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General Category => Survival Tips => Topic started by: tbone0106 on August 24, 2011, 06:48:20 PM

Title: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on August 24, 2011, 06:48:20 PM
Lots of articles talk about how to "control" raccoons and how to "divert" raccoons and how to "live-trap" raccoons. I have a different perspective. After losing roughly 60 two-ear corn stalks to raiding raccoons this year, I'm ready to pull the trigger. It's time to deal some death...

Get thee to Tractor Supply and ask for Golden MalrinTM. It comes in small 1-lb. cans and in larger 5-lb. cans. Expect to pay $5-6/lb. for this stuff. (I recently bought 5 lb. for just under $25 plus tax.) Mix a small handful of this fly bait with a can or two of your favorite sugar-based soda pop, such as Coke or Pepsi or Mt. Dew. Put it in a pan in the general approach path the 'coon is using... and prepare to scoop up dead bodies.

Cats and dogs don't like it. It stinks bad enough that kids won't come around it. Flies love it, but that's what it's designed to attract, and along with dead flies come birds, so be prepared for a dead robin or two. I've had luck against raccoons using a shallow metal pan filled with the GM mix placed in the close vicinity of the sweet corn they're stealing. And once I've placed the stuff right, and the coon takes the bait, it's all over, lights out.

Get this, because I'm NOT making it up. I've killed three adult coons in the past week with this stuff, and the toughest one -- about 25 lbs. -- made it 20 feet from the pan before he died. The other two didn't get ten feet.

THIS SHIT WORKS.

I am NOT making this up.

And whatever you do, PROTECT YOURSELF, WEAR GLOVES!! This stuff is POISON!

For the benefit of one and all, and in an effort to protect my precious ass, I offer the Material Safety Data Sheet for Golden Malrin. For those of you who are not familiar with MSDS's, they are useful guidelines that describe the safety issues associated with a substance you may come into contact with. Any time a substance that may be harmful to humans goes to market, OSHA and other agencies require that an MSDS be issued at the same time.

The MSDS for Golden Malrin is here  (http://www.starbarproducts.com/uploads/products/golden_msds.pdf)in PDF form.

Golden Malrin is not designed to kill raccoons; it is designed to kill flies. My recommendation of the product for killing raccoons is not illegal, any more than my use of unleaded gasoline to help me start a fire is illegal. But it goes against the product label's recommendations, and may get your local fish & wildlife contingent motivated to get better acquainted with you.

As always, you use the information presented here at your own risk. It tickles the living shit out of me that folks are seeing benefits from GM in their own lives. But this stuff is DEADLY POISON, as deadly to humans as it was to my idiot raccoon of the month who died with his tail in the dish. BE CAREFUL!!!! Use caution! THINK!!!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Eyesabide on August 24, 2011, 10:38:43 PM
It will kill other critters, but is more effective if you mix it with peanut butter or milk to do so.
I have not heard or found out if the meat will be tainted from it though. If not for human consumption, can the Racoon meat be fed to dogs to supplement their feeding in a survival situation? ( If the coon was killed with Golden Malrin? )
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: WoodBurner on August 25, 2011, 07:17:42 AM
 It must be that time of year when the young have been raised to where they can run and forage with momma coon now. The coon had been climbing over my hog panels, getting in my pig feeder and eating which is bad because they don't just eat the feed they dig through it, throw it on the ground and then the pigs won't eat it. At $22 per hundred that gets a little expensive. I mix GM with Grape Soda because that's what my farming buddy told me worked best for him. I must mix mine a little stronger, they don't get more than 5 ft. and I have even found them with their head still in the pan!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: The mighty wu on August 25, 2011, 12:53:37 PM
I can't bear the thought of killing one of God's creatures. Therefore I always expect some attrition in my garden.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on August 25, 2011, 12:57:03 PM
Quote from: The mighty wu on August 25, 2011, 12:53:37 PM
I can't bear the thought of killing one of God's creatures. Therefore I always expect some attrition in my garden.
Same here, if I think I'm going to have issues, I plant twice as much with easier access for the forest critters.
It isn't like I'm running a business, it's food for two, and there is always too much to consume at harvest time.
I wind up giving two thirds away.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: The mighty wu on August 25, 2011, 01:43:27 PM
Quote from: Solar on August 25, 2011, 12:57:03 PM
Same here, if I think I'm going to have issues, I plant twice as much with easier access for the forest critters.
It isn't like I'm running a business, it's food for two, and there is always too much to consume at harvest time.
I wind up giving two thirds away.

Same here, what I don't consume, can, or feed to the goats and chickens, I give away.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on August 25, 2011, 05:41:56 PM
Quote from: The mighty wu on August 25, 2011, 12:53:37 PM
I can't bear the thought of killing one of God's creatures. Therefore I always expect some attrition in my garden.

The coons that have been raiding my garden hike nightly through 70 acres of field corn to get here. Their method of obtaining an ear is to try to climb the stalk, which of course breaks off the stalk, thereby killing it outright and denying me any future corn. In previous years, they've been kind enough to clean the ears, eating every bite. This year, it's all about maxing out the destruction and leaving nearly perfect ears on the ground stripped of husks and missing two or three coon-sized mouthfuls of corn. The last time they visited, I lost 25 stalks, each bearing 2 ears. That's four dozen ears, kids, in just one night, and I ain't puttin' up with that for long.

For whatever reasons, I've heard it said far and wide in these parts of rural Ohio that this is a BUMPER CROP year for -- not corn -- COONS. I know I've seen dozens splattered on the roads and dozens more scampering across my headlights. LOTS more than in a normal year.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on August 25, 2011, 06:04:54 PM
Quote from: tbone0106 on August 25, 2011, 05:41:56 PM
The coons that have been raiding my garden hike nightly through 70 acres of field corn to get here. Their method of obtaining an ear is to try to climb the stalk, which of course breaks off the stalk, thereby killing it outright and denying me any future corn. In previous years, they've been kind enough to clean the ears, eating every bite. This year, it's all about maxing out the destruction and leaving nearly perfect ears on the ground stripped of husks and missing two or three coon-sized mouthfuls of corn. The last time they visited, I lost 25 stalks, each bearing 2 ears. That's four dozen ears, kids, in just one night, and I ain't puttin' up with that for long.
For whatever reasons, I've heard it said far and wide in these parts of rural Ohio that this is a BUMPER CROP year for -- not corn -- COONS. I know I've seen dozens splattered on the roads and dozens more scampering across my headlights. LOTS more than in a normal year.

When that happens here, it's usually followed up with a bumper crop of lions.
Nature is funny that way, she seems to have some weird plan in mind.

Every year it's something, this year, noseeums.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on August 25, 2011, 06:13:03 PM
Quote from: Solar on August 25, 2011, 06:04:54 PM

When that happens here, it's usually followed up with a bumper crop of lions.
Nature is funny that way, she seems to have some weird plan in mind.

Every year it's something, this year, noseeums.


Well, see there? This year, the bumper crop of raccoons is being followed by a bumper crop of angry gardeners with GM and grape soda!  :P :P :P

What goes around, comes around...
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on August 25, 2011, 06:16:41 PM
Quote from: Eyesabide on August 24, 2011, 10:38:43 PM
It will kill other critters, but is more effective if you mix it with peanut butter or milk to do so.
I have not heard or found out if the meat will be tainted from it though. If not for human consumption, can the Racoon meat be fed to dogs to supplement their feeding in a survival situation? ( If the coon was killed with Golden Malrin? )

You are correct, it will kill other critters, and that's why I don't recommend using those mixtures. If I did, my property would be littered with the bodies of my neighbors' cats and dogs. I use the soda pop mix because practically nothing will bother it EXCEPT a raccoon.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: The mighty wu on August 26, 2011, 06:28:08 AM
Quote from: tbone0106 on August 25, 2011, 05:41:56 PM
The coons that have been raiding my garden hike nightly through 70 acres of field corn to get here. Their method of obtaining an ear is to try to climb the stalk, which of course breaks off the stalk, thereby killing it outright and denying me any future corn. In previous years, they've been kind enough to clean the ears, eating every bite. This year, it's all about maxing out the destruction and leaving nearly perfect ears on the ground stripped of husks and missing two or three coon-sized mouthfuls of corn. The last time they visited, I lost 25 stalks, each bearing 2 ears. That's four dozen ears, kids, in just one night, and I ain't puttin' up with that for long.

For whatever reasons, I've heard it said far and wide in these parts of rural Ohio that this is a BUMPER CROP year for -- not corn -- COONS. I know I've seen dozens splattered on the roads and dozens more scampering across my headlights. LOTS more than in a normal year.

I lose more crop from weather than anything else. I wasn't criticizing you, but poison is particularly inhumane.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: WoodBurner on August 26, 2011, 08:40:17 AM
Quote from: The mighty wu on August 26, 2011, 06:28:08 AM

I lose more crop from weather than anything else. I wasn't criticizing you, but poison is particularly inhumane.
[/quote
  Not GM, it kills the coon with in a few seconds. The last one I got was laying ON the pan.

Are you a vegetarian? Just asking, not criticizing.   
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: The mighty wu on August 26, 2011, 08:52:25 AM


Yeah, I'm mostly a vegetarian. The last time I ate meat was about
2 months ago. And before that was last year.
But I can see where you're going with this, so I'm done. I said what I wanted to say.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on August 26, 2011, 03:44:50 PM
Quote from: The mighty wu on August 26, 2011, 06:28:08 AM

I lose more crop from weather than anything else. I wasn't criticizing you, but poison is particularly inhumane.

Funny you mention that. I lost MORE crop after the latest coon raid from storm damage that occurred BECAUSE of the thinning of my stand of corn. The stalks left in the open snapped off in the wind, and the result was the same -- coons more, me less.

Poison is never my first choice for controlling pests. I prefer engineered solutions, such as my electric fence to ward off the coons. But when those solutions fail, I still want an end to the raids. I'm not the gay philanthropist that plants extra corn just to accommodate hungry raccoons. Screw them. I'll be DAMNED and arrested before I plant an extra acre for the friggin' coons to just take. That sort of welfare mentality makes me ill.

The word "humane" has lots of definitions, and all of them are based on the application of human-to-human consideration to other species, which makes no sense. Don't you think it's kinda bizarre that relationships between people need to be "human," but relationships between humans and animals have to be "humane?" What's the difference? Does that 'e' on the end mean something wonderful? Does that extra 'e' mean that we have to be more considerate of animals than we are of our fellow humans?

The poison I set out has killed three raccoons so far. It is my fond wish that other raccoons come to visit. I can accommodate them ad infinitum. Not one of those killed traveled more than 25 feet from the poison; two died within ten feet of the pan. I consider that "humane."

I get "humane points" because my poison is positioned carefully in the path of the invading "poisonees."

I get "humane points" because I selected a poison mixture that attracts my desired victims and does NOT attract my selected non-victims.

I get "humane points" because every raccoon I've killed with this poison has died -- face down, very fast -- within 20 feet of his exposure point. I have tried the .22-with-a-flashlight approach, but the coons are WAY too smart for that. And in any case, once bullets strike home, I'm gonna be subjected to the same cruelty accusations that I'm working off now.

When was the last time YOU, mighty wu,  faced this sort of problem? What was YOUR solution then? Why don't you tell me how to fix MY problem, instead of offering blanket condemnation of my methods as "inhumane?"
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on August 26, 2011, 04:43:41 PM
Two words, Claymore mines, they do wonders. :D

If I was facing this problem, I'd put up an electrified fence.

I was raised to believe anything you kill you must consume, but Raccoon?
I doubt I'd garner a taste for rats with masks.

Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: taxed on August 26, 2011, 06:45:26 PM
If this was happening to me, I'd nail the little fuckers on a stake, so his little buddies can see what happens when they start eating my shit!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: The mighty wu on August 26, 2011, 07:44:22 PM
Quote from: tbone0106 on August 26, 2011, 03:44:50 PM
Funny you mention that. I lost MORE crop after the latest coon raid from storm damage that occurred BECAUSE of the thinning of my stand of corn. The stalks left in the open snapped off in the wind, and the result was the same -- coons more, me less.

Poison is never my first choice for controlling pests. I prefer engineered solutions, such as my electric fence to ward off the coons. But when those solutions fail, I still want an end to the raids. I'm not the gay philanthropist that plants extra corn just to accommodate hungry raccoons. Screw them. I'll be DAMNED and arrested before I plant an extra acre for the friggin' coons to just take. That sort of welfare mentality makes me ill.

The word "humane" has lots of definitions, and all of them are based on the application of human-to-human consideration to other species, which makes no sense. Don't you think it's kinda bizarre that relationships between people need to be "human," but relationships between humans and animals have to be "humane?" What's the difference? Does that 'e' on the end mean something wonderful? Does that extra 'e' mean that we have to be more considerate of animals than we are of our fellow humans?

The poison I set out has killed three raccoons so far. It is my fond wish that other raccoons come to visit. I can accommodate them ad infinitum. Not one of those killed traveled more than 25 feet from the poison; two died within ten feet of the pan. I consider that "humane."

I get "humane points" because my poison is positioned carefully in the path of the invading "poisonees."

I get "humane points" because I selected a poison mixture that attracts my desired victims and does NOT attract my selected non-victims.

I get "humane points" because every raccoon I've killed with this poison has died -- face down, very fast -- within 20 feet of his exposure point. I have tried the .22-with-a-flashlight approach, but the coons are WAY too smart for that. And in any case, once bullets strike home, I'm gonna be subjected to the same cruelty accusations that I'm working off now.

When was the last time YOU, mighty wu,  faced this sort of problem? What was YOUR solution then? Why don't you tell me how to fix MY problem, instead of offering blanket condemnation of my methods as "inhumane?"

Chill out dude. Or are you looking for a fight? Cuz if you want one you've got it. I said that I can't bear the thought of killing one of God's creatures. That's me. So I am prepared to lose some of my crop every year and not f*****g whine about it. I said poison was particularly inhumane. My opinion. If you don't f*****g like it, that is your problem, not mine, so get off of my ass. 

Edited by ST...
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on August 26, 2011, 08:12:12 PM
Quote from: The mighty wu on August 26, 2011, 07:44:22 PM

Chill out dude. Or are you looking for a fight? Cuz if you want one you've got it. I said that I can't bear the thought of killing one of God's creatures. That's me. So I am prepared to lose some of my crop every year and not fucking whine about it. I said poison was particularly inhumane. My opinion. If you don't fucking like it, that is your problem, not mine, so get off of my ass.

It almost sounds like you're telling me what to do, when I KNOW you're CERTAINLY not doing that.

One of us climbed on the other's ass. I'll leave it to the crowd to determine who jumped first. And stop scaring me with your tough talk and your crudity. I just don't think I can take any more of it.

Jeez.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: The mighty wu on August 26, 2011, 08:17:32 PM
Quote from: tbone0106 on August 26, 2011, 08:12:12 PM
It almost sounds like you're telling me what to do, when I KNOW you're CERTAINLY not doing that.

One of us climbed on the other's ass. I'll leave it to the crowd to determine who jumped first. And stop scaring me with your tough talk and your crudity. I just don't think I can take any more of it.

Jeez.

Piss off chump.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on August 26, 2011, 08:40:33 PM
Quote from: The mighty wu on August 26, 2011, 08:17:32 PM

Piss off chump.

Oh, how clever!

I'm sure we can expect an unending torrent of this sort of wit and charm from the mighty wu.

How lucky for us.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: The mighty wu on August 30, 2011, 12:58:08 PM
Quote from: tbone0106 on August 26, 2011, 08:40:33 PM
Oh, how clever!

I'm sure we can expect an unending torrent of this sort of wit and charm from the mighty wu.

How lucky for us.

And we'll all wait with baited breath on your next thread regarding your conquest of poisoning wildlife. You're a real big man there.

Perhaps next time you will regale us all with pictures of your vicious, deadly prey after you have slain them. I'm quite sure you must have been quite brave when setting out your poison, knowing that your prey could leap at anytime and rip you to shreds. Yes, you're quite the man.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solars Toy on August 30, 2011, 06:38:57 PM
Quote from: The mighty wu on August 30, 2011, 12:58:08 PM

And we'll all wait with baited breath on your next thread regarding your conquest of poisoning wildlife. You're a real big man there.

Perhaps next time you will regale us all with pictures of your vicious, deadly prey after you have slain them. I'm quite sure you must have been quite brave when setting out your poison, knowing that your prey could leap at anytime and rip you to shreds. Yes, you're quite the man.

"sigh"    Not really necessary to go there with this thread... 

Personally I am learning something quick is better than some of the other options....
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: walkstall on August 30, 2011, 07:02:11 PM
Quote from: Solars Toy on August 30, 2011, 06:38:57 PM
"sigh"    Not really necessary to go there with this thread... 

Personally I am learning something quick is better than some of the other options....

Yes!!  When it was time that I need to put down my Cat and Dog.  I ask the Veterinarian I ask he if he could do it quick and painless.  They let me hold them until it was all over. 
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on August 30, 2011, 07:10:28 PM
Quote from: walkstall on August 30, 2011, 07:02:11 PM

Yes!!  When it was time that I need to put down my Cat and Dog.  I ask the Veterinarian I ask he if he could do it quick and painless.  They let me hold them until it was all over. 
It's sad that they make these poisons for the public to use, but aren't allowed to make it put them to sleep first.
I asked my vet if I could come and take the syringe home with me to put my dog down because she had been run over, and she said by law she couldn't and would not only lose her license, but go to jail as well.

Is this really right? I mean what in the Hell is the Gov thinking, the poison is readily available, but don't dare make it painless?
It took her more than an hour to get to my house.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Shooterman on August 31, 2011, 12:03:52 PM
Quote from: taxed on August 26, 2011, 06:45:26 PM
If this was happening to me, I'd nail the little fuckers on a stake, so his little buddies can see what happens when they start eating my shit!

