The way to Lure Raccoons to Defend Your Chickens

Eggs ain’t getting any cheaper, so if you happen to’re sensible, you is perhaps contemplating elevating your personal layers. Chickens are pretty straightforward, however there’s only one downside: Rooster is scrumptious and each criter within the animal kingdom agrees. The worst of the lot are raccoons.

WARNING! This text accommodates graphic photographs of lifeless chickens and raccoons. Take into account your self forewarned.

Little youngsters and metropolis slickers love raccoons as a result of they’re cute and so they do humorous issues in YouTube movies. However these of us who’ve spent any time residing life within the nation know the reality: Racoons are the spawn of Devil himself. They’re evil little monsters who destroy property, crops, and small livestock for enjoyable. Devious and intelligent, they are often laborious to thwart.

Conventional raccoon searching occurs at evening, with educated canines and lights, which is a major expense each in money and time. The strategy we’ll element right here entails trapping and capturing, so it’s extremely environment friendly, and we’ll present you the correct traps to set that gained’t journey up canines or different undesired creatures.

Due to Brayden at River Cottage Farm for cluing me in to this methodology.

Raccoons Eat Chickens

Raccoons are each merciless and intelligent. They’re intelligent sufficient to work easy locks and latches which are typically used across the farm, like on hen coops. They may take a look at and work out weaknesses in your fencing, or dig underneath it completely.

For those who’re rising corn, raccoons will fortunately spoil it, very abruptly, simply because it’s prepared to select. A single raccoon can destroy an entire row of corn in a single day. Even worse, they deal with your corn like a buffet: Taking a bit of nibble out of every ear, so you’ll be able to’t even salvage what’s been knocked down.

For those who assume raccoons are imply to corn, you need to see what they’ll do to a hen. In late 2022 and early 2023, a household of raccoons started selecting off my chickens one after the other.

I attempted all the things I might to cease the raccoons, however they continued to adapt…and develop extra brazen.

Electrical internet fencing? Fuggetaboutit.

Earlier than I lastly put a cease to it, issues acquired particularly nasty. There was nearly nothing left of this poor hen. No less than I believe it was a hen.

Nonlethal Strategies Are Ineffective in opposition to Raccoons

There are numerous nonlethal options to raccoons, however sadly, I’ve but to seek out one which works:

• Fencing: Good fencing can dissuade raccoons, but when they’re sufficiently motivated (i.e., hungry), they will work out a option to route round just about any fence, whether or not it’s climbing, digging, and even ripping a gap in it.
• Loud music: Establishing a radio in a single day with music or speak does nothing besides annoy your neighbors.
• Out of doors lighting: The raccoons don’t care in the event that they’re hungry sufficient.
• Scent repellants: Varied urines and repellants can be found to dissuade racoons. I’ve but to seek out one which works.

To cease the raccoon downside, you both should take away what attracts them, which is undesirable if you happen to’re attempting to develop corn or elevate chickens, or should eradicate them completely.

That’s soiled work and could also be disagreeable to some, but when the choice is your chickens being spontaneously changed into a 12-piece meal, you’re finally doing the animal kingdom a service. Generally being type to at least one animal means being merciless to a different.

Authorized Issues with Raccoon Looking

Earlier than you eradicate your undesirable trash pandas, make sure to perceive the legal guidelines the place you reside. The strategy detailed right here entails trapping and capturing a nuisance animal.

As an illustration, the place I’m in Tennessee, there are two raccoon seasons: One from September twentieth at sundown till March 15. Then there’s a separate private-land-only season from July 1 at sundown by means of September twentieth. Nonetheless, trapping season is year-round with no bag restrict. There may be additionally a beneficiant coverage round nuisance animals. TCA 70-4-115 states:

The proprietor of lands could destroy any wild animals, wild birds, or wild fowl when such wild animals, wild birds, or wild fowl are destroying property upon such lands.  Any particular person, earlier than destroying any large recreation underneath the situations offered for on this part, is required to acquire a allow for destroying such large recreation.  Such permits shall be issued by an officer of the wildlife sources company.

By legislation in Tennessee, as soon as trapped, raccoons can’t be relocated. Many scoff at this, however the state supplies a number of good the reason why relocation is a foul concept. It’s dangerous for the raccoon as a result of it then has to battle for brand spanking new territory, and it’s dangerous for the native ecology as a result of raccoons are damaging.

These are simply examples of issues you need to think about earlier than dealing with your raccoon downside. Test your state’s wildlife useful resource company, and if you happen to’re nonetheless confused, give them a name to be sure to’re throughout the confines of the legislation.

Why Reside Traps for Racoons Are Ineffective

It’s tempting to go to the Tractor Provide and purchase a few of these stay animal traps, and so they can work, however they’re problematic.

One downside: Since raccoons are so intelligent, they will typically work out the right way to seize your bait with out springing the entice.

The opposite downside is that undesirable animals can wander into your traps, like this poor possum.

Let’s talk about a greater answer.

