employee. They didn't want me to leave.

I started my business to pay for school and pay down student loans. I also desire financial success. I don't want to work my way up a predefined corporate ladder where other people decide my fate. I want to call the shots and if I succeed, I can say it was because of the choices I made. If I fail, I take full responsibility too. I've succeeded and failed many times.

But one of my greatest fears in life would be getting a 9 to 5 job. I envy people that can do that for their entire lives, but that's not suitable for me.

I think it's commendable that you can be successful at your own business, or even achieve the same kind of prosperity as a longterm employee but doing it on your own.

Long term employment is also commendable but not always the happiest or most fulfilling situation - perhaps the safest. Sorry to digress.

 

[blackrock13]

They have to be outside of the live trap to use a crow bar. One miss and they will either run or chew up your leg. There is a new calibre on the market a .177, it is faster than a .22 with much less noise.

i have family with critter problems and they prefer sub sonic .22's. Helps keep the neighbours happy.