Instead of picket line coyotes- picket line 'coons?
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Eyesabide on September 01, 2011, 07:11:29 AM
One day, I was scouting an area and came across a small corn field. There were a couple of people having a heated argument about something or other and while quietly skirting them, came across the fressh body of a dead raccoon. I snatched it up with a few ears of corn and on my way back to my hidey hole I picked up a couple of corn stalks too.
Back at camp, since I was not sure how the 'coon had died, The meat was cut up for bait and the hide was tanned. Many of the bones were converted into a tool kit that I stashed a short distance away so I would not use this site again the next time through. The sinew and guts became cordage, and  the bladder made a nice pouch.  The things made I could not use now were stored, and stuff that would be good for barter was wrapped in the hide for transport.
The cornstalks became came a shelter, the corn eaten,  the dried silks would be used in a variety of ways, which we can talk about later. The cobs were left near my next hiding place with the tools, when they dried they would be good fuel, or if this became a more permanent shelter they would make great toilet paper. People cringe at that, but the trick is to soak them in water.
The camp was used only a few days, During the the last night before leaving I went back to where the first raccoon was found, and found another. This one I took and dropped in the yard of the guy who apparently was arguing with his neighbor. When he went next door again, the diversion was used so I could grab a couple of squash from his garden.
                                                 The End.

It is my story and I am sticking to it.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: ISmokePowderedTrout on September 02, 2011, 08:40:59 AM
Quote from: Solar on August 26, 2011, 04:43:41 PM
Two words, Claymore mines, they do wonders. :D

If I was facing this problem, I'd put up an electrified fence.

I was raised to believe anything you kill you must consume, but Raccoon?
I doubt I'd garner a taste for rats with masks.

Rats with fluffy tails aren't bad.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on September 02, 2011, 02:45:05 PM
Quote from: The mighty wu on August 30, 2011, 12:58:08 PM

And we'll all wait with baited breath on your next thread regarding your conquest of poisoning wildlife. You're a real big man there.

Perhaps next time you will regale us all with pictures of your vicious, deadly prey after you have slain them. I'm quite sure you must have been quite brave when setting out your poison, knowing that your prey could leap at anytime and rip you to shreds. Yes, you're quite the man.

Your breath may be "baited." Ours is merely bated.

I presented an alternative to direct gunshot murder of the offending creature, an option I'm quite able and willing to pursue. (My .22 rifle is equipped with a scope and a flashlight.) You're welcome to question my manhood AFTER you've gone up against a raccoon of any size, even a cute little baby 'coon. Of course, you may want to line up a typist to assist you with your report... If you defend yourself with your hands against an angry 25-lb. raccoon, some of your fingers won't exist any more.

;) Words to the wise.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on September 26, 2011, 06:21:41 AM
T, apparently this is an issue out here as well.
On the local Sacto news, they are warning people in the Capital to be on the lookout for roving bands of raccoons.
There have been several attacks on people and pets, packs of 5 raccoons or more have been reported around the city.

I grew up there, and in all those years, I only saw one, so you are correct, this is a banner year for the critters. :o :o :o

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/08/3892747/latest-raccoon-attack-raises-question.html (http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/08/3892747/latest-raccoon-attack-raises-question.html)
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Dan on September 26, 2011, 09:03:19 AM
What about water sprinklers set to activate by a motion detector?

Either that or a gun. ;D
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: WoodBurner on September 26, 2011, 01:53:33 PM
Quote from: Solar on September 26, 2011, 06:21:41 AM
T, apparently this is an issue out here as well.
On the local Sacto news, they are warning people in the Capital to be on the lookout for roving bands of raccoons.
There have been several attacks on people and pets, packs of 5 raccoons or more have been reported around the city.

I grew up there, and in all those years, I only saw one, so you are correct, this is a banner year for the critters. :o :o :o

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/08/3892747/latest-raccoon-attack-raises-question.html (http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/08/3892747/latest-raccoon-attack-raises-question.html)

This is how bad it's gotten in Ohio.

http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/dis/zoonoses/rabies/orv/orv1.aspx (http://www.odh.ohio.gov/odhPrograms/dis/zoonoses/rabies/orv/orv1.aspx)

Not many people trap any more.

We used to eat coon years ago before the rabies scared us away from that.
You would boil the meat to get rid of the fat and tenderize it then throw it on the grill w/Q sauce. Of course when your hungry (and been drink'n) you can most anything.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Dan on September 26, 2011, 01:59:01 PM
The worst part of a racoon attack would be all the rabies shots you had to take afterwards.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: WoodBurner on September 26, 2011, 02:06:31 PM
Quote from: Dan on September 26, 2011, 01:59:01 PM
The worst part of a racoon attack would be all the rabies shots you had to take afterwards.
Apparently only one shot but very costly.

http://www2.nbc17.com/news/2011/jun/30/rabies-shots-are-expensive-hard-find-and-time-cons-ar-1169155/ (http://www2.nbc17.com/news/2011/jun/30/rabies-shots-are-expensive-hard-find-and-time-cons-ar-1169155/)
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Dan on September 26, 2011, 02:36:27 PM
Man I'm old. I remember back when it was a series of painful shots in your stomach.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on September 26, 2011, 05:14:25 PM
The skin of a raccoon once had value.

(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1103.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg463%2Ftbone0106%2FDavyCrockettLOGO16704.jpg&hash=42a8874b4e116adfcce184370aab242a22478573)

They were in demand for hats and furs and stuff like that there. Nowadays, NOBODY wants a coonskin. Nowadays, anybody that has a coonskin is branded as a MURDERER OF PRECIOUS WILDLIFE AND A HATER OF THE EARTH BECAUSE KILLING A RACCOON IS EXACTLY THE SAME AS KILLING THE PLANET EARTH.

You might say that the market for raccoon skins contracted. Since the supply didn't change, the price dropped. Very quickly, too many coonskins were chasing too few dollars. Just as quickly, raccoons are taking over suburbia.

Um, this is Econ0101. Oh, and EPA0000. I have more zeroes available...
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on May 08, 2012, 12:39:10 AM
FOLLOWUP:

Last year's toll of dead raccoons was eight. The electric fence didn't work very well, but the pan of poison did. So far this year, two raccoons have died within feet of the poison pan. We still have a bumper crop of the masked rats in these parts, and I am still killing them every chance I get.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: hokiewoodchuck on May 08, 2012, 04:39:56 AM
Quote from: taxed on August 26, 2011, 06:45:26 PM
If this was happening to me, I'd nail the little fuckers on a stake, so his little buddies can see what happens when they start eating my shit!

Sorry taxed.....but that don't work. The bastids will chew their leg off. I have been on many a coon hunt and they are as tough an animal you can find. In fact, this one coon had a dog by the ears and the dog in the rear had the coon's hind leg...the more the dog in the rear pulled the louder the dog yelp in the front. The other dogs joined in and it became a tug of war with the coon being the 'rope'. The coon was still fighting after the removal of 2 rear legs and tail.....had to shoot the coon before it hurt anymore dogs.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: hokiewoodchuck on May 08, 2012, 04:44:18 AM
Quote from: Solar on August 26, 2011, 04:43:41 PM
Two words, Claymore mines, they do wonders. :D

If I was facing this problem, I'd put up an electrified fence.

I was raised to believe anything you kill you must consume, but Raccoon?
I doubt I'd garner a taste for rats with masks.

Coon is better than possum. Possum is fatty as hell. Ya gotta boil that thing forever.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Holly101 on May 08, 2012, 05:10:54 AM
Quote from: hokiewoodchuck on May 08, 2012, 04:44:18 AM
Coon is better than possum. Possum is fatty as hell. Ya gotta boil that thing forever.

Oh yuck!  Tell me you're kidding!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: hokiewoodchuck on May 08, 2012, 05:12:23 AM
Quote from: Holly on May 08, 2012, 05:10:54 AM
Oh yuck!  Tell me you're kidding!

Only once did I do that.......just for the experience to know I can do it again if necessary.

Yeah me too............YUCK!

However, they are better than grub worms.

Some of us have been to survival school before it was fashionable to see it on TV.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on May 13, 2012, 10:47:34 PM
Coon meat? Yup.

Rabbit? Yup.

Groundhog? Yup.

Squirrel? Yup.

That's my record.

But Dear Leader, by his own admission, ate dog meat.

I'll stick with my record.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on June 12, 2012, 03:15:37 PM
UPDATE: So far this spring/summer, ten raccoons have died on my little three-acre piece of the Earth. (Also two opossums, and good riddance to those trash raiders too.) Seven succumbed to lead poisoning -- caught in a Hav-A-Hart trap and unmercifully executed next morning -- and three from poisoning. The latest was a healthy adult male who died with his tail actually in the dish of poison. (See photo below.)

I have to emphasize that my little spread is an anomaly here. This is a community of roughly 75 homes, most situated on old-fashioned Ohio "town lots," generally a quarter-acre, maybe 66' by 166', small enough to mow easily with a push mower. I own three of those lots, plus a 1.7 acre tract glommed on the back of the town lots, plus a little more that used to be alleys and such.

Yes, we have a truck garden, and a small greenhouse where we grow tomatoes and peppers and other succulents. But my truck garden is not bringing the coons in, nor is the greenhouse produce. Most likely, the coons are visiting so often because my next-door neighbors think it's cute to feed the raccoons. They never actually see 'em, they just feed 'em out of a sense of, I don't know, stupidity? Do they think raccoons can't find something to eat at this most bountiful time of year?

If I haven't described what a raccoon does in my garden before now, allow me to elaborate...

Every raccoon loves sweet corn. The only way for a raccoon to access sweet corn growing in a garden is to climb the stalk. A sweet corn stalk will not support the 15-20 pound weight of a raccoon, and will break off instantly, allowing the coon access to the ears, but also killing the plant. A single raid by a single raccoon typically cost me 15-20 stalks, not ears -- STALKS. Put in purely economic terms, that is a loss of 30-40 ears of sweet corn, which sells around here for $3/dozen and up.

I'm just not willing to pay nine or ten bucks EVERY NIGHT UNTIL THE CROP NO LONGER EXISTS so some damn coon can have a nice fresh snack. And trust me, they come back EVERY NIGHT until the corn is gone.

I can't say why raccoons have practically taken over the night here. I know I'm not getting 'em all. One night last week, when I had a trap set and two bowls of poison out, I went to the bathroom around 4:30 in the morning, and as I walked by the utility room window, I saw a fat raccoon wandering by. He did not show up in a trap or dead by poison. But I'll bet he'll be around when the sweet corn comes on!

Other than the desires of a few die-hard dog-owners, fellows who long to hear their coon dogs run at night, there's really no reason for humans to hunt raccoons any more. Except for the desire to see my corn mature to the point of human consumption! Therefore, I continue to -- legally -- cull the local population.

If anyone doubts my description of the way Golden Malrin works, I offer this photographic evidence of a raccoon who came to call here last night:

(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1103.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg463%2Ftbone0106%2FDeadCoon.jpg&hash=b445d8c7e1c2e35dea2b8e8569fb6689d81e7383)

Yep, his tail is literally in the Tupperware bowl I used to set out the poison. He died within a single step of eating the stuff, and that's about as humane as I know how to be.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on June 12, 2012, 03:32:19 PM
In my County, we have laws against people that feed wildlife, and can be fined under poaching laws.
Anyone that feeds bears, lions, turkeys, deer etc. is automatically assumed to be luring in animals so as to poach.

The law does not discriminate, feed a wild animal, get a ticket.

My brother was guilty of Stupid In Public law (SIP), in that he too thought he was helping by feeding.
He quickly learned, they are creatures of habit and will return, and on their heals, lions, bears, coyote, and pretty soon he found he is unable to stop the cycle.
They taught their young where the easy food is and now he loses chickens on a regular basis, including all the feed.
Ten years now and he's still dealing with his stupid little mistake.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on June 12, 2012, 03:48:11 PM
Oh, yeah. The stuff in the bowl -- aside from Mr. Raccoon's tail -- is dead flies lying in the blue-tinted mixture. The Golden Malrin, contrary to its name, is actually tinted blue, and turns the soda pop blue when they're mixed together. The Tupperware container is full of dead flies, not exactly a bad thing around here, and exactly what the poison is made to do in the first place.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: taxed on June 12, 2012, 03:50:32 PM
I am a state over from you T, and there is a big coon problem here too.  If one of those little fuckers tries to hiss at me, he'll catch a 3-wood upside his head...
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on June 12, 2012, 06:41:12 PM
Quote from: taxed on June 12, 2012, 03:50:32 PM
I am a state over from you T, and there is a big coon problem here too.  If one of those little fuckers tries to hiss at me, he'll catch a 3-wood upside his head...
Yeah, I don't know what has caused this massive bumper crop. Last year was horrible -- dead coons splattered all over the roads. I haven't seen that sort of highway toll this year, but clearly my little corner of Heaven is well-populated by raccoons.

And they don't hiss, actually. When I walk up to the trap with rifle in hand, they sort of growl. As if to say, "If you'd just let me out, I'd mess you up really bad."

I never considered a golf club as a weapon, but then it would require releasing the little bastards, now, wouldn't it? But if I had to choose, I believe I'd go with a 4-wood. More lift under the chin.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: taxed on June 12, 2012, 08:48:33 PM
Quote from: tbone0106 on June 12, 2012, 06:41:12 PM
Yeah, I don't know what has caused this massive bumper crop. Last year was horrible -- dead coons splattered all over the roads. I haven't seen that sort of highway toll this year, but clearly my little corner of Heaven is well-populated by raccoons.

And they don't hiss, actually. When I walk up to the trap with rifle in hand, they sort of growl. As if to say, "If you'd just let me out, I'd mess you up really bad."

I never considered a golf club as a weapon, but then it would require releasing the little bastards, now, wouldn't it? But if I had to choose, I believe I'd go with a 4-wood. More lift under the chin.

Just be sure to swing through....
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on June 12, 2012, 09:02:49 PM
Quote from: taxed on June 12, 2012, 08:48:33 PM
Just be sure to swing through....
Always, my friend. Always.  :tounge: :tounge: :tounge:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on June 24, 2012, 11:10:12 AM
Latest count:

11 raccoons

3 possums

2 groundhogs

:biggrin:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 02, 2012, 03:48:28 AM
Quote from: tbone0106 on June 24, 2012, 11:10:12 AM
Latest count:

11 13 raccoons

3 4 possums

2 groundhogs

:biggrin:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Sword of Justice on July 04, 2012, 06:53:21 AM
Brand new member here, and thank God for this post! I enjoy having chickens in my backyard and have built a pretty elaborate run and laying house for what had been my 40-50 birds.  I sell the eggs to neighbors for just enough to almost cover the feed, but it's not about the money.  I love having chickens around.  Well, until the last 2-3 weeks.  After 4-5  years of only losing 1 or 2 birds a  year, raccoons have found my chickens and they have utterly decimated my hens.  They are killing 2-3 each night.  I now have only 13 hens and am about a week away from being completely out of my backyard chicken hobby.  I have spent hours securing the pens the last two days only to find two more hens dead and partially eaten this morning.  A small bantam chick with a broken foot was kept in a cage and the cage was opened by one of the vile creatures.  I am at wit's end. I dread getting up in the morning to see the latest carnage.  I harbor no animosity to animals in the wild, but I would kill these particular raccoons with my bare hands if I could.  So I did a search and found this thread.  I will have some Golden Malrin within the hour. I will apply it to some Mtn Dew, Grape soda, whatever it takes.  I plan to put out the mixture at night and take it up before the chickens come off the roost.  I don't want these raccoons relocated.  I want them dead and I want to see them dead, like that marvelous example in your picture.  Because after losing chickens that were more like pets than livestock, it's now personal.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Eyesabide on July 04, 2012, 07:28:46 AM
Sword of Justice, Welcome!
After you kill these raccoons, what is your plan to keep them from coming back? Will you maintain the kill traps or will you do something else to discourage them?
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 04, 2012, 08:25:44 AM
Quote from: Sword of Justice on July 04, 2012, 06:53:21 AM
Brand new member here, and thank God for this post! I enjoy having chickens in my backyard and have built a pretty elaborate run and laying house for what had been my 40-50 birds.  I sell the eggs to neighbors for just enough to almost cover the feed, but it's not about the money.  I love having chickens around.  Well, until the last 2-3 weeks.  After 4-5  years of only losing 1 or 2 birds a  year, raccoons have found my chickens and they have utterly decimated my hens.  They are killing 2-3 each night.  I now have only 13 hens and am about a week away from being completely out of my backyard chicken hobby.  I have spent hours securing the pens the last two days only to find two more hens dead and partially eaten this morning.  A small bantam chick with a broken foot was kept in a cage and the cage was opened by one of the vile creatures.  I am at wit's end. I dread getting up in the morning to see the latest carnage.  I harbor no animosity to animals in the wild, but I would kill these particular raccoons with my bare hands if I could.  So I did a search and found this thread.  I will have some Golden Malrin within the hour. I will apply it to some Mtn Dew, Grape soda, whatever it takes.  I plan to put out the mixture at night and take it up before the chickens come off the roost.  I don't want these raccoons relocated.  I want them dead and I want to see them dead, like that marvelous example in your picture.  Because after losing chickens that were more like pets than livestock, it's now personal.
Welcome to the board!

Sounds like you have a real problem with your hens, or rather with raccoons that find them tasty. And as you're discovering, once they find something like that, they will come back EVERY night until whatever it is is gone.

My advice: place the stuff where the chickens can't get to it. Cats and dogs don't like it, and neither do chickens actually, but birds can attempt to pick the dead flies out of it, which kills them pretty dead. It doesn't happen often -- here I've lost one robin in two seasons -- but why take the chance?

Also, try placing it in different spots around the chickens. If it's the same coon(s) coming every night (it is, bet on it), it/they will come from the same direction... but you don't know what that direction is -- yet. Remember that the object of the game is interdiction; you have to put the GM where they'll come across it BEFORE they get a belly full of chicken or sweet corn or whatever. Placing a single poison trap east of the henhouse won't stop a coon coming in from the west.

