War with Racoons

[hambone]

yet, largely out of fear that one bleary eyed morning I'm going to go out there and get zapped.

I've tried bright lights; scarecrow;

it's not like I want to harm the critters. But it's getting to the point where killing them is starting to appeal.

Well you should because it works. I used one for years and did get soaked a few times but it was worth it to keep the racoons away. I don't use it now as I moved and we don't have the problem. I think it is in my garage; let me know if you want to try it.

 

[baci2004]

I just talked to a wildlife removal guy this morning and apparently Raccoons are protected in Toronto. I guess I'll have to put the bow away.

 

[IMBob]

boat

I have on ongoing problem with raccoons getting on my boat during winter storage in the marina. They like mine 'cause it's lower and I tarp it. Thankfully , they have never gotten into the cabin.

 

[TQM]

hambone,

I'm currently trying adjustments to my nails solution - next attempt will be the motion detector sprinkler.

 

[Questor]

I'm currently trying adjustments to my nails solution - next attempt will be the motion detector sprinkler.

Sounds like a good plan. Let us know how it works.

 

[Mao Tse Tongue]

I'm sure many of us have raccooon problems. How about we build a large raft, catch as many of them and just let them drift off to US We could have a big sign saying "A gift from TERB members" lOL

I am fucking in on that "boat". Little fuckers.

 

[jwmorrice]

Just wondering who prevailed in this situation, TQM or the raccoons?

jwm

 

[Molly Robinson]

HAve you tried Critter Ritter from Home Depot ....I use it in my garden to keep out skunks and cats...not sure if it works for Racoons.

You just sprinkle it in and they don't like the smell of it.

Seems to work.

 

[Never Compromised]

Buy a dog. A german sheppard. Or better yet, get a cougar (and not one from the Mermaid Lounge)

 

[TQM]

Dogs and Cougars aren't options.

I still have the board of nails. I've added a vertical board with nails, wedged between the fence and the wall of my house.

In the past 3 weeks, there have been two and only two racoon shit assaults. In each case, they stood on the board of nails to push the vertical board with nails away. I've reinforced the vertical board now.

Two "breaches" in 3 weeks is actually a success for me.

This does mean I no longer have the ability to walk at the side of my house. But it seems, I've dramatically reduced the assaults from nightly to less than once a week.

 

[papasmerf]

I still have the board of nails. I've added a vertical board with nails, wedged between the fence and the wall of my house.

In the past 3 weeks, there have been two and only two racoon shit assaults. In each case, they stood on the board of nails to push the vertical board with nails away. I've reinforced the vertical board now.

Two "breaches" in 3 weeks is actually a success for me.

This does mean I no longer have the ability to walk at the side of my house. But it seems, I've dramatically reduced the assaults from nightly to less than once a week.[/quote ]


You have a varment problem..........In Buffalo you can shoot a varment unless it hold political office. I would suggest a Crossman Pump BB rifle........sleek and quiet.

 

[Thousand]

I heard that animal don't shit where they eat. Maybe if you put some foods out, they wouldn't be shitting at your place anymore.

 

[Tiffany_69]

JUst READ

For who knows what reasons (maybe it's my body odour), racoons have, for several years now, decided to use the walkway beside my house (between the wall of the house and our fence (about 30 inches here) as a washroom.

Landmines are left - sometimes as many as 6 piles a night.

Now racoon shit is potentially dangerous - rancoon roundworm can be a killer.

I've tried everything under the sun - hot sauce; moth balls; hot pepper powder; critter ridder; ammonia; bleach; and more recently chicken wire.

I previously had a guy trap 12 racoons (and he caught one skunk too - a good reason to not do it yourself) and found the problem persisted the very next night. (It's illegal to remove the animal more than 1 km from where it was caught, but this guy was breaking the law, and spray painting them with some red paint so that I'd know they weren't the same ones coming back - he took them away from the Don Valley system where I live and deposited them in the Rouge Valley system where maybe you live).

Short of staying up all night for a month with a shot gun, I haven't found any solutions. They don't get to my garbage. They do get to the apples in the apple tree on the property next to mine. But even when apples aren't in season, they crap on my walkway.

I finally came up with a fool proof solution - I bought a board of insulation at Home Depot - made of styrofoam I guess - 8ft long, 1/2 inch thick - and I bought 1500 approx. 1 inch nails. I spent a couple of hours forcing the nails through the board, all about a half inch a part.

There's no way to walk on the board and not step on nails. And there's no way to jump over it or around it.

Put the board down Wednesday night. Thursday morning, there were 5 piles - 3 of them directly on the board, in the middle area. These fuckers can walk on nails.

I don't know how racoons can walk on nails. I can't imagine it feels good. But not only can they walk on nails, obviously they went out of their way to walk on nails - they clearly wanted to send me a message - they did it deliberately.

This amazes me.

gREAT POST! Finding alot of good info on thread to in case I ever run into this problem.

 

[bandit2238]

Shot it!!!!! - Done over with.

 

[dragondick]

TQM

1. I know keeping a dog (not a cat-sized dog, a real dog) in the area where the racoons appear, will chase these rascals away.

2. Try rat poison, mix with food, & leave them in your backyard.

Finally, if still not working for you:

3. Ask the chef of a Chinese restaurant nearby whether he wants to round up the racoons & serve as the restaurant's specialty. Just joking.

 

[verbalks]

Really bad suggestion.

2. Try rat poison, mix with food, & leave them in your backyard.

You could end up with a criminal record and a $5000 fine. You could also end up poisoning the neighbor's pets which is a fast track to getting in trouble with the law.

http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&ct=re...qT17l2o-SNcR1P30g&sig2=xivaIb_xk_oGDawzoUkR7Q

• Current Ministry of Natural Resources guidelines state that using body gripping traps or placing poison could result in criminal charges and/or provincial charges with fines up $5,000.

• Placing poison out to kill animals could result in criminal charges.

 

[TQM]

You know,

if it weren't the risk to other animals - even squirrels, for instance, I'd be willing to break the law, at this point.

I really don't want to kill the critters, but.............

 

[Pilotas]

Why don't you find out where they live, wait till they leave, then shit all over their house. See how they like it! That'll teach em.

Maybe they'll think, there goes the neiborhood. "It wasn't like it used to be", then they'll pack up and move out to the country.

Joking aside. I just heard a trick for skunks - not sure if it'll work for coons. Noise. They don't like it. Put a radio out at night, doesn't even have to be too loud. Just something there that's like human noise.

good luck.

 

[hamermill]

1) Paintball gun - really really hurts :-(
2) Warafin - very last resort - don't use if there are cats, dogs around

 

[TQM]

I keep saying there are other

animals around.

And I'm not staying up all night for weeks on end in the hopes of hurting an animal with a paintball.