The Finest Lure for Raccoons

You want a specialised entice, typically known as a raccoon entice, an arm entice, a hand entice, or a cuff. It’s a steel model of a Chinese language finger entice: It’s an extended tube with a set off on the backside. When a bit of paw reaches in, the entice is sprung, and the entice securely latches onto the raccoon’s arm. The good factor about these traps is that they’re very efficient in opposition to raccoons, however gained’t entice different critters like canines.

If you choose up your entice, you may additionally think about a set instrument in case your arms are weak. A set instrument is an easy U-shaped piece of metal that helps you set the entice. I simply squeeze the spring with my arms.

I’ll warn you upfront: As soon as the little bastard is trapped with certainly one of this stuff, there isn’t a secure option to take away it from the entice alive. Even be forewarned that raccoons typically carry rabies, so that you don’t need to take an opportunity.

Meaning it is advisable shoot it, so that you’ll want a firearm. A .22 LR is adequate, and you possibly can most likely get away with a compound bow or a sufficiently highly effective air rifle if noise is a excessive concern. Nonetheless, in my expertise, .22 LR typically doesn’t make for a clear one-shot kill, so I desire utilizing an AR-15 chambered in 5.56. Which will appear to be overkill, and it’s a bit of messy, but it surely will get the job carried out in a single shot.

Apart from a entice and a gun, you want some stakes to safe the entice to the bottom. 18-inch rebar stakes are cheap and efficient. Plus you’ll need a heavy mallet to pound within the stakes. The picture above illustrates the significance of the stakes. The raccoon pulled the entice itself out of the bottom, however was securely held in place by the stake.

In case your native legislation requires it, you’ll additionally want some entice tags the place you’ll be able to jot down your title and deal with so authorities know who the entice belongs to.

Lastly, you want bait. Simply one thing candy to drop into the entice. I used outdated Nutrigrain bars, however a typical bait is a single marshmallow. There’s no purpose to purchase speciality racoon bait.

Right here’s your purchasing checklist. You should buy the entice and equipment at Cabela’s:

• Racoon entice
• Set instrument (if wanted)
• Rebar stakes
• Lure tags
• Mallet
• Marshmellows
• Disposable gloves (for disposing of the carcass)
• Skinning knife (if you would like a cool hat like Davy Crockett)

Eliminating Raccoons

The important thing to profitable trapping is understanding the place to set the entice. When it got here to saving chickens, that was straightforward: I set it up proper behind my hen tractor. Set it close to what the raccoon is prone to assault, and your greatest guess as to the place it’ll assault from.

Upon getting a spot, put the stake by means of the loop on the finish of the entice chain, and drive it into the bottom with the mallet. Set the entice into the bottom (faucet it with the mallet if want be), after which set the entice mechanism. Rigorously drop your bait into the tube—don’t stick in your finger!

For those who want a tag, scribe the required info onto the tag with a pen. They’re made of soppy steel, so it’s much less like writing and extra like inscribing. Then connect it to the entice’s chain with a chunk of wire, which ought to be included.

Now… you play the ready recreation. Raccoons are nocturnal, so the precise trapping will most likely occur whilst you’re slumbering. So very first thing within the morning, it is advisable verify on the entice. That is of the utmost significance! Leaving an animal trapped longer than obligatory is merciless, even when it’s a raccoon. If you verify the entice, exit along with your firearm and no matter else it is advisable get rid of it.

For those who’ve caught a raccoon, strategy with warning. Keep a minimum of 5 yards away so it might probably’t chunk or scratch you. Raccoons additionally will play lifeless, so don’t be fooled. Intention straight on the head and fireplace, after all being conscious of what’s behind the raccoon, lest you shoot a hen or one thing else. Flinching and flailing is regular, even when it’s a clear shot.

Wait a couple of minutes to make sure that the raccoon is lifeless. Poke it along with your rifle or an extended stick to ensure. As soon as it’s completed, placed on some gloves, take away it from the entice, and get rid of it. The way you achieve this is as much as you. If time permits, you possibly can bury it. I simply toss them into the sting of the woods. For those who’re resourceful, you possibly can pores and skin it and make your self a cool hat. I’ve additionally heard that raccoon meat is scrumptious, however I’m leery of rabies. 

As soon as the deed is completed, you’re not! Set the entice for the subsequent evening, the evening after, and till you cease trapping raccoons. I trapped three in a row earlier than the carnage ended.

FAQ about Racoon Trapping

What’s the greatest bait for a raccoon entice?

Marshmallows are extremely efficient, as is any candy deal with. Canned fish can be efficient.

What’s the simplest option to catch a raccoon?

Use a specialised raccoon entice baited with one thing candy. Reside traps 

The way to scare away raccoons at evening?

Don’t hassle. Lure them and eradicate them as an alternative.

What time are raccoons most lively?

Night time. For those who see a raccoon in the course of the day, assume it’s rabid and eradicate it from a distance.

What to not do to a raccoon?

Don’t deal with a stay raccoon straight. Raccoons can carry rabies.

Josh Facilities

Josh Facilities grows gardens, raises chickens and rabbits, is a licensed ham radio operator, and is an authorized blacksmith. He lives on 5 acres in rural Tennessee.