Rain dilutes the stuff after a while. If we get a 1/4" shower, I don't worry about it, but an inch or more of rain weakens it, and you'll have to discard it and make a new batch. Or you may be lucky enough to have a sheltered place to put the stuff; I don't.

If you have an outdoor garbage can or a burn barrel, those can be attractants for coons. I recently noticed muddy pawprints on the outside of my burn barrel, along with several gnawed-up corn cobs on the ground near it. (Mrs. Tbone struggles with determining what burns well and what does not. Cobs from yesterday's sweet corn meal fall in the "not" category.) Guess where I have a dish of the good stuff now...

Good luck, and again, WELCOME to the board!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Sword of Justice on July 04, 2012, 06:29:46 PM
Thank you for the welcome! Seems like a great site with good people!

Well, I was disappointed to find the feed n seed closed for the 4th so no Golden Malrin.  A man who undoubtedly used GM had told me about a product a month ago that was blue and came in a metal can that he used to eradicate feral cats around his property.  He couldn't remember the name and the fellow at the store sold me something else instead.  It's called QuickBayt for flies and the active ingredient is Imclaprodin or something like that.  It has been a huge disappointment.  I've put it all over fish carcasses (I am a part-time guide and have lots of fish parts!), left over fried chicken, etc etc.  Whatever I leave out is completely gone by morning, but I've seen NO dead animals of any kind and the predation on my chickens has only increased since I started.  I've observed two foxes crossing my yard (my son shot one through the eye with the first shot he ever made with a rifle!) and my neighbors reported seeing a coyote crossing the road.  I live in rural Georgia and I've had no issues in the past with predators.  But I've observed the coon with a dying chicken in its mouth twice now in less than a week.  So I made due with the best I could tonight.  I loaded up two aluminum pans with QuickBayt and added some pepsi to both.  I put them in opposite directions from the pen on two trail areas (both of which show recent evidence of slain chickens).  I'm crossing my fingers I will see my first poisoned raccoon soon.  To answer the earlier question, my plan is to keep poisoning until the predation stops or there is some poisoned food remaining in the dishes by morning.  (I take up the poison before sun up to avoid killing my birds.)

We'll see how this goes.  I plan on buying a can of the "good stuff" on my way to work tomorrow morning.  Thanks again for all the advice!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 04, 2012, 07:16:57 PM
Quote from: Sword of Justice on July 04, 2012, 06:29:46 PM
Thank you for the welcome! Seems like a great site with good people!

Well, I was disappointed to find the feed n seed closed for the 4th so no Golden Malrin.  A man who undoubtedly used GM had told me about a product a month ago that was blue and came in a metal can that he used to eradicate feral cats around his property.  He couldn't remember the name and the fellow at the store sold me something else instead.  It's called QuickBayt for flies and the active ingredient is Imclaprodin or something like that.  It has been a huge disappointment.  I've put it all over fish carcasses (I am a part-time guide and have lots of fish parts!), left over fried chicken, etc etc.  Whatever I leave out is completely gone by morning, but I've seen NO dead animals of any kind and the predation on my chickens has only increased since I started.  I've observed two foxes crossing my yard (my son shot one through the eye with the first shot he ever made with a rifle!) and my neighbors reported seeing a coyote crossing the road.  I live in rural Georgia and I've had no issues in the past with predators.  But I've observed the coon with a dying chicken in its mouth twice now in less than a week.  So I made due with the best I could tonight.  I loaded up two aluminum pans with QuickBayt and added some pepsi to both.  I put them in opposite directions from the pen on two trail areas (both of which show recent evidence of slain chickens).  I'm crossing my fingers I will see my first poisoned raccoon soon.  To answer the earlier question, my plan is to keep poisoning until the predation stops or there is some poisoned food remaining in the dishes by morning.  (I take up the poison before sun up to avoid killing my birds.)

We'll see how this goes.  I plan on buying a can of the "good stuff" on my way to work tomorrow morning.  Thanks again for all the advice!

Good luck. That's not the same stuff at all. The active ingredients in GM are methomyl and (Z)-9-tricosene. The tricosene stuff is a fly attractant, but the methomyl is deadly poisonous, even to humans. Wear gloves when you handle the stuff!

Mixing GM with soda pop makes it unattractive to most animals that you'd like to keep around, especially cats and dogs, but at the same time makes it almost irresistible to raccoons. A 'coon has an insatiable sweet tooth. Mixing it with other baits, such as fish or hamburger, will certainly be effective, even on 'coons, but will also attract lots of new species. For sure, it would be hard to keep the cats and dogs away. And the GM will, of course, kill them where they stand. It is powerful stuff.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Sword of Justice on July 05, 2012, 05:19:55 AM
Success!! Although it was further confirmation that my QuickBayt is utterly useless.  By 11 pm, both aluminum pans of the stuff were licked bone dry.  No dead or sick varmints anywhere as usual, and I really heaped the stuff in.

BUT....at 1:15 am, I decided to take a look down there and spotted that hated raccoon in my pen yet again, feeding on one of my ever diminishing flock.  It climbed to the top of the door of the pen, and a surprisingly well-placed .223 round (I was holding a Q-Beam with the same hand I used to squeeze the trigger!) ended its reign of terror for good.  It was a pretty hefty female.  Maybe it has been the primary problem, or maybe it's just the first of several that will have to be eliminated, but it still felt pretty darn good! (Sorry, tree huggers, but that's just the truth!)

I took the body of my most recently killed chicken (she had been one of my favorites...sigh) and decided to put her to use that same night.  I tied its leg to a tree in the yard with 60 lb test monofilament and left her out in the light.  At 2:15, the chicken had been moved, and this time the Q-Beam illuminated a fox.  Unfortunately I didn't have a good shot and holding a light on an animal while you shoot is a lesson in frustration.  I missed but it will be back no doubt. 

Here's a shot of the proud hunter seconds before I tossed its worthless carcass into the woods.  Hope to show some additional pics of success in the coming weeks as I try to slowly build my chicken flock back to where it once was.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Sword of Justice on July 05, 2012, 05:22:23 AM
Hmmmm....having a bit of trouble getting the picture to upload.  I have the size down to 54 kb but I still get this message:

"The upload folder is full. Please try a smaller file and/or contact an administrator."

If anyone can help, it would be appreciated.  But pictures or not, I just had to report the good news.  Tonight, we'll see how the Pepsi/Golden Malrin fares.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 05, 2012, 06:13:56 AM
Quote from: Sword of Justice on July 05, 2012, 05:22:23 AM
Hmmmm....having a bit of trouble getting the picture to upload.  I have the size down to 54 kb but I still get this message:

"The upload folder is full. Please try a smaller file and/or contact an administrator."

If anyone can help, it would be appreciated.  But pictures or not, I just had to report the good news.  Tonight, we'll see how the Pepsi/Golden Malrin fares.
Rather than try to upload a photo directly to the board, I use Photobucket. It's free and you can upload your photo there and it'll automatically generate the correct code for an embedded IMG link you can put in your post.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 05, 2012, 06:16:41 AM
Oh, and congratulations on your coon sow! GM is powerful poison, but so is lead administered in 55-grain doses at high velocity. If she's a big one, you can bet she had a litter of young ones earlier this year, and they get hungry too...
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Sword of Justice on July 05, 2012, 08:32:55 AM
Little ones.  That's what I was thinking.  Looks like my work is cut out for me.  Just finished cleaning around 20 perch, refrigerated the fillets, will dust the carcasses well about sundown.  Planning them for coons, but if fox and coyote find them first, it will be good riddance to them as well.  There are no pet dogs and cats around here, thank goodness.  Will try the Pepsi mixture again as well.  The previous fly bait had no apparent effect, as they ate/drank everything I coated in the Quick Bayt.  Expecting a much different outcome this time around.  Even got the local feed/seed man to knock a dollar off the price of a can of GM after I told him I had gotten a bum deal with the previous poison.  For anyone interested, it's $6.99 for 1 lb and $24.99 for 5 lbs at Tractor Supply.  My local small town seed store has it marked way up, to $9 for 1 lb and $40 for 5 lbs.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: SWMP on July 05, 2012, 09:13:19 PM
Becoming a little more aware of the need to be self sufficient, after years of becoming more active with firearms, planning including LT food storage, etc., I took the extreme step of buying two pre-potted tomato plants from our local garden store.  These tomato plants in their pots with attached tomato cages were carefully nurtured on our spacious Trex deck, watered twice or more times per day using our retractable Frontgate hose reel recently plumbed onto our deck.

I think you get the picture.......

Our lot backs up to hundreds of acres of wilderness, thousands of acres if you count the hillsides along the Ohio River.

I watched as our tomato plants created tasty tomatoes almost ripe enough to pick.  Then came the ravaging raccoons.  I thought about trapping and shooting the critters (I can do so with a suppressed .22) but figured I'd tear up the cage or worse catch or cause a ricochet.  Along came GM from Tractor Supply.  I put a pan out that was licked clean, but no raccoons.  That said, the group of 4-6 raccoons I had on a wildlife video seem to be gone (the mix must have been just right assuming they all went home for a final nap).  A single raccoon walked by our back door a night or so later, setting off the motion light and was then caught in the act of ravaging my vast tomato farm.  This raccoon seems to have visited the refilled pan the following (last) night and fell victim to the high fructose syrup in the mixture.  I picked him up this morning about a foot from the pan.

After our heavily attended 4th of July party we had two large wheeled garbage cans that were overstuffed.  Figuring that the raccoons would hit the cans. I poured another bowl and set it by the cans.  The raccoon(s) did hit the cans, but couldn't get in and only created a small mess.  The freshly poured bowl was ignored to my surprise.  The first pan may, however, have caught the culprit as described earlier.

Both the pan and the bowl are working again tonight.

The only concern I have is that wildlife, by its nature will fill in any gaps created by the mix.  Hopefully I will get a tomato or two off my plants and will succeed in living off the land (or at least the deck).
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 05, 2012, 09:22:03 PM
Quote from: SWMP on July 05, 2012, 09:13:19 PM
Becoming a little more aware of the need to be self sufficient, after years of becoming more active with firearms, planning including LT food storage, etc., I took the extreme step of buying two pre-potted tomato plants from our local garden store.  These tomato plants in their pots with attached tomato cages were carefully nurtured on our spacious Trex deck, watered twice or more times per day using our retractable Frontgate hose reel recently plumbed onto our deck.

I think you get the picture.......

Our lot backs up to hundreds of acres of wilderness, thousands of acres if you count the hillsides along the Ohio River.

I watched as our tomato plants created tasty tomatoes almost ripe enough to pick.  Then came the ravaging raccoons.  I thought about trapping and shooting the critters (I can do so with a suppressed .22) but figured I'd tear up the cage or worse catch or cause a ricochet.  Along came GM from Tractor Supply.  I put a pan out that was licked clean, but no raccoons.  That said, the group of 4-6 raccoons I had on a wildlife video seem to be gone (the mix must have been just right assuming they all went home for a final nap).  A single raccoon walked by our back door a night or so later, setting off the motion light and was then caught in the act of ravaging my vast tomato farm.  This raccoon seems to have visited the refilled pan the following (last) night and fell victim to the high fructose syrup in the mixture.  I picked him up this morning about a foot from the pan.

After our heavily attended 4th of July party we had two large wheeled garbage cans that were overstuffed.  Figuring that the raccoons would hit the cans. I poured another bowl and set it by the cans.  The raccoon(s) did hit the cans, but couldn't get in and only created a small mess.  The freshly poured bowl was ignored to my surprise.  The first pan may, however, have caught the culprit as described earlier.

Both the pan and the bowl are working again tonight.

The only concern I have is that wildlife, by its nature will fill in any gaps created by the mix.  Hopefully I will get a tomato or two off my plants and will succeed in living off the land (or at least the deck).
Welcome SWMP, glad you joined.
It appears T has got quite a following on this thread, all with the same issue, an overpopulation of coons.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Sword of Justice on July 06, 2012, 05:05:18 AM
A big thumbs up to Golden Malrin!  :thumbsup:

First night = Success! (Although it wasn't exactly what I was seeking).  Opossums and skunks have been all-too-frequent univited guests and have eaten a lot of eggs from my laying boxes.

Last night I placed out three eggs with cracked shells and GM for their inspection.  This morning's result is shown below.  One egg gone and one possum down.

It appears the "lead poisoning" administered the night before resulted in the first night free of terror and predation for my chickens in over a month.  Sure wished I could have saved the 20 or more birds lost to these pests.  Now I just hope I can save the small number remaining.  I'll keep everyone posted, and thank you!

(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi671.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv75%2Ffisher-o-men%2FDeadPossum1.jpg&hash=da0920ac83b28fc06c3411560b265dd17ec0413d)
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Sword of Justice on July 06, 2012, 05:08:46 AM
Hooray! Photobucket works!  :thumbup:

Here's the pic of the notorious chicken killer that finally met its fate.  No pen full of feathers and chicken parts this morning!  A small measure of revenge perhaps, but it felt extremely satisfying! :biggrin:

(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi671.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv75%2Ffisher-o-men%2FSmallMeasureofRevenge.jpg&hash=379e26322857a05223d0605a7ab47175bfe02ce3)
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 06, 2012, 06:05:00 PM
Quote from: Sword of Justice on July 06, 2012, 05:08:46 AM
Hooray! Photobucket works!  :thumbup:

Here's the pic of the notorious chicken killer that finally met its fate.  No pen full of feathers and chicken parts this morning!  A small measure of revenge perhaps, but it felt extremely satisfying! :biggrin:

(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi671.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv75%2Ffisher-o-men%2FSmallMeasureofRevenge.jpg&hash=379e26322857a05223d0605a7ab47175bfe02ce3)
Now THAT is the way I like raccoons -- DEAD.  :tounge: :tounge: :tounge:

Good shooting, young man, and best wishes for many happy returns of the event!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Sword of Justice on July 07, 2012, 04:34:20 PM
Well, when I gathered my two pans of GM this morning, I thought that perhaps nothing had ventured near them.  That was OK because I still had all my chickens once again for the 2nd straight night.  And this after I was losing 1-3 every night for a month.  However, by late afternoon, I began to detect the "sweet smell of success"...well, let me change that.  There was nothing sweet about that stench in the 100°F Georgia afternoon, except that it meant that mixture I learned about here had scored another success.  A bit of trampling through the underbrush revealed a wonderful sight....a very large, and VERY dead, male raccoon approximately 10 ft from my chicken coop and less than 6 ft from where the pan of GM had been last night. He had buried himself in the thick cover but I pulled him out for a quick photo shoot. This was the first attempt with the grape soda, and I couldn't be more pleased.  If GM put out hats and t-shirts, I'd gladly buy one of each to wear proudly! Thanks so much tbone....I'm beginning to have hope I can save my few chickens after all.

(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi671.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv75%2Ffisher-o-men%2F2ndRaccoon1.jpg&hash=f9a5c248bd4f0d3c62cff4ebd00c8d93e671b981)
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Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 07, 2012, 05:48:08 PM
I like to call each one "Bluebeard" in the unkindest way possible. Ain't it cute how they shuffle off this mortal coil with that blue stain all over their faces?

You're obviously catching on. Congrats! A habit I've developed is to walk around each evening and inspect my bait stands, paying special attention to how full they are. The soda pop mix is remarkably resistant to evaporation, so it doesn't change much from day to day. In the morning I do the same thing, and if it appears that one has been disturbed or the liquid level is down, I start looking around. The farthest a 'coon has ever traveled from one of my stands is maybe 30 feet, and he was a tough old boar that probably went at least 25 pounds. If they don't just fall dead next to the bait, they seem to try to get to the nearest cover.

Looking back over my older posts on the subject, I don't see where I mentioned wearing gloves. WEAR GLOVES when you handle GM! It is DEADLY poison to animals in general, including the human kind. Damn, that's the sort of thing I should have mentioned already, ain't it?

Maybe I should write a manual, and then we'll see how long the Fish & Wildlife folks take to show up at my door with a warrant and guns.  :tounge: :tounge: :tounge:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 07, 2012, 06:09:35 PM
Quote from: tbone0106 on July 07, 2012, 05:48:08 PM
I like to call each one "Bluebeard" in the unkindest way possible. Ain't it cute how they shuffle off this mortal coil with that blue stain all over their faces?

You're obviously catching on. Congrats! A habit I've developed is to walk around each evening and inspect my bait stands, paying special attention to how full they are. The soda pop mix is remarkably resistant to evaporation, so it doesn't change much from day to day. In the morning I do the same thing, and if it appears that one has been disturbed or the liquid level is down, I start looking around. The farthest a 'coon has ever traveled from one of my stands is maybe 30 feet, and he was a tough old boar that probably went at least 25 pounds. If they don't just fall dead next to the bait, they seem to try to get to the nearest cover.

Looking back over my older posts on the subject, I don't see where I mentioned wearing gloves. WEAR GLOVES when you handle GM! It is DEADLY poison to animals in general, including the human kind. Damn, that's the sort of thing I should have mentioned already, ain't it?

Maybe I should write a manual, and then we'll see how long the Fish & Wildlife folks take to show up at my door with a warrant and guns.  :tounge: :tounge: :tounge:
I took care of it T, glad you mentioned it, I'd hate for someone handle food or something after dealing with this stuff..
You may want to mention disposal, since this is still deadly to say, a dog getting a hold of a carcass.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 07, 2012, 07:23:54 PM
Quote from: Solar on July 07, 2012, 06:09:35 PM
I took care of it T, glad you mentioned it, I'd hate for someone handle food or something after dealing with this stuff..
You may want to mention disposal, since this is still deadly to say, a dog getting a hold of a carcass.
Yeah, that's an issue for sure, one I hadn't brought up. If you don't have a handy landfill or a bottomless pit, there is the problem of disposing of the carcasses. In my experience, dogs, coyotes and other scavengers, including turkey buzzards, do not touch a victim of GM. There is apparently some taint to the carcass that discourages them.

I'm lucky enough to have about 1.5 acres of low-lying land behind my property -- a sort of semi-swamp that is wet enough that the farmer won't seed it and no one really wants to do anything else with it -- and with the farmer's permission, I scatter the carcasses in the grass to decompose in the sun. That seems to handle my custom -- roughly 20 animals so far this season. Of course, SOJ, your season is obviously year-round, since you're in Georgia and trying to protect chickens, and you may need to think about what to do with those dead 'coons in the winter months. (You worry about chickens, I worry about sweet corn and tomatoes.)

GM has been around for something like 30 years, and there are no reports of domestic or wild animal kills connected to its use, except when it's combined with, say, meat as an attractant. (If you've been close enough to GM to smell it, you know THAT ain't what's bringing in the 'coons -- or anything else. PHEEEWWW!)
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 07, 2012, 07:46:23 PM
Quote from: Eyesabide on August 24, 2011, 10:38:43 PM
It will kill other critters, but is more effective if you mix it with peanut butter or milk to do so.
I have not heard or found out if the meat will be tainted from it though. If not for human consumption, can the Racoon meat be fed to dogs to supplement their feeding in a survival situation? ( If the coon was killed with Golden Malrin? )
In my experience, dogs won't touch the meat, nor will cats, coyotes, buzzards or other scavengers we have around here, like possums and skunks. The GM has an AWFUL smell, and I suspect that may be why. I would not feed it, no matter how processed, to my livestock or pets.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 07, 2012, 07:58:07 PM
For the benefit of one and all, and in an effort to protect my precious ass, I offer the Material Safety Data Sheet for Golden Malrin. For those of you who are not familiar with MSDS's, they are useful guidelines that describe the safety issues associated with a substance you may come into contact with. Any time a substance that may be harmful to humans goes to market, OSHA and other agencies require that an MSDS be issued at the same time.

The MSDS for Golden Malrin is here (http://www.starbarproducts.com/uploads/products/golden_msds.pdf) in PDF form.

Golden Malrin is not designed to kill raccoons; it is designed to kill flies. My recommendation of the product for killing raccoons is not illegal, any more than my use of unleaded gasoline to help me start a fire is illegal. But it goes against the product label's recommendations, and may get your local fish & wildlife contingent motivated to get better acquainted with you.

As always, you use the information presented here at your own risk. It tickles the living shit out of me that folks are seeing benefits from GM in their own lives. BE CAREFUL!!!!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 07, 2012, 08:10:47 PM
Quote from: tbone0106 on July 07, 2012, 07:46:23 PM
In my experience, dogs won't touch the meat, nor will cats, coyotes, buzzards or other scavengers we have around here, like possums and skunks. The GM has an AWFUL smell, and I suspect that may be why. I would not feed it, no matter how processed, to my livestock or pets.
Not to mention, the meat would be horrible tasting considering all the adrenaline rushing through the blood stream.
If you've ever had venison that was killed on a chase, you know what I'm talking about as compared to a clean kill, where the animal drops in it's tracks.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: jrweflen on July 07, 2012, 09:37:23 PM
I love this post and all of the replies!  I live in Indiana, NOT in a rural area. We live in town, and I have never seen raccoons on our property until this year. In past years, I have seen an occasional opossum, but this year, raccoons are EVERYWHERE. They come on our front porch where we put cat food out for our outdoor cats. I have 4 kids, and I really do not want these disgusting, disease-carrying animals on my property,especially since they even come up to the porch in the middle of the day.  There is a very large momma raccoon, and 4 of her kids, and they are very aggressive.  Even when I go out to scare them off the porch, they don't seem to be afraid of me. We are in the middle of a drought, so maybe that's what is bringing them out so much this year. They roam around our neighborhood in about a 4 block radius, and they even got into our neighbor's swimming pool to get water, and tore the liner with their claws. I was worried that they might attack our cats, so I wanted to get rid of them. My dad lives one block down from us, and one of his friends told him about GM. He tried it mixed with Coca Cola, and the next morning he found a dead coon about 10 feet from the bowl. This was 4 nights ago, and he has put it out every night since then, and every time he has found a dead coon the next morning.  He told ME about it, and last night I tried it for the first time, and I actually looked out our front window last night just in time to see 2 of the coons licking the bowl clean! This morning, I collected the dead coon, which had actually made it about 15 feet before it died. Between me and my dad, the bodies are really starting to pile up! I mixed it a little stronger tonight, and put out another bowl.  Good riddance!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 08, 2012, 04:37:56 AM
Quote from: jrweflen on July 07, 2012, 09:37:23 PM
I love this post and all of the replies!  I live in Indiana, NOT in a rural area. We live in town, and I have never seen raccoons on our property until this year. In past years, I have seen an occasional opossum, but this year, raccoons are EVERYWHERE. They come on our front porch where we put cat food out for our outdoor cats. I have 4 kids, and I really do not want these disgusting, disease-carrying animals on my property,especially since they even come up to the porch in the middle of the day.  There is a very large momma raccoon, and 4 of her kids, and they are very aggressive.  Even when I go out to scare them off the porch, they don't seem to be afraid of me. We are in the middle of a drought, so maybe that's what is bringing them out so much this year. They roam around our neighborhood in about a 4 block radius, and they even got into our neighbor's swimming pool to get water, and tore the liner with their claws. I was worried that they might attack our cats, so I wanted to get rid of them. My dad lives one block down from us, and one of his friends told him about GM. He tried it mixed with Coca Cola, and the next morning he found a dead coon about 10 feet from the bowl. This was 4 nights ago, and he has put it out every night since then, and every time he has found a dead coon the next morning.  He told ME about it, and last night I tried it for the first time, and I actually looked out our front window last night just in time to see 2 of the coons licking the bowl clean! This morning, I collected the dead coon, which had actually made it about 15 feet before it died. Between me and my dad, the bodies are really starting to pile up! I mixed it a little stronger tonight, and put out another bowl.  Good riddance!
I would suggest that you scout around a bit more. If there were two 'coons slurping, then two 'coons died. You just haven't found #2 yet. By this afternoon, you should be able to simply follow your nose...  :blink:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Sword of Justice on July 08, 2012, 09:17:30 PM
 :smile: Nice to see that the number of satisfied users continues to climb! Three nights of terror-free rest for my chickens and counting! If this keeps up, I may actually believe that the tide has turned against the predators for good! Still placing the liquid mix out nightly.  Ate some fried chicken for Sunday dinner and put out the skin/bones with GM hoping to take down the fox that I've seen prowling around.  No dogs around unless there are some wild ones about.

Thanks for the update on the gloves. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that if you're using something that drops animals in their tracks, you darn sure better keep it away from yourself!  Been using rubber gloves since the onset.  Washing them thoroughly after each use.

Looking forward to reporting untouched bowls of grape koolaid/GM and untouched fish carcasses.  It will take awhile,and I'll need to go buy the 5 lb can (almost emptied the 1 lb can already!) but I believe I can start to think about rebuilding my chicken flocks...something I couldn't have considered a week ago!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 08, 2012, 09:34:22 PM
Happy that you're happy! Don't assume you've beaten them, though. You haven't. I've killed 13 raccoons and 4 possums so far this season -- and things have slowed down a lot lately -- but I don't think for one second that every raccoon in the county is dead.

Vigilance. Fortitude. Stick-To-Itiveness.

I don't assume they're all dead. I assume they're all waiting for my sweet corn to yield. And it's getting close -- I have stalks that are silking, some of them with two ears. :smile:

Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: walkstall on July 08, 2012, 09:49:08 PM
Quote from: Sword of Justice on July 08, 2012, 09:17:30 PM

Thanks for the update on the gloves. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand that if you're using something that drops animals in their tracks, you darn sure better keep it away from yourself!  Been using rubber gloves since the onset.  Washing them thoroughly after each use.

You would be surprised at the number of people (rocket scientist also) that can not use everyday common sense.  I would say about half the the people in the U.S. do not know what  MSDS is.  (Material Safety Data Sheet)   


(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.msds.com%2Fimages%2Flogo%2Ffree_search_en.jpg&hash=dbe4357108e45870774d326b9aea3759d80fba51)
http://www.msds.com/ (http://www.msds.com/)
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 09, 2012, 06:25:31 AM
One other thing I'd like to point out, these animals are trying to feed families of their own, it is incumbent of those taking this short cut to make an attempt to find these dens and end the suffering of their potential off spring.

Believe me, I'm no bleeding heart, but I was raised, "You kill it, you eat it", and never to cause undue suffering to any of God's creatures.
I know many of you have come to disdain these animals, but remember, they are only doing what comes natural and without the malice you have for their demise.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Sword of Justice on July 09, 2012, 07:07:31 AM
Tbone,

I have no intention of letting down my guard, nor do I intend to back off.  Last night was a great success with another oppossum and another raccoon succumbing to the effects of GM, placed on leftover fried chicken, a cracked egg, and more grape pop/GM mix.  These dropped within 10 feet of one another!

Solar,

I do respect your opinion.  I know they are God's creatures and He designed them as hunters.  In fact, I had no fight with them for the 4-5 years I have kept chickens.  They relied on alternative food sources other than my pets/property.  Lately, unfortunately, they discovered my well-fenced flocks, found entry points in spite of my attempts to prevent it, and have nearly destroyed everything I built up over time.  I have been providing eggs to several elderly ladies, but my egg production has dropped from 23 eggs a month ago to 3 yesterday.

I did not desire this battle, however,remember that man has been given dominion over the creatures.  And GM is, at last providing a means of getting the upper hand.  The only alternative would have been to simply open the doors of my chicken pen and allow them to feast more easily.

I am attaching a few shots of last night's take.  I will probably only report numbers in the future, as I don't want the pictures to offend anyone on this fine forum.  However, I took note of the dental display on both raccoons and oppossums for a reason, and to show,if you're a chicken awaiting destruction,these animals are not "cute and cuddly" in the least!

P.S. I almost made a comment on the last picture regarding "shot while surrendering" but that bit of dark humor might have been lost on some...

(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi671.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fvv75%2Ffisher-o-men%2F9JulyPair.jpg&hash=cadb05c1eb4e03de4cda515131ed8aaabe590258)
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Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 09, 2012, 09:08:20 AM
I understand what is at risk here, and it wasn't meant as a slight, but a reminder that our actions carry consequences, actions we should not take lightly.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 10, 2012, 07:13:24 AM
There are a few points that I think deserve to be made in this discussion.

First, I would like nothing better than to backtrack the 'coons that raid my garden and eradicate the entire den. But I own a touch under three acres here, and there is no den on my property. I have a fair idea where the dens probably are, but they're on another man's property, and I don't know that man (he is an absentee landowner, lives in Hawaii I think) or have his permission to hunt on his land.

Second, even if I managed to get permission from the landowner, if I pursue the 'coons to their dens, I am hunting, and subject to all the hunting laws and regulations. I frankly have no desire to hunt raccoons -- or have any sort of contact with them, for that matter -- and would certainly never buy a hunting license and a fur taker permit and subject myself to the state's rules for the sake of doing so. Even if I was so inclined, in Ohio I would be allowed to legally hunt them only in November, December, and January, not terribly helpful if I'm trying to protect my sweet corn in July. On the other hand, when a raccoon comes onto my property for the purpose of eating my food (or killing my critters), I have the moral and legal right to kill the son of a bitch without any sort of license or legal mumbo jumbo.

Third, and I think most importantly, I'm mindful that the current bumper crop of 'coons is very likely our fault, not in a personal sense, but in the sense that the actions of humans have likely caused it. For one thing, here in Ohio we have created perfect conditions for 'coons to live and multiply. At the same time we've eliminated just about every predator capable of killing one. (Wolves and big cats once roamed here; no more.) Until recent years, a decent market for fur kept 'coon trappers and hunters active, but the collapse of the fur market has eliminated even that threat to 'coons. The only folks who hunt 'coons around here any more are those who do it just to hear their dogs baying in the moonlight.

It's a similar situation with white-tailed deer. When I was growing up, it was a rarity to even see one, and the gun hunting season was only six days long, with a bag limit of exactly one buck. Nowadays, there are five or six different seasons and a hunter can take half a dozen or more deer per season. Last year, the organized slaughter in Ohio tallied nearly 240,000 carcasses. This does not take into consideration the roughly 40,000 reported car-deer collisions in this state each year. (There are estimates that 100,000 or more go unreported.) I have personally struck eight deer with various vehicles in the past twenty years or so. The last one cost my insurance company $3,500 -- and that damn buck got up and ran away after I hit him. It has gotten so bad that the state now has "Urban Deer Units" that conduct hunts in normally hunting-prohibited state and metro parks. Urban unit hunters can take as many as six deer in addition to the normal season bag limit.

As a society, we are really crappy game managers. In the case of raccoons, we have so restricted their hunting and so demonized fur in general (a raccoon's primary value to mankind has always been its fur) that they are no longer considered desirable game. At the same time, we've done absolutely nothing to control their -- quite predictable -- population explosion. Because of this, right now my area is overrun with raccoons, and they are coming onto my property and stealing my food. Now, I realize that they're only doing what comes naturally to them. But it is also quite natural for me to protect my own food. I respect the "you kill it, you eat it" philosophy, and have always followed it when hunting or fishing, but this ain't hunting or fishing. This is pest control, plain and simple. I caught probably twenty mice last winter in snap traps, and I didn't eat even one.  :tounge: :tounge: :tounge:

Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: walkstall on July 11, 2012, 06:15:25 AM
Raccoons chase, attack Washington state woman.


http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-odd/20120711/US.ODD.Raccoons.Attack/?cid=hero_media (http://xfinity.comcast.net/articles/news-odd/20120711/US.ODD.Raccoons.Attack/?cid=hero_media)
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Sword of Justice on July 11, 2012, 06:49:35 AM
All good points, tbone. 

And Solar while I certainly didn't consider anything you said a "slight", we clearly see things very differently.

When you made a comment about consequences, I really don't identify with that at all.  I think no differently about poisoning a raiding raccoon than stepping on a kitchen cockroach.  Although both are technically "God's creatures", neither has any rights or privileges once they infringe on my space and property.   And believe me, I am certainly NOT a cold-blooded individual. I think of David, way before Goliath, slaying both the lion and the bear as he defended his sheep as a very good and justifiable thing.   Once the population of raccoons, possums, skunks, foxes, etc etc are reduced to the point I don't fear nightly for the safety of my flock, I will perhaps soften my position but certainly not before.   
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 11, 2012, 09:29:27 AM
SOJ I completely understand your position, and if I were in your place, would very possibly be doing the same.
My point about unintended consequences, was that many of these coons have young, and in killing their sole providers, the young suffer a far worse fate than their parents.

Point is, it is incumbent on the individual to do their best to alleviate any consequences they have caused.
Asking your neighbors if they possibly know of any dens in the area and explain that you found dead adults and want to make sure the brood is not suffering.

Seriously, is that too much to undertake, or is your need for revenge overtaking your humanity?

Again, I broach the question only to raise awareness that actions have consequences.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: ccd2002 on July 11, 2012, 07:19:26 PM
Has anyone on this thread ever eaten squirrel.They are in the rodent(rat) family.

I know folks who have practically survived on them in a bad economy.

I don't think I would like to try it.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: ccd2002 on July 11, 2012, 07:30:54 PM
Also lots of folks eat possum.I have heard they produce a lot of fat when they are cooked.I wouldn't want to eat any possum either.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 11, 2012, 08:10:06 PM
Quote from: ccd2002 on July 11, 2012, 07:19:26 PM
Has anyone on this thread ever eaten squirrel.They are in the rodent(rat) family.

I know folks who have practically survived on them in a bad economy.

I don't think I would like to try it.
Can't say I've "survived" on squirrel in a "bad economy," but I've certainly enjoyed squirrel. Carefully cleaned and properly cooked, it's quite tasty. Fox squirrels especially produce tender meat and excellent gravy.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 11, 2012, 10:48:30 PM
Quote from: Solar on July 11, 2012, 09:29:27 AM
SOJ I completely understand your position, and if I were in your place, would very possibly be doing the same.
My point about unintended consequences, was that many of these coons have young, and in killing their sole providers, the young suffer a far worse fate than their parents.

Point is, it is incumbent on the individual to do their best to alleviate any consequences they have caused.
Asking your neighbors if they possibly know of any dens in the area and explain that you found dead adults and want to make sure the brood is not suffering.

Seriously, is that too much to undertake, or is your need for revenge overtaking your humanity?

Again, I broach the question only to raise awareness that actions have consequences.

The young 'uns have been visiting the Tbone spread quite regularly, and account for three of the thirteen victims so far this season. In this part of the world, they are weaned and active before June 1, and venture out with mama as soon as they're able. In fact, the usual visit here involves a number of raccoons. The little ones are just as agile, just as clever, just as bold, just as hungry as their parents. I kill them just as dead.

I get no joy from this. But by the time my sweet corn comes on -- in about two weeks -- those baby 'coons would be full-grown, hungry as hell, and traveling in a pack.

Some years ago, I was in a situation where I could observe a family of five 'coons who raided a garbage dumpster every night, and saw that they left a guard on top of the dumpster to keep watch! Every now and then, one of the 'coons in the can would come up and spell the lookout. I do not care to deal with that sort of organized attack.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 12, 2012, 06:34:12 AM
Quote from: tbone0106 on July 11, 2012, 10:48:30 PM


Some years ago, I was in a situation where I could observe a family of five 'coons who raided a garbage dumpster every night, and saw that they left a guard on top of the dumpster to keep watch! Every now and then, one of the 'coons in the can would come up and spell the lookout. I do not care to deal with that sort of organized attack.
:laugh:
You're missing the bigger picture, they are recycling.
Just think of all the crap they keep out of the landfills.

When I was running cattle in the high Sierra years back, the coons new that one particular cabin was where all provisions were stored.
Every spring when we would return, they had always found a way inside, usually by chewing through the wall.
So instead of trying to fight them, we placed a large bag of unopened cat food inside and left the hole open, they came in, found the food, carried every morsel away and left the rest of the place intact.

No moral, sometimes sacrifice can be seen as a win as well.
It was better to spend a few bucks rather than costly repairs every year.

Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: SWMP on July 12, 2012, 07:15:56 AM
I live in a very wooded area and recently decided to grow tomatoes on our deck.  The plants did incredibly well.  One plant produced slicing tomatoes and the other Roma tomatoes.  Just as the fruit began to ripen, along came the raccoons to decimate my attempt at a modest and hopefully safe and secure garden.

At this point I started to research the critters and how to deal with them. I have a friend whose father in law traps and shoots the raccoons in his yard after they began tearing the shingles off his house in an attempt to enter his attic.  He jokes that he digs more graves than the local cemetery.  He's up to about 4 dozen over the last few years.

Another tid bit that this exercise has reminded me of is a TV show that documented the unusual ailment of a small toddler that was eventually determined to be attributable to a parasitic worm in raccoon scat.  The young child somehow ingested some scat playing in the yard and the parasite attacked his brain leaving him mentally disabled.

Then there's another friends goofy wife who feeds a family of raccoons all of their leftovers.  We were at their home sitting around their pool one evening when the raccoons showed up and were treated to leftover pizza from the night before.  I have since learned that the raccoons now let themselves into my friend's home to eat out of the dog's bowl.  That is just bat-shit-crazy.

I have also read that rather than being predators simply killing or raiding a garden to survive, raccoons are actually highly destructive and kill everything they encounter if able to do so.  I have read that raccoons will raid a chicken coop and kill everything, break every egg and eat just bits of the mess.  This is somewhat like their behavior with the tomatoes on my deck.  They leave a mess of half eaten or barely touched tomatoes all over the place.

I really don't want to deal with a pile of dead animals, but have no aversion to poison, whether GM or lead.  I don't want to deal with a pissed off live animal in a trap and don't particularly want to shoot through a trap.

I am pretty pissed that my very modest attempt at gardening is being made impossible by these raccoons.  I really empathize with the people who have large gardens or actually grow crops for a livelihood. 

I am no tree hugger and do not particularly sympathize with the plight of wildlife.  I haven't commented on what the deer do to my landscaping. 

There is speculation that along with the deer, turkeys, coyotes, etc. that have moved into the neighborhood over the years that big cats are out there as well.  That is the one addition I would like to see in order to bring some balance back into this situation.

My question is in regards to the territorial behavior of raccoons.  My friend's father in law has killed 4 dozen or so and new ones seem to fill the vacuum left by the departing ones.  Is there really an effective way to deal with these things in the longer term?
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Joe from Indiana on July 12, 2012, 09:45:07 AM
I've been using GM for a couple of years to kill raccoons now. It does work very well.

And I can only assume that the folks who think this is unethical don't really have much of a 'coon problem.

I had 50 chickens that I had raised from day-old chicks over the course of about 3 months. One spring -- just before the chickens got old enough to start laying -- a raccoon broke into the chicken house on three separate occasions. You would think they would eat the feed, or single out one chicken and eat that. Think again. On each occasion, the 'coon pulled multiple hens off their roosts and bit their heads off, often eating just the comb. What feed it didn't eat was defecated in.

Within a week I was down to 10 terrorized birds.

Imagine yourself walking out to the henhouse in the morning and finding that kind of mess to clean up and that kind of investment -- both financial and emotional -- down the tubes. I assure you that no one who has had that kind of experience will ever look at raccoons the same way. They may be God's Creatures, but so were my chickens.

So I don't want to hear about how I should raise extra chickens or corn or anything else so the raccoons can have some. I can assure you that they do NOT play by the same rules that others would impose upon me.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 12, 2012, 09:56:48 AM
Quote from: SWMP on July 12, 2012, 07:15:56 AM
I live in a very wooded area and recently decided to grow tomatoes on our deck.  The plants did incredibly well.  One plant produced slicing tomatoes and the other Roma tomatoes.  Just as the fruit began to ripen, along came the raccoons to decimate my attempt at a modest and hopefully safe and secure garden.

At this point I started to research the critters and how to deal with them. I have a friend whose father in law traps and shoots the raccoons in his yard after they began tearing the shingles off his house in an attempt to enter his attic.  He jokes that he digs more graves than the local cemetery.  He's up to about 4 dozen over the last few years.

Another tid bit that this exercise has reminded me of is a TV show that documented the unusual ailment of a small toddler that was eventually determined to be attributable to a parasitic worm in raccoon scat.  The young child somehow ingested some scat playing in the yard and the parasite attacked his brain leaving him mentally disabled.

Then there's another friends goofy wife who feeds a family of raccoons all of their leftovers.  We were at their home sitting around their pool one evening when the raccoons showed up and were treated to leftover pizza from the night before.  I have since learned that the raccoons now let themselves into my friend's home to eat out of the dog's bowl.  That is just bat-shit-crazy.
I too have an idiot neighbor that thinks he's helping by feeding the forest.
In my county you can be arrested for feeding the forest, it falls under a baiting/poaching law, even though they claim to care for the animals, the law sees it in black and white.
Maybe your county has such a law to use against those idiots.

QuoteI have also read that rather than being predators simply killing or raiding a garden to survive, raccoons are actually highly destructive and kill everything they encounter if able to do so.  I have read that raccoons will raid a chicken coop and kill everything, break every egg and eat just bits of the mess.  This is somewhat like their behavior with the tomatoes on my deck.  They leave a mess of half eaten or barely touched tomatoes all over the place.

I really don't want to deal with a pile of dead animals, but have no aversion to poison, whether GM or lead.  I don't want to deal with a pissed off live animal in a trap and don't particularly want to shoot through a trap.

I am pretty pissed that my very modest attempt at gardening is being made impossible by these raccoons.  I really empathize with the people who have large gardens or actually grow crops for a livelihood. 

I am no tree hugger and do not particularly sympathize with the plight of wildlife.  I haven't commented on what the deer do to my landscaping. 

There is speculation that along with the deer, turkeys, coyotes, etc. that have moved into the neighborhood over the years that big cats are out there as well.  That is the one addition I would like to see in order to bring some balance back into this situation.

My question is in regards to the territorial behavior of raccoons.  My friend's father in law has killed 4 dozen or so and new ones seem to fill the vacuum left by the departing ones.  Is there really an effective way to deal with these things in the longer term?
That's the biggest problem with an over abundance of wildlife, it tends to raise the predator level, in turn putting humans on the list of dietary delights of lions.
Ca has so screwed up the deer population out here, that we call them rats with antlers, and because they eradicated the wolf, now the lion, an animal that only 20 years ago was never seen, just the tracks.
Now if you don't see one, you'd have to be blind.

I'd have no issue with bringing back humane trapping for fur in large numbers, it would alleviate much of this problem.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 12, 2012, 01:43:39 PM
Quote from: Solar on July 12, 2012, 09:56:48 AM
I too have an idiot neighbor that thinks he's helping by feeding the forest.
In my county you can be arrested for feeding the forest, it falls under a baiting/poaching law, even though they claim to care for the animals, the law sees it in black and white.
Maybe your county has such a law to use against those idiots.
That's the biggest problem with an over abundance of wildlife, it tends to raise the predator level, in turn putting humans on the list of dietary delights of lions.
Ca has so screwed up the deer population out here, that we call them rats with antlers, and because they eradicated the wolf, now the lion, an animal that only 20 years ago was never seen, just the tracks.
Now if you don't see one, you'd have to be blind.

I'd have no issue with bringing back humane trapping for fur in large numbers, it would alleviate much of this problem.
The trouble is, the days of raccoon coats like the ones in this old photo are gone, probably forever.

(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1103.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg463%2Ftbone0106%2FRaccoonCoats.jpg&hash=8c91eb8e595d27ac0b47d2430e7354591fc12a8e)

I think a trapping comeback would be great too, but I don't see it happening. The tree-huggers and Bambi-lovers have so demonized the wearing of fur that the demand for all types, especially raccoon, is a fraction of what it was even 15 or 20 years ago. I just checked with some nearby fur buyers on raccoon fur pricing, and this year their starting price will be a maximum of $13 for a high-grade large "finished" pelt. This means that you do the skinning -- properly, which ain't easy or fun -- and you do the scraping -- not too much, not too little, just right -- and you do the stretching and drying on a board of the correct size, and you take the pelt  to the buyer, if you can find one nearby. Good luck with that too, as there are only 39 licensed fur buyers in the entire state of Ohio. If your pelt's fur has a yellowish tinge to it, which is fairly common in warmer climates, you'll get no more than $10 for it, no matter how big it is. Prices for smaller and less desirable pelts can dip as low as $3 per "finished" pelt. Most buyers will only buy "finished" raccoon pelts, though they may buy "green" pelts from more desirable critters, like bobcat. I can't find a fur buyer who will buy raccoons "in the round," meaning not even skinned, i.e., the entire dead critter, frozen, no matter how good the quality of the pelt, at any price.

Who in his right mind would go through the trapping/hunting, the skinning, the disposal of the carcass, the scraping, the stretching, the drying, and the travel to a buyer, all for three bucks? Hell, the hunting/trapping license and fur taker permit from the state cost a total of $34. You'd have to finish and sell a dozen three-dollar hides just to break even on the license fees!

Unless/until trapping 'coons pays something, I don't see it making a comeback. There are still a few guys doing it, but then there are guys who collect stamps and guys who play golf... these things are called hobbies.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 12, 2012, 02:24:48 PM
Quote from: tbone0106 on July 12, 2012, 01:43:39 PM
The trouble is, the days of raccoon coats like the ones in this old photo are gone, probably forever.

(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi1103.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fg463%2Ftbone0106%2FRaccoonCoats.jpg&hash=8c91eb8e595d27ac0b47d2430e7354591fc12a8e)

I think a trapping comeback would be great too, but I don't see it happening. The tree-huggers and Bambi-lovers have so demonized the wearing of fur that the demand for all types, especially raccoon, is a fraction of what it was even 15 or 20 years ago. I just checked with some nearby fur buyers on raccoon fur pricing, and this year their starting price will be a maximum of $13 for a high-grade large "finished" pelt. This means that you do the skinning -- properly, which ain't easy or fun -- and you do the scraping -- not too much, not too little, just right -- and you do the stretching and drying on a board of the correct size, and you take the pelt  to the buyer, if you can find one nearby. Good luck with that too, as there are only 39 licensed fur buyers in the entire state of Ohio. If your pelt's fur has a yellowish tinge to it, which is fairly common in warmer climates, you'll get no more than $10 for it, no matter how big it is. Prices for smaller and less desirable pelts can dip as low as $3 per "finished" pelt. Most buyers will only buy "finished" raccoon pelts, though they may buy "green" pelts from more desirable critters, like bobcat. I can't find a fur buyer who will buy raccoons "in the round," meaning not even skinned, i.e., the entire dead critter, frozen, no matter how good the quality of the pelt, at any price.

Who in his right mind would go through the trapping/hunting, the skinning, the disposal of the carcass, the scraping, the stretching, the drying, and the travel to a buyer, all for three bucks? Hell, the hunting/trapping license and fur taker permit from the state cost a total of $34. You'd have to finish and sell a dozen three-dollar hides just to break even on the license fees!

Unless/until trapping 'coons pays something, I don't see it making a comeback. There are still a few guys doing it, but then there are guys who collect stamps and guys who play golf... these things are called hobbies.
Man, I'd love to have his coat, that is one warm windproof coat.
No, it won't be coming back anytime soon, but all it would take is some smart marketing, think De Beers and diamonds, a virtually worthless rock, yet people still pay big bucks for it.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 12, 2012, 08:53:04 PM
Quote from: Solar on July 12, 2012, 02:24:48 PM
Man, I'd love to have his coat, that is one warm windproof coat.
No, it won't be coming back anytime soon, but all it would take is some smart marketing, think De Beers and diamonds, a virtually worthless rock, yet people still pay big bucks for it.
When I was a kid, I had an aviator-style leather jacket with a sheepskin collar and flannel lining. The leather was cracked and worn and the collar was a bit ratty... but that was the warmest jacket I think I ever owned. It was a hand-me-down from my mom's older brother, and I miss my uncle's old jacket to this day.

How have we gotten to the point where we've discarded the obvious value of things like furs and substituted crap like plastic in their place? Oh, and then we bitch at ourselves because the plastics we've chosen as a replacement are made from -- gasp!! -- oil!!!

Isn't fur the ultimate "green" clothing, short of a fig leaf?
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 12, 2012, 09:03:34 PM
Quote from: tbone0106 on July 12, 2012, 08:53:04 PM
When I was a kid, I had an aviator-style leather jacket with a sheepskin collar and flannel lining. The leather was cracked and worn and the collar was a bit ratty... but that was the warmest jacket I think I ever owned. It was a hand-me-down from my mom's older brother, and I miss my uncle's old jacket to this day.

How have we gotten to the point where we've discarded the obvious value of things like furs and substituted crap like plastic in their place? Oh, and then we bitch at ourselves because the plastics we've chosen as a replacement is made from -- gasp!! -- oil!!!

Isn't fur the ultimate "green" clothing, short of a fig leaf?
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
It's said, that when ever you hear a bell ring, an Angel gets their wings.
But when you smell a fart, a libs head just exploded.

When they read this, we'll need gas masks.
Forcing a lib to see the hypocrisy in their methods is akin to putting a gut to their head.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 12, 2012, 09:17:59 PM
Quote from: Solar on July 12, 2012, 09:03:34 PM
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
It's said, that when ever you hear a bell ring, an Angel gets their wings.
But when you smell a fart, a libs head just exploded.

When they read this, we'll need gas masks.
Forcing a lib to see the hypocrisy in their methods is akin to putting a gut to their head.

Had to be a Freudian slip. Or maybe you really meant "gut?" :tounge: :tounge: :tounge:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 12, 2012, 09:28:47 PM
Quote from: tbone0106 on July 12, 2012, 09:17:59 PM
Had to be a Freudian slip. Or maybe you really meant "gut?" :tounge: :tounge: :tounge:
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Works both ways, don't it?

(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Frlv.zcache.com%2Fvoted_obama_head_up_ass_photosculpture-p153754262144281070env3c_400.jpg&hash=b9243a1ddd1abf4273bba2d1a524785d888d69e2)

(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goofigure.com%2Fimages%2Flibrary%2Fheads_up_ass.jpg&hash=5850ad77563f02c7c01b2f8f1a19198feafc53ff)
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 12, 2012, 09:45:36 PM
Quote from: Solar on July 12, 2012, 09:28:47 PM
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Works both ways, don't it?

(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Frlv.zcache.com%2Fvoted_obama_head_up_ass_photosculpture-p153754262144281070env3c_400.jpg&hash=b9243a1ddd1abf4273bba2d1a524785d888d69e2)

(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.goofigure.com%2Fimages%2Flibrary%2Fheads_up_ass.jpg&hash=5850ad77563f02c7c01b2f8f1a19198feafc53ff)

Why do I think you have that hunting cartoon posted on your fridge?  :tounge: :tounge: :tounge:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 12, 2012, 09:50:27 PM
Quote from: tbone0106 on July 12, 2012, 09:45:36 PM
Why do I think you have that hunting cartoon posted on your fridge?  :tounge: :tounge: :tounge:
I have a thing for endangered species, libs just don't know it yet but they will come Nov.
In the meantime, I'm hunting them to extinction.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 12, 2012, 09:52:03 PM
Quote from: Joe from Indiana on July 12, 2012, 09:45:07 AM
I've been using GM for a couple of years to kill raccoons now. It does work very well.

And I can only assume that the folks who think this is unethical don't really have much of a 'coon problem.

I had 50 chickens that I had raised from day-old chicks over the course of about 3 months. One spring -- just before the chickens got old enough to start laying -- a raccoon broke into the chicken house on three separate occasions. You would think they would eat the feed, or single out one chicken and eat that. Think again. On each occasion, the 'coon pulled multiple hens off their roosts and bit their heads off, often eating just the comb. What feed it didn't eat was defecated in.

Within a week I was down to 10 terrorized birds.

Imagine yourself walking out to the henhouse in the morning and finding that kind of mess to clean up and that kind of investment -- both financial and emotional -- down the tubes. I assure you that no one who has had that kind of experience will ever look at raccoons the same way. They may be God's Creatures, but so were my chickens.

So I don't want to hear about how I should raise extra chickens or corn or anything else so the raccoons can have some. I can assure you that they do NOT play by the same rules that others would impose upon me.

First of all, Joe, WELCOME to the forum! I'm especially glad to see you here because I'm near you in Ohio, and a lot of these other weirdos are in places like California and Texas and, well, you know where the extremists live.  :tounge: :tounge: :tounge:

Needless to say, I'm on your side in your battle with the raccoons. Just this evening, I walked my perimeter and refreshed my poison bait traps. My sweet corn will yield (finally!) next week, and the last thing I want to see is broken-off stalks tomorrow morning.

What are Indiana's laws about hunting/trapping 'coons? Ohio says Nov-Dec-Jan only. But I think as long as I take care of business on my own property, I'm basically eliminating a nuisance or pest, which is NOT covered by the DNR's hunting/trapping regulations.

Good luck to you and your chickens! Again, WELCOME to the board!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: samgoober on July 13, 2012, 07:17:51 PM
Tbone, I've really enjoyed reading this thread. I have a question for ya. Do you have to refresh or refill the pans every day? I set some out three nights ago, but so far, no dead coons. Also, I read on another forum that the company that makes the GM recently had to change their formula (evidently it used to be gold in color, and when they changed it, it made it blue) and the new formula isn't as effective.

I  started setting this stuff out after the coons had already destroyed my corn crop, so it's possible they've not come back. I have another smaller patch that I planted the first week of June. It should be ready in about three to four weeks, so I'm certain to have another opportunity to kills these little bastards. But I was curious about how often (if at all) that you need to pour out the "old" poison and refill it with fresh poison.

Thanks Tbone!
Sam,            IA

Sam for your own safety I have removed your last name.
Please always think safety first when posting.  If you wish to give some one your last name, do it in the safety of a PM.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 13, 2012, 08:42:44 PM
Quote from: samgoober on July 13, 2012, 07:17:51 PM
Tbone, I've really enjoyed reading this thread. I have a question for ya. Do you have to refresh or refill the pans every day? I set some out three nights ago, but so far, no dead coons. Also, I read on another forum that the company that makes the GM recently had to change their formula (evidently it used to be gold in color, and when they changed it, it made it blue) and the new formula isn't as effective.

I  started setting this stuff out after the coons had already destroyed my corn crop, so it's possible they've not come back. I have another smaller patch that I planted the first week of June. It should be ready in about three to four weeks, so I'm certain to have another opportunity to kills these little bastards. But I was curious about how often (if at all) that you need to pour out the "old" poison and refill it with fresh poison.

Thanks Tbone!
Sam,            IA

Sam for your own safety I have removed your last name.
Please always think safety first when posting.  If you wish to give some one your last name, do it in the safety of a PM.
His last name isn't Goober?  :tounge: :tounge: :tounge:

The bait is a mixture of the blue-tinted GM and soda pop. It's a fairly thick and sugary liquid that doesn't evaporate quickly and tends to withstand mild rain pretty well. Heavy rain dilutes the mix to the point of pointlessness.

I have found dead 'coons near pans of poison that have been sitting out for two weeks and more. I recently made a new batch and refreshed my sets, but that's because we've been essentially in a drought for roughly two months now, and this morning I found... nothing.

My hope is that it's because there's simply nothing left to kill. But my gut tells me to get ready for the REAL onslaught!

Next week, I'll have sweet corn, sweet sugary ears just bursting with flavor and temptation. I will collect every one I can, but I have a notion that God's creatures have the same idea.

I think I just went through the raccoon version of a "bye" week. I think it's about to be "game on."
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 13, 2012, 08:46:05 PM
Oh, and Sam, WELCOME to the forum! You'll find a lot of nice people here, and lots of... well... constructive interaction.  :tounge: :tounge: :tounge:

Actually, you've found a home, if you want it. We take in strays of every description.  :laugh:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: walkstall on July 13, 2012, 10:03:35 PM
Quote from: tbone0106 on July 13, 2012, 08:42:44 PM
His last name isn't Goober?  :tounge: :tounge: :tounge:


He does not need 15000 tree huggers and animal lovers calling him 24/7.   :lol:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: samgoober on July 14, 2012, 12:23:17 PM
I do appreciate your concern about members posting too much information about themselves, but my last name isn't goober. :)  My nickname on all the forums in which I participate is always "samgoober". And Logan is the closest town to me (I live out in the country, between three towns actually.)

Anyhow, thank you again for your concern, but if you would, please change my nickname back to samgoober when you have a spare moment.

I'm really looking forward to getting to know folks here. Tbone, I hope you get some rain soon!

Respectfully,
Sam
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: walkstall on July 14, 2012, 04:27:51 PM
Quote from: samgoober on July 14, 2012, 12:23:17 PM
I do appreciate your concern about members posting too much information about themselves, but my last name isn't goober. :)  My nickname on all the forums in which I participate is always "samgoober". And Logan is the closest town to me (I live out in the country, between three towns actually.)

Anyhow, thank you again for your concern, but if you would, please change my nickname back to samgoober when you have a spare moment.
I'm really looking forward to getting to know folks here. Tbone, I hope you get some rain soon!

Respectfully,
Sam

I did not change your aka (nickname) as you can see it is at the top of every post you make.  No one would change your aka from (samgoober) you would have to change it yourself.   A lot of us have the same aka from board to board, I go by walkstall on ever board I am on.  You will find some of us know each other from other boards.    So please grab a keyboard and enjoy yourself.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Sword of Justice on July 20, 2012, 11:35:59 AM
Been away from the forum for a bit but wanted to post a follow up as an encouragement to others.  Much like Joe, my chicken flock had been decimated in short order from 30+ down to a dozen birds.  The GM/pop mixture most likely has allowed me to continue to have birds, as the mix has killed off at least 4-5 raccoons (all within very close proximity to my pen) in a little over a week.  The best news is this:  After being terrorized for a month, now we have had a peaceful 7-10 nights of no predation whatsoever!  :thumbsup: And I am also thrilled to report that my bowls of GM, which I take up ever morning after putting them out at dark, have gone untouched for 3 straight nights!

Something else of great interest has happened and I wonder if anyone else has observed this before.  Half of my remaining chickens have now gone broody and are sitting eggs, although this is not the typical time of year for them to do so (our temperatures have been upper 90s for awhile now).  It's as though they realized they were nearly wiped out and have taken it upon themselves to "restock"  :rolleyes:

Chicks will be arriving any day now, and I have high hopes the flock can be rebuilt.  I purchased a 5 lb can recently as "insurance" against a reinfestation in the future.

Good luck to all!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: taxed on July 20, 2012, 11:39:11 AM
Quote from: Sword of Justice on July 20, 2012, 11:35:59 AM
Been away from the forum for a bit but wanted to post a follow up as an encouragement to others.  Much like Joe, my chicken flock had been decimated in short order from 30+ down to a dozen birds.  The GM/pop mixture most likely has allowed me to continue to have birds, as the mix has killed off at least 4-5 raccoons (all within very close proximity to my pen) in a little over a week.  The best news is this:  After being terrorized for a month, now we have had a peaceful 7-10 nights of no predation whatsoever!  :thumbsup: And I am also thrilled to report that my bowls of GM, which I take up ever morning after putting them out at dark, have gone untouched for 3 straight nights!

Something else of great interest has happened and I wonder if anyone else has observed this before.  Half of my remaining chickens have now gone broody and are sitting eggs, although this is not the typical time of year for them to do so (our temperatures have been upper 90s for awhile now).  It's as though they realized they were nearly wiped out and have taken it upon themselves to "restock"  :rolleyes:

Chicks will be arriving any day now, and I have high hopes the flock can be rebuilt.  I purchased a 5 lb can recently as "insurance" against a reinfestation in the future.

Good luck to all!

That's great SoJ!!!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: SWMP on July 22, 2012, 08:06:29 PM
What is everyone's experience with GM and the food chain.  If you use it on raccoons, do scavengers eat the raccoon carcass and ingest the GM and die as well?
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 23, 2012, 05:50:34 AM
Quote from: SWMP on July 22, 2012, 08:06:29 PM
What is everyone's experience with GM and the food chain.  If you use it on raccoons, do scavengers eat the raccoon carcass and ingest the GM and die as well?

I think I mentioned this before, but I'll repeat. In my experience, scavengers won't touch a GM-killed raccoon. We have plenty of coyotes and turkey buzzards around here, and lots of crows and opossums, but I've never seen anything disturb a GM-killed carcass.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 23, 2012, 06:34:24 AM
In reading Govt websites, I found that there is a strong possibility of ground water contamination if you live in an area with shallow wells.
It would probably be a good idea to lay a large plastic tarp on the ground in the event of a down pour filling the pie tin and overflowing onto and leaching into the ground.
I also found where some states have fined people for using the product other than it's intended purpose, such as Indiana, where they want to make it illegal to purchase the product without a permit.

http://dnr.wi.gov/news/BreakingNews_Print.asp?id=481 (http://dnr.wi.gov/news/BreakingNews_Print.asp?id=481)
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: bobthefarmer on July 23, 2012, 12:20:32 PM
Quote from: The mighty wu on August 25, 2011, 12:53:37 PM
I can't bear the thought of killing one of God's creatures. Therefore I always expect some attrition in my garden.

I have the same heart for the raccoon that he had for the six dead chickens whose body parts lay scattered around the coop.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: walkstall on July 23, 2012, 12:33:37 PM
Quote from: bobthefarmer on July 23, 2012, 12:20:32 PM
I have the same heart for the raccoon that he had for the six dead chickens whose body parts lay scattered around the coop.

Sorry, Wu was not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 23, 2012, 12:44:21 PM
Quote from: bobthefarmer on July 23, 2012, 12:20:32 PM
I have the same heart for the raccoon that he had for the six dead chickens whose body parts lay scattered around the coop.

Uh, 10-4, Bob, and welcome to the forum!

I'm happy to report that I've gone at least two weeks without a nocturnal corn raid, and enjoyed the first mess of sweet corn, carefully steamed and slathered in butter and salted, just last evening. My garden has been raided twice now, I think, by a deer, and I've found a deer bed in the weeds on the back part of the property. But deer, like dogs, cats, and most other animals won't touch the GM mix. What I'm celebrating is that I'm beginning to think I've thinned the astounding herd of 'coons in this neck of the woods.

I am the proud owner of a ridiculous-looking cat (I call her "Frankenkitty" because she looks like something assembled from spare parts from various cats.) who is out and about all day long; she saunters past the bait pans without even looking at them.

Solar, I understand and appreciate your concerns about inadvertent poisonings and introduction into the water supply and the questionable legality of using insecticides improperly. I've mentioned here before that I know of only one inadvertent poisoning -- of a robin who attempted to pick some of the dead flies out of a bait pan. That is one inadvertent poisoning in two growing seasons.

As for groundwater, your suggestion of a tarp is a good one, and dilution is the obvious method of dispersing the stuff. Where I live, the groundwater is deep; my personal well is down 135'. Obviously, where wells are shallow, much more caution should be exercised.

Again, dogs and cats don't care for the mix I use, else there'd be dead dogs and cats all over the place every morning. As I've mentioned above, a deer has been picking through my produce (unmistakable tracks), and it has not touched the stuff.

The description of the mix as looking like "KoolAid" in that Wisconsin report is simply untrue. The stuff looks like bluish motor oil and stinks like you wouldn't believe.  It is NOT a "fishy smell" as the article claims; it is a rank, nasty chemical smell, not too far from the stench of gearcase oil.

All that being said, I still recommend that anyone using this method to control raccoons use the UTMOST caution in every respect. Remember that you're dealing with a deadly poison! Wear gloves when handling the stuff. Exercise caution and common sense when placing it and disposing of it. Be aware that it may be a violation of your local laws to use GM in this manner.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 24, 2012, 01:21:13 PM
Quote from: tbone0106 on July 23, 2012, 12:44:21 PM
Uh, 10-4, Bob, and welcome to the forum!

I'm happy to report that I've gone at least two weeks without a nocturnal corn raid, and enjoyed the first mess of sweet corn, carefully steamed and slathered in butter and salted, just last evening. My garden has been raided twice now, I think, by a deer, and I've found a deer bed in the weeds on the back part of the property. But deer, like dogs, cats, and most other animals won't touch the GM mix. What I'm celebrating is that I'm beginning to think I've thinned the astounding herd of 'coons in this neck of the woods.

I am the proud owner of a ridiculous-looking cat (I call her "Frankenkitty" because she looks like something assembled from spare parts from various cats.) who is out and about all day long; she saunters past the bait pans without even looking at them.

Solar, I understand and appreciate your concerns about inadvertent poisonings and introduction into the water supply and the questionable legality of using insecticides improperly. I've mentioned here before that I know of only one inadvertent poisoning -- of a robin who attempted to pick some of the dead flies out of a bait pan. That is one inadvertent poisoning in two growing seasons.

As for groundwater, your suggestion of a tarp is a good one, and dilution is the obvious method of dispersing the stuff. Where I live, the groundwater is deep; my personal well is down 135'. Obviously, where wells are shallow, much more caution should be exercised.

Again, dogs and cats don't care for the mix I use, else there'd be dead dogs and cats all over the place every morning. As I've mentioned above, a deer has been picking through my produce (unmistakable tracks), and it has not touched the stuff.

The description of the mix as looking like "KoolAid" in that Wisconsin report is simply untrue. The stuff looks like bluish motor oil and stinks like you wouldn't believe.  It is NOT a "fishy smell" as the article claims; it is a rank, nasty chemical smell, not too far from the stench of gearcase oil.

All that being said, I still recommend that anyone using this method to control raccoons use the UTMOST caution in every respect. Remember that you're dealing with a deadly poison! Wear gloves when handling the stuff. Exercise caution and common sense when placing it and disposing of it. Be aware that it may be a violation of your local laws to use GM in this manner.
T, please keep in mind, when I post, it's not all about you, the world does not evolve around you. :wink: :biggrin:

I post the information for the lurkers, the people looking for solutions, but unfortunately not everyone is as smart as those participating on this forum.
As proof of stupid people in this country, I evidence Hussein, he didn't get in office because smart people voted for him, rather quite the opposite.

So please understand, when I post in this thread, it's not so much for the consumption for those already posting, but those skimming through seeking a quick fix to their problem.

Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 24, 2012, 02:35:57 PM
Quote from: Solar on July 24, 2012, 01:21:13 PM
T, please keep in mind, when I post, it's not all about you, the world does not evolve around you. :wink: :biggrin:

WHAT???!!!!

And just when did THIS come about??!!  :tounge: :tounge: :lol: :lol:

I gotta go now. The missus just brought me a slice of humble pie....

:tounge: :tounge: :tounge:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 24, 2012, 03:53:00 PM
Quote from: tbone0106 on July 24, 2012, 02:35:57 PM
WHAT???!!!!

And just when did THIS come about??!!  :tounge: :tounge: :lol: :lol:

I gotta go now. The missus just brought me a slice of humble pie....

:tounge: :tounge: :tounge:
Hold the crow for desert. :wink: :biggrin:

But you've got to admit, based on the fact that Hussein made it to the WH, is solid proof stupid inhabit this country.
Wait, maybe I shouldn't post any warnings. :blink:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 24, 2012, 04:13:19 PM
Quote from: Solar on July 24, 2012, 03:53:00 PM
Hold the crow for desert. :wink: :biggrin:

But you've got to admit, based on the fact that Hussein made it to the WH, is solid proof stupid inhabit this country.
Wait, maybe I shouldn't post any warnings. :blink:

Ah, we live in a world that is almost completely fashioned around that old arithmetic standby -- the Least Common Denominator. Who was that TV executive that admitted so long ago that most network programming was aimed at the intellect of a 12-year-old?

Hey, if you're looking for ratings -- if you're looking for widespread acceptance, like maybe you're trying to get elected or something -- you fashion your message to appeal to the average 12-year-old, the old LCD. If the 12-year-olds get it, you'll gather up the rest of the watchers and listeners.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 24, 2012, 04:44:10 PM
Quote from: tbone0106 on July 24, 2012, 04:13:19 PM
Ah, we live in a world that is almost completely fashioned around that old arithmetic standby -- the Least Common Denominator. Who was that TV executive that admitted so long ago that most network programming was aimed at the intellect of a 12-year-old?

Hey, if you're looking for ratings -- if you're looking for widespread acceptance, like maybe you're trying to get elected or something -- you fashion your message to appeal to the average 12-year-old, the old LCD. If the 12-year-olds get it, you'll gather up the rest of the watchers and listeners.
You just know some idiot sued over their own stupidity.
I wonder which orifice they stuck it in.

Warning label on curling iron.
"For external use only!" — On a curling iron.

Yes, there are stupid people in this world. :scared:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 24, 2012, 05:37:19 PM
Quote from: Solar on July 24, 2012, 04:44:10 PM
You just know some idiot sued over their own stupidity.
I wonder which orifice they stuck it in.

Warning label on curling iron.
"For external use only!" — On a curling iron.

Yes, there are stupid people in this world. :scared:

And my wife still stands out in the yard with that curling iron...   :tounge: :tounge: :tounge:

The LCD strikes again!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Padre Pio on July 25, 2012, 08:30:14 AM
I'm on my 7th coon displacement in 10 nights - in a woodsy far East Cleveland suburb.  Am I really the only one who is kind enough to try and teach these critters how to swim?

Baiting my trap with a peanut butter slathered piece of cardboard sprinkled with a few pieces of dog food seems to make a fine last meal.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 25, 2012, 08:50:23 AM
Quote from: Padre Pio on July 25, 2012, 08:30:14 AM
I'm on my 7th coon displacement in 10 nights - in a woodsy far East Cleveland suburb.  Am I really the only one who is kind enough to try and teach these critters how to swim?

Baiting my trap with a peanut butter slathered piece of cardboard sprinkled with a few pieces of dog food seems to make a fine last meal.
Nice to hear that someone is taking the humane approach, but coons are excellent swimmers, just ask any hunter who has lost a good dog to drowning by coon.
Distance seems to work, like the distance to someones house you can't stand and let them deal with the problem. :wink:
Or you could call fish and game and they'll take them off your hands. Sometimes the euthanize and use them for food, or release them, but not usually.

I'm curious, are you certain they aren't repeat offenders?
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Padre Pio on July 25, 2012, 09:00:05 AM
Oh, it's safe to say these aren't repeat offenders!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 25, 2012, 09:31:12 AM
Quote from: Padre Pio on July 25, 2012, 09:00:05 AM
Oh, it's safe to say these aren't repeat offenders!
:laugh:
Ahh I get it now.
If you don't want to take a drive to the lake, you could always rig a tent system to your car and gas them with carbon monoxide.
I've used that method twice myself.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Padre Pio on July 25, 2012, 10:35:40 AM
Quote from: Solar on July 25, 2012, 09:31:12 AM
:laugh:
Ahh I get it now.
If you don't want to take a drive to the lake, you could always rig a tent system to your car and gas them with carbon monoxide.
I've used that method twice myself.
That's an interesting idea Solar.  Fortunately it's just a short walk for me down to the pond, so it's easy enough.  Thanks for the tip though!

And by the way, the coons are such a problem in our county that relocation is illegal.  If you trap one, you have to dispatch it.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 25, 2012, 10:44:11 AM
Quote from: Padre Pio on July 25, 2012, 10:35:40 AM
That's an interesting idea Solar.  Fortunately it's just a short walk for me down to the pond, so it's easy enough.  Thanks for the tip though!
I've done it for pets since I live too far away from a vet, you do what you have to.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on July 25, 2012, 02:44:43 PM
Quote from: Padre Pio on July 25, 2012, 08:30:14 AM
I'm on my 7th coon displacement in 10 nights - in a woodsy far East Cleveland suburb.  Am I really the only one who is kind enough to try and teach these critters how to swim?

Baiting my trap with a peanut butter slathered piece of cardboard sprinkled with a few pieces of dog food seems to make a fine last meal.

My bet is that yours are dying of lead poisoning.

Don't you think it's NUTS that the state won't allow anyone to hunt them until the middle of November??!!

I don't know if you've read through this lengthy thread, but I described a family of coons working a dumpster maybe two pages or three back... That took place in Huron, directly west of you and right on the lakeshore. I used to have a place there right on the water -- could see the roller coasters at Cedar Point, and the fireworks! It's where I met my wife du jour.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on August 07, 2012, 09:24:05 PM
UPDATE: Raccoon #14 passed away a few days ago after sampling my magical brew. Little fella, maybe 10-12 pounds. Died within 15 feet of his last meal.

It has been weeks before #14 that no 'coons have been around, or at least none have taken the occasion to die on the property. I honestly do think that I cleared out several local families of the damn things. My sweet corn hasn't been noticeably damaged by 'coons, though I did suffer the loss of a few stalks when a white-tailed deer wandered in.

What hurt my corn the most this year was DROUGHT, big-time, and fungus. Watering every evening was the only thing that brought us the few messes of sweet corn we enjoyed. I have to pump every gallon from a well that's 135' deep; it was probably the most expensive corn I've ever eaten.

It seems that when we got rain -- once or twice a month -- we got two inches at a time in slamming thunderstorm style, and it either undermined or overwhelmed the corn plants, and it promoted the growth of the ear fungus that causes the ears to look like mutated heads made of dirty styrofoam. I have a second crop coming on now, and I haven't seen fungus there yet, but it's getting toward the time of year to expect earworm infestation.

I'm starting to wonder if planting sweet corn is a good idea...
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: top dog rick on August 11, 2012, 02:43:51 PM
What is your receipe  ?    How much is used  ???
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on August 13, 2012, 02:20:23 PM
Quote from: top dog rick on August 11, 2012, 02:43:51 PM
What is your receipe  ?    How much is used  ???

I'm not making a specific recommendation, or advising you to follow any instructions...

But I once knew of a fellow who combined about a quarter cup of ingredient "X" with a 12-oz. can of sugar-sweetened cola, and he claimed excellent results. He said the mixture would be dark, shiny blue after it was stirred with a disposable stick.

That fellow also religiously used gloves and washed all utensils/containers/gloves/hands/etc. after handling the stuff, which is, of course, DEADLY poison.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: walkstall on August 13, 2012, 04:00:00 PM



This message will self destruct in 30 sec     :lol: 
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: samgoober on August 13, 2012, 05:18:43 PM
The feller I knew puts some dry cat food or dry dog food in it too, and stirs it around. I heard he found dead coons less than three feet from that mixture. :)

Sam
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: SWMP on August 16, 2012, 08:03:44 PM
I know a guy who knows a guy who put some fly bait out and got two raccoons that he knows about, but word is there's a large family of raccoons (seen on video) that has disappeared as well.  A young coyote turned up dormie as well.  Since this guy put the fly bait out, he's had no raccoons, no coyotes, no nuisance.....

FWIW........
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: JustKari on August 16, 2012, 08:31:52 PM
I didn't know so many of you know Harry Reid.  :popcorn:  /sarcasm
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on August 18, 2012, 08:51:41 PM
Quote from: JustKari on August 16, 2012, 08:31:52 PM
I didn't know so many of you know Harry Reid.  :popcorn:  /sarcasm

I know raccoons, and I know people who have killed raccoons, and I know Harry Reid. I have some measure of respect for the first two.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Ricko on August 27, 2012, 07:39:33 PM
Until I had a 'coon enter my attic, I could live with them. Anyway, because they entered my residance I declared WAR :cursing:. I bait a live cage trap with sardines at dusk and when I have a 'coon in the morning I shoot 'em in the noggin with a .22 subsonic round, bag 'em and toss 'em in the dumpster at the park. I trapped and disposed of 12 of these little monsters since May. Yes, I'm breaking 3 laws...discharging in town limits, trapping WO a license and dumping a dead animal...but it's only illegal when you get caught!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: walkstall on August 27, 2012, 08:29:28 PM
Quote from: Ricko on August 27, 2012, 07:39:33 PM
Until I had a 'coon enter my attic, I could live with them. Anyway, because they entered my residance I declared WAR :cursing:. I bait a live cage trap with sardines at dusk and when I have a 'coon in the morning I shoot 'em in the noggin with a .22 subsonic round, bag 'em and toss 'em in the dumpster at the park. I trapped and disposed of 12 of these little monsters since May. Yes, I'm breaking 3 laws...discharging in town limits, trapping WO a license and dumping a dead animal...but it's only illegal when you get caught!

Best advice I can give you young man, don't get caught!    :lol:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Ricko on August 28, 2012, 08:46:15 AM
Quote from: walkstall on August 27, 2012, 08:29:28 PM
Best advice I can give you young man, don't get caught!    :lol:

I hear ya but there's a pretty slim chance that I'd get caught and I'm willing to take the gamble. My neighbors know what I'm up to and they're all for it, nobody likes raccoons around, they're nothing but trouble. The trap is hidden from view, I use a quiet round to put 'em down and my "execution area" is hidden by bushes. I descreatly toss the carcass in a dumpster a mile away. It's a victimless crime that nobody cares about :thumbup:.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on August 28, 2012, 10:58:42 AM
Quote from: Ricko on August 28, 2012, 08:46:15 AM
I hear ya but there's a pretty slim chance that I'd get caught and I'm willing to take the gamble. My neighbors know what I'm up to and they're all for it, nobody likes raccoons around, they're nothing but trouble. The trap is hidden from view, I use a quiet round to put 'em down and my "execution area" is hidden by bushes. I descreatly toss the carcass in a dumpster a mile away. It's a victimless crime that nobody cares about :thumbup:.
The raccoons would beg to differ. But in any case, you should be in the clear if you're operating on your own property. Most states exempt landowners and homeowners from hunting and trapping laws when dispatching pests like raccoons. I don't know about your town, but actually very few towns have laws prohibiting the discharge of a firearm. (If your "town" is New York City, that's a little different.) Where you may get crossways with somebody is when you transport the dead critter to the park dumpster. If you think whoever empties that dumpster hasn't noticed those carcasses, you'd better think again -- a ripe coon carcass stinks for weeks, and that means someone could be keeping an eye on it to see who's depositing those "special packages."
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Ricko on August 28, 2012, 11:35:54 AM
Quote from: tbone0106 on August 28, 2012, 10:58:42 AM
The raccoons would beg to differ. But in any case, you should be in the clear if you're operating on your own property. Most states exempt landowners and homeowners from hunting and trapping laws when dispatching pests like raccoons. I don't know about your town, but actually very few towns have laws prohibiting the discharge of a firearm. (If your "town" is New York City, that's a little different.) Where you may get crossways with somebody is when you transport the dead critter to the park dumpster. If you think whoever empties that dumpster hasn't noticed those carcasses, you'd better think again -- a ripe coon carcass stinks for weeks, and that means someone could be keeping an eye on it to see who's depositing those "special packages."

LOL as I said to a neighbor who is glad I'm eradicating the little varmints...I no longer have a raccoon problem, the raccoons have a RICKO problem :thumbsup:.

Good point about dumping the carcasses in the same place all the time and I have dumped a few of them in other dumpsters in town to spread the "wealth". The time of day/week that I use that dumpster is so varied that they'd have to have a 24/7 stake out if they really wanted to catch the fiend who was dumping the carcasses, and I don't think anyone would really care enough to go through the trouble.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: walkstall on August 28, 2012, 11:59:23 AM
Quote from: Ricko on August 28, 2012, 11:35:54 AM
LOL as I said to a neighbor who is glad I'm eradicating the little varmints...I no longer have a raccoon problem, the raccoons have a RICKO problem :thumbsup:.

Good point about dumping the carcasses in the same place all the time and I have dumped a few of them in other dumpsters in town to spread the "wealth". The time of day/week that I use that dumpster is so varied that they'd have to have a 24/7 stake out  if they really wanted to catch the fiend who was dumping the carcasses, and I don't think anyone would really care enough to go through the trouble.


In this day and age a motion detector camera would do the trick.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: JustKari on August 28, 2012, 12:11:23 PM
I would avoid the dumpster altogether, drive out in the country a bit, toss it out the window, let nature/scavengers take care of the carcasses.  Doesn't take more than a few days, and you have much less chance of getting caught. 
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Ricko on August 28, 2012, 12:34:09 PM
Quote from: walkstall on August 28, 2012, 11:59:23 AM

In this day and age a motion detector camera would do the trick.

Again I'll say, I don't think anyone would care enough to go through the trouble of setting up a camera, it's not like I'm dumping human remains or anything. Do you really think someone who smells something BAD in a dumpster is going to rummage through to find out what the stink is coming from...and then go through the trouble and expense to find out who is dumping dead 'coons? To be honest, I doubt if I'm the only one dumping 'coons in that dumpster...there's a lot of those varmints in the area and I'm sure I'm not the only one whose trapping and capping them.

Just to be on the safe side though I think I'll starting using different dumpsters around town, no more then 1 a month in any one dumpster.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Ricko on August 28, 2012, 12:42:42 PM
Quote from: JustKari on August 28, 2012, 12:11:23 PM
I would avoid the dumpster altogether, drive out in the country a bit, toss it out the window, let nature/scavengers take care of the carcasses.  Doesn't take more than a few days, and you have much less chance of getting caught.

In order to dump them in the country I think I'd have to un-bag them for the coyotes to enjoy the feast...and they're bloody and disgusting! I'll start rotating using different dumpsters...actually there's a goofy neighbor lady 3 doors down who thinks raccoons are "the cutest little things" and she FEEDS THEM! Maybe I should toss 'em in her pool after I shoot them? :woot:. I'm just kidding of course.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on August 28, 2012, 12:44:42 PM
A rotting coon smells exactly like a rotting human. We're made of the same stuff, and decompose in exactly the same way.

Quote from: Ricko on August 28, 2012, 12:34:09 PM
Do you really think someone who smells something BAD in a dumpster is going to rummage through to find out what the stink is coming from...and then go through the trouble and expense to find out who is dumping dead 'coons?

No, but they'll sure do it to find out where the smell is coming from. Missing persons are quite often located by that "dead smell," the same smell a dead raccoon has.

I'd have to agree with Kari and Walks -- avoid the dumpsters altogether if you can.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: walkstall on August 28, 2012, 12:45:52 PM
Quote from: Ricko on August 28, 2012, 12:34:09 PM
Again I'll say, I don't think anyone would care enough to go through the trouble of setting up a camera, it's not like I'm dumping human remains or anything. Do you really think someone who smells something BAD in a dumpster is going to rummage through to find out what the stink is coming from...and then go through the trouble and expense to find out who is dumping dead 'coons? To be honest, I doubt if I'm the only one dumping 'coons in that dumpster...there's a lot of those varmints in the area and I'm sure I'm not the only one whose trapping and capping them.

Just to be on the safe side though I think I'll starting using different dumpsters around town, no more then 1 a month in any one dumpster.


:lol:
Just look what the treehugger have done to Washington and Oregon with the spotted owl.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on August 28, 2012, 02:39:46 PM
Quote from: Ricko on August 28, 2012, 11:35:54 AM
LOL as I said to a neighbor who is glad I'm eradicating the little varmints...I no longer have a raccoon problem, the raccoons have a RICKO problem :thumbsup:.


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Eve on August 30, 2012, 08:11:11 PM
Gee -- I need some help and suggestions here.  I live on Long Island, 50 x 100 property but near a wooded area.  This is about raccoons.  I don't grow corn or have poultry...but I do have a large pond with a liner--and I have raccoons who raid the garbage, overturn the fountains and have ripped the liner, eating the koi.  All right.  I bought the recommended mixture and prepared the formulation.  But..."Big Daddy" came around about 8:15 PM, I was in the house. Warm night so I decided to go out into the glider a while...sitting there I hear an odd noise, getting louder and more anguishing.  It was "Big Daddy", he had the liquid but did not die within 10 feet, he was suffering for about 20 minutes.  Maybe when I went outside, I had disturbed his drinking and he only had a suboptimal dose.  Any ideas/suggestions?  There are a lot of raccoons, but I'm a nervous wreck after this little episode.     Thankfully a neighbor was playing loud music, otherwise I'm certain another would have called the police, picture this. 
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on August 31, 2012, 12:48:41 PM
Quote from: Eve on August 30, 2012, 08:11:11 PM
Gee -- I need some help and suggestions here.  I live on Long Island, 50 x 100 property but near a wooded area.  This is about raccoons.  I don't grow corn or have poultry...but I do have a large pond with a liner--and I have raccoons who raid the garbage, overturn the fountains and have ripped the liner, eating the koi.  All right.  I bought the recommended mixture and prepared the formulation.  But..."Big Daddy" came around about 8:15 PM, I was in the house. Warm night so I decided to go out into the glider a while...sitting there I hear an odd noise, getting louder and more anguishing.  It was "Big Daddy", he had the liquid but did not die within 10 feet, he was suffering for about 20 minutes.  Maybe when I went outside, I had disturbed his drinking and he only had a suboptimal dose.  Any ideas/suggestions?  There are a lot of raccoons, but I'm a nervous wreck after this little episode.     Thankfully a neighbor was playing loud music, otherwise I'm certain another would have called the police, picture this.

Welcome to the forum, Eve!  :smile:

My friend down the road says stiffen your mixture a bit. More granules, less pop. My friend says his "Big Daddy" weighed nearly 25 pounds, but even he traveled less than 30 feet after lapping up an entire bowl full of the magical stuff. My friend tells me that the lesser punks usually die within reach of the bowl.

Have faith. Persevere.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Eve on August 31, 2012, 05:11:56 PM
TBone --

Thank you for the welcome.  I'll make the concentrate stronger and try my luck.  Thanks for your sound advice.   This coon ate all my koi, shredded my liner and is a major neighborhood nuisance.  Now past tense, good.

Thank you again Darlin'

Eve
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: walkstall on August 31, 2012, 06:43:25 PM
Quote from: Eve on August 31, 2012, 05:11:56 PM
TBone --

Thank you for the welcome.  I'll make the concentrate stronger and try my luck.  Thanks for your sound advice.   This coon ate all my koi, shredded my liner and is a major neighborhood nuisance.  Now past tense, good.

Thank you again Darlin'

Eve

Welcome Eve also.....Always remember to wear rubber glove and do a good wash up after.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Eve on September 01, 2012, 06:57:09 AM
Thank you also Walkstall for the kind welcome.  I haven't seen any signs of destruction over the past several days. Good.  I'd need to remove the existing liner in the pond, dig down another 2 feet, relay the liner, re-do the landscaping to permit the next group of koi a chance to go to the bottom of the pond when attacked. 

Then a neighbor mentioned using a black sort of screen over the top of the pond.  But these coons are SMART! and FAST READS!

I'm going to leave the pond as it is: no koi, and no coons.  Easy? I don't know. Any/all suggestions are welcomed.

Eve



Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Honeyphil57 on September 15, 2012, 09:52:11 PM
Great info on GM and raccoons. I've lost 10% of my laying flock in 2 nights. Will this mix affect honeybees?
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: samgoober on September 15, 2012, 10:56:29 PM
Not sure about honeybees - Flies won't make it far though.

Also, I wanted to point out (because I said I would when I first joined this forum) what I'd learned about mixin' up some Golden Malrin, dog food, and Coke in a pan, and  leaving it in the vicinity of where ya think any four-legged varmits (coons, possums, etc) may infiltrate:

Now I can't say that I know PERSONALLY, nor that I've seen it with my OWN eyes, but I have it on good authority that mixin up some Golden Malrin (say, a cup or so) with about a cup or two of Coke, combined with some Gravy Train or similar dry dog food (about a cup or so of the  dog food), stirred around a bit, and left alone will not attract coons (and other varmits), but if they come, they will bite it. usually within about five feet of the container/pie pan holding the aforementioned concoction.

I have it on good authority that this works even after leaving the concoction out in the elements for a month or more - and that the dead varmits stink. Bad. So be sure to let your friend  know to check his garden frequently. I know that I would, if I was to put out something like this to keep those bastards out of my corn or other plants. Not that I would ever consider doing something like that.....

Good luck my friend

Sam
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Eve on September 16, 2012, 07:20:44 AM
Hi everyone -- again, thanks for your good advice and encouragement.   The count is now 9 raccoon.  I called the County "Animal Control" thinking they may want to help and step in with the disposal what with all their vans that patrol up/down local streets.   No, they don't.  I guess they're more concerned with cat/dog problems.

If I find a dead raccoon on my property, I'm to place it in a double lawn/leaf bag and into the garbage for pickup twice weekly.  And so I do.    Nobody's concerned about how the dead raccoons manage to find their way onto my property. 

Good moves,  win:win. 
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on September 16, 2012, 01:03:11 PM
Quote from: Honeyphil57 on September 15, 2012, 09:52:11 PM
Great info on GM and raccoons. I've lost 10% of my laying flock in 2 nights. Will this mix affect honeybees?

After two years of seeing the stuff used in the field, I can say that I've never seen a honeybee killed by it -- and I have a bee tree on my property. As samgoober pointed out, the stuff attracts and kills flies by the hundred, but attracts little else besides raccoons and the occasional opossum.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on September 16, 2012, 01:10:22 PM
Quote from: Eve on September 16, 2012, 07:20:44 AM
Hi everyone -- again, thanks for your good advice and encouragement.   The count is now 9 raccoon.  I called the County "Animal Control" thinking they may want to help and step in with the disposal what with all their vans that patrol up/down local streets.   No, they don't.  I guess they're more concerned with cat/dog problems.

If I find a dead raccoon on my property, I'm to place it in a double lawn/leaf bag and into the garbage for pickup twice weekly.  And so I do.    Nobody's concerned about how the dead raccoons manage to find their way onto my property. 

Good moves,  win:win.

Excellent! My good buddy, the one who lives very close to me and uses that stuff, has killed 14 'coons and 4 'possums with it this year. He has an easier time with disposal, though, living as he does kinda out in farm country.

It's a bit funny how they're instructing you to put the corpses at the curb in "double bags," etc. The guy in the truck will have no idea what's in the bag, and that dead 'coon will go straight into the general landfill along with all the newspapers and chicken bones and empty water bottles.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: JustKari on September 16, 2012, 02:12:29 PM
Quote from: tbone0106 on September 16, 2012, 01:10:22 PM
Excellent! My good buddy, the one who lives very close to me and uses that stuff, has killed 14 'coons and 4 'possums with it this year. He has an easier time with disposal, though, living as he does kinda out in farm country.

It's a bit funny how they're instructing you to put the corpses at the curb in "double bags," etc. The guy in the truck will have no idea what's in the bag, and that dead 'coon will go straight into the general landfill along with all the newspapers and chicken bones and empty water bottles.

It is funny, we are having a general trash rolloff delivered to our house tomorrow for cleanup before construction, on the list of things that were okay to put in the rolloff was "animal carcasses".  It  made me think of this thread when I read it.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Honeyphil57 on September 21, 2012, 07:51:10 PM
One raccoon a day for 3 days. That stuff works!! Could we get select liberals to sip a bit?
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on September 21, 2012, 07:57:36 PM
Quote from: Honeyphil57 on September 21, 2012, 07:51:10 PM
One raccoon a day for 3 days. That stuff works!! Could we get select liberals to sip a bit?

Not nice! We must strive at all times to be nice, and you're not being nice.

Kari, you're having a roll-off delivered for PRE-construction? There was a lot of demolition then?
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: samgoober on September 22, 2012, 08:48:52 AM
Quote from: tbone0106 on September 21, 2012, 07:57:36 PM
Not nice! We must strive at all times to be nice, and you're not being nice.

It's a lot nicer to just let the government do it for you. ie.  Build a city five feet below sea level in a hurricane zone and fill it with Democrats.

~ Sam
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: JustKari on September 22, 2012, 08:59:45 AM
Quote from: tbone0106 on September 21, 2012, 07:57:36 PM
Not nice! We must strive at all times to be nice, and you're not being nice.

Kari, you're having a roll-off delivered for PRE-construction? There was a lot of demolition then?
No, it is a general trash rolloff.  My mom gutted the inside before realising the job was more than she could handle, but while she was taking out plaster and all that, it got filled with tons of other junk.  Hubby and I have to go through the whole house and toss what is trash, and store what is treasure, so that the contractors can work.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on September 22, 2012, 09:02:15 AM
Quote from: samgoober on September 22, 2012, 08:48:52 AM
It's a lot nicer to just let the government do it for you. ie.  Build a city five feet below sea level in a hurricane zone and fill it with Democrats.

~ Sam
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: MountainStateMan on September 26, 2012, 04:24:29 PM
Wow!  this stuff works and fast.  I took out two this week.  I suggest using a flat pie pan, or bowl.  Fill the bottom and add can of Coke. Embed it in the ground so they can't knock it over, and put a can of sardines in the mix.  They can't resist!  Both raccoons didn't make it past 20 ft. 
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on September 26, 2012, 10:29:57 PM
Quote from: MountainStateMan on September 26, 2012, 04:24:29 PM
Wow!  this stuff works and fast.  I took out two this week.  I suggest using a flat pie pan, or bowl.  Fill the bottom and add can of Coke. Embed it in the ground so they can't knock it over, and put a can of sardines in the mix.  They can't resist!  Both raccoons didn't make it past 20 ft.

Are you a West Virginian, or some other (generally lesser) sort of Mountain Stater? Inquiring minds need to know...  :tounge:

My good friend down the road who uses that stuff says he'll never mix sardines in with it because it might attract his neighbor's numerous cats. He's always told me that he won't mix any kind of meat or fish with it because it might attract dogs, cats, etc. The straight mix he uses -- sugar pop and GM -- allows his personal pet cat to walk past it without a sideways glance, but still brings in the raccoons.

Not criticizin' Just sayin'...
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Ricko on October 09, 2012, 07:52:36 PM
My only problem with poisening 'coons is where they will go and die and stink to high heaven if you don't find them right away. I still like my method better...trap them, shoot them in the cage, double bag and dispose of properly, this way I'm 100% in control. I've taken out 18 of those little monsters like since May, it's my new hobby :cool:.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: samgoober on October 09, 2012, 07:56:31 PM
Quote from: Ricko on October 09, 2012, 07:52:36 PM
My only problem with poisening 'coons is where they will go and die and stink to high heaven if you don't find them right away. I still like my method better...trap them, shoot them in the cage, double bag and dispose of properly, this way I'm 100% in control. I've taken out 18 of those little monsters like since May, it's my new hobby :cool:.

The thing is though, if you use GM, you won't have to go looking for them. They'll be right beside the pan. :)

Sam
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on October 09, 2012, 11:37:42 PM
Quote from: Ricko on October 09, 2012, 07:52:36 PM
My only problem with poisening 'coons is where they will go and die and stink to high heaven if you don't find them right away. I still like my method better...trap them, shoot them in the cage, double bag and dispose of properly, this way I'm 100% in control. I've taken out 18 of those little monsters like since May, it's my new hobby :cool:.
I've never seen one travel more than 30 or 40 feet from a pan of GM/soda pop. Most don't get 10 feet. Yep, if they get to cover and die, they do tend to smell a bit, but a stinking dead raccoon does not raid my garden or take up residence in my attic or bite my grandkids or screw with my cat.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on October 09, 2012, 11:46:15 PM
Now that we've left Davy Crockett and Dan'l Boone -- and their coonskin-wearing fashions -- in the past, humankind has little use for the raccoon. The problem for humankind, however, is that the 'coons neither know that nor care about it.

Restrictive hunting and trapping laws in many states, along with the collapse of the market for raccoon pelts, added to the nearly perfect habitat we've crafted for them, add up to near perfection for raccoons. Naturally aggressive and adaptive, raccoons are quickly invading spaces they've not before tried to inhabit.

Like New York City (http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2012/10/05/frustrated-residents-raccoons-slowly-taking-over-new-york-city/), for example.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Ricko on October 10, 2012, 11:23:21 AM
Quote from: tbone0106 on October 09, 2012, 11:37:42 PM
I've never seen one travel more than 30 or 40 feet from a pan of GM/soda pop. Most don't get 10 feet. Yep, if they get to cover and die, they do tend to smell a bit, but a stinking dead raccoon does not raid my garden or take up residence in my attic or bite my grandkids or screw with my cat.

All the same in the end I suppose...any dead raccoon is a good raccoon but I really think that you're robbing yourself of the fun of putting a bullet in their furry little head. They snarle and bite at the barrel when you stick it in the cage and they flop around in convusions after you shoot them...it's a beeyooteeful thing watching a raccoon checking out hehehe :thumbsup: 
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: tbone0106 on October 10, 2012, 02:02:24 PM
Quote from: Ricko on October 10, 2012, 11:23:21 AM
All the same in the end I suppose...any dead raccoon is a good raccoon but I really think that you're robbing yourself of the fun of putting a bullet in their furry little head. They snarle and bite at the barrel when you stick it in the cage and they flop around in convusions after you shoot them...it's a beeyooteeful thing watching a raccoon checking out hehehe :thumbsup:
You might be just sick enough that we could become friends.  :tounge:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Ricko on October 10, 2012, 08:26:28 PM
Quote from: tbone0106 on October 10, 2012, 02:02:24 PM
You might be just sick enough that we could become friends.  :tounge:

If you want sick...you shoulda' seen the one that I unloaded a 10 round clip on. WHAT A MESS! :lol: :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: walkstall on October 10, 2012, 08:42:47 PM
Quote from: Ricko on October 10, 2012, 08:26:28 PM
If you want sick...you shoulda' seen the one that I unloaded a 10 round clip on. WHAT A MESS! :lol: :lol: :lol:


Hmm...Or a very poor shooter.   :lol:  :lol:  :lol:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on October 11, 2012, 06:25:58 AM

There is a line between justice and revenge, but I take issue with anyone taking joy in the mutilation of a defenseless animal.
It's one thing to protect your property, but another when  you think others share in your joy of brutality.
I'm locking this thread, this is not what this forum is about, killing should never be a joy.

One should step back and do some serious soul searching. I'd like to think it was mere braggadocio, but that's not how it comes across.

If you really want to keep these varmints at bay, get a damn dog, that's how I remedied the issue here in the wilderness.
Seriously, there is no excuse for not having a dog if you want a garden, every settler coming out west knew if they were to survive, they needed the company of several dogs.
I'd ask what is your excuse for not having a couple or more dogs, but quite honestly I don't give a damn, but to complain about intruders yet not have the first line of defense screams of arrogant stupidity.
I know many of you would love to reply to this, but seriously, you all know I'm right in the end.
There is no excuse for not having dogs protecting your hard work.

So I'm locking this thread because I want people to know this kind of behavior is not condoned by this site.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: ReallyOrnery on July 14, 2013, 11:25:18 PM
Hi, Y'all:

I hate coons and I  shoot them on sight.  Several years ago three of them got into my hen house and butchered twenty of my twenty-five laying hens.  It may be politically incorrect to shoot coons, but I'd rather see a raccoon go hungry than anyone in my family.

RO   
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: admin on October 16, 2015, 07:54:07 PM
We have high tech weaponry too.

(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fthebuzztrend.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2015%2F06%2Fdonald-19.jpg&hash=e480245daaaef18fa0f69401f5ff3793b9ea7ddc)
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: WOLFY on October 28, 2015, 04:36:25 PM
This is directed at the raccoon problem .... from a different angle. I'm not particularly fond of the idea of poisoning anything, BUT, we've had a family of raccoons move in (burrow) under one of our decks. It's totally mind boggling the amount of feces that this family produces. I'm an engineer and travel a great deal which means my wife is burdened with dealing with the disposal of, and cleaning of, this constant mess. I have twelve acres on my mini-farm, five acres of lawn, a one acre pond and six acres of woods, any of the aforementioned the raccoons have the freedom to use as their personal latrine. But no, they insist on defecating on the decks and ramps. The day that everything is hosed off and scrubbed down with a disinfectant is the prelude of the night that they have yet another dump party .... ONLY on the decks and ramps.
You can take this to the bank .... I've ordered the Golden Malrin and I WILL gleefully put out several dishes of the concoction in several locations. If we put a significant dent in the raccoon population, then so be it. Several years ago we had a family of raccoons chew thru the soffit of my garage and moved in. We opted out of the poison route and did "the right thing" and hired a animal removal service to eliminate the problem. Two adult female mothers, one adult male, four baby raccoons and $1200.00 of my money later, the problem was solved. This company simply put up spring traps that killed every one of them. Well my take on this is, I paid my dues and the only difference I can see between the "pros" and me is their method of death might be a little faster than mine, but my total investment will be $7.95 for the GM and .50 cents for the coke. I figure I'm $1191 and some change ahead of my last experience.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: walkstall on October 28, 2015, 05:29:02 PM
Quote from: WOLFY on October 28, 2015, 04:36:25 PM
This is directed at the raccoon problem .... from a different angle. I'm not particularly fond of the idea of poisoning anything, BUT, we've had a family of raccoons move in (burrow) under one of our decks. It's totally mind boggling the amount of feces that this family produces. I'm an engineer and travel a great deal which means my wife is burdened with dealing with the disposal of, and cleaning of, this constant mess. I have twelve acres on my mini-farm, five acres of lawn, a one acre pond and six acres of woods, any of the aforementioned the raccoons have the freedom to use as their personal latrine. But no, they insist on defecating on the decks and ramps. The day that everything is hosed off and scrubbed down with a disinfectant is the prelude of the night that they have yet another dump party .... ONLY on the decks and ramps.
You can take this to the bank .... I've ordered the Golden Malrin and I WILL gleefully put out several dishes of the concoction in several locations. If we put a significant dent in the raccoon population, then so be it. Several years ago we had a family of raccoons chew thru the soffit of my garage and moved in. We opted out of the poison route and did "the right thing" and hired a animal removal service to eliminate the problem. Two adult female mothers, one adult male, four baby raccoons and $1200.00 of my money later, the problem was solved. This company simply put up spring traps that killed every one of them. Well my take on this is, I paid my dues and the only difference I can see between the "pros" and me is their method of death might be a little faster than mine, but my total investment will be $7.95 for the GM and .50 cents for the coke. I figure I'm $1191 and some change ahead of my last experience.

Please remember to keep all your pets and farm animals safe.  Also if you have kids cover that with them. 
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: WOLFY on October 29, 2015, 07:02:49 AM
Children are long gone  ..... no pets ...... and to answer the person who railed on about "just get a damned dog" that in his ( or her ) words " would solve the problem without having to poison the raccoons ". My wife and I are caregivers for her 91 year old mother who has a severe allergy to dog and cat dander, so much so that we had to give away our two Jack Russel terriers when agreeing to have her come live with us. Please don't lump everyone together with some of the more ..... hmmmmm ....... let's just say zealous folks who can be more blunt than needed. Everyone who chooses to use the GM makes their own personal decision based on their own personal circumstances. I have, and I sleep very well every night.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: walkstall on October 29, 2015, 07:26:13 AM
Quote from: WOLFY on October 29, 2015, 07:02:49 AM
Children are long gone  ..... no pets ...... and to answer the person who railed on about "just get a damned dog" that in his ( or her ) words " would solve the problem without having to poison the raccoons ". My wife and I are caregivers for her 91 year old mother who has a severe allergy to dog and cat dander, so much so that we had to give away our two Jack Russel terriers when agreeing to have her come live with us. Please don't lump everyone together with some of the more ..... hmmmmm ....... let's just say zealous folks who can be more blunt than needed. Everyone who chooses to use the GM makes their own personal decision based on their own personal circumstances. I have, and I sleep very well every night.

I could care less what people think.  I do care about kids and pets, but that's just me.  I can not remember losing sleep over anything in my life time.   :lol:   
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on October 29, 2015, 07:55:22 AM
Quote from: WOLFY on October 29, 2015, 07:02:49 AM
Children are long gone  ..... no pets ...... and to answer the person who railed on about "just get a damned dog" that in his ( or her ) words " would solve the problem without having to poison the raccoons ". My wife and I are caregivers for her 91 year old mother who has a severe allergy to dog and cat dander, so much so that we had to give away our two Jack Russel terriers when agreeing to have her come live with us. Please don't lump everyone together with some of the more ..... hmmmmm ....... let's just say zealous folks who can be more blunt than needed. Everyone who chooses to use the GM makes their own personal decision based on their own personal circumstances. I have, and I sleep very well every night.
Let me guess, before you got rid of the dogs, raccoons were never an issue, right?
Like I said in a previous post, fence and dogs are you best defense, fence the mother off from the dogs to avoid interaction, and you could have kept the dogs.
As much as I loved my mother, there is no way in Hell I'd ever have gotten rid of my dogs, and my mother would never have let me either.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: TXborn on March 18, 2016, 04:53:34 PM
Quote from: Solar on August 26, 2011, 04:43:41 PM
Two words, Claymore mines, they do wonders. :D

If I was facing this problem, I'd put up an electrified fence.

I was raised to believe anything you kill you must consume, but Raccoon?
I doubt I'd garner a taste for rats with masks.

Problem w/claymore mines is 1st they're hard to come by; they're a directional device which operates on an initiating hand-operated initiating component which requires user to lay in wait for target to come into the field of detonation; and finally, when setting up the mine heed the embossed warning: "Toward Enemy" or otherwise, you'll eliminate yourself from the gene pool instead of the varmit.

As per consumption, they're quite edible 'n beside the skin to make a Davy Crockett style hat, if critter is right kind, you'll have a "hunter's toothpick" to clean your teeth afterwards. Seriously, if the coon is extra fatty, chilling it thoroughly 'n cutting away fatty deposits will prevent flesh from having rancid flavor. Like Armadillo, the Raccoon is best roasted over open fire or barbecued for lengthy period in a BBQ cooker or enclosed pit until flesh readily comes off the bone. Prepare like you'd do during backyard cookout. You won't be sorry..!!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: sorryithascometothis on June 22, 2016, 05:57:28 AM
My problems are chipmunks.Last year we used rat traps,killed 17 in two weeks.Also had two drown a couple that didn't die right away.(that was tough) And I did have to free a bird caught only by the tip of it's wing. I have allways considered myself to be a huge animal supporter. I have been known to cry if I hit something on the road.And I have saved more animals than I can count.My mother used to say that there must be a neon sign over my porch that reads. If you are sick or injured come here,she will save you.
Since we have left the big city,and moved to the country,I am finding a shift in my reactions.I am still ,and allways will be an animal lover and supporter(all gods creatures great and small)
But these guys seem to be the most destuctive little SOB's alive.They have tunnelled under my home,gotten up in to my attic,leaving thier droppings everywere(contamination)Chewed through everything form christmas decorations to a air mattress.The list could go on and on.Outside they have chewed holes through our privacy fence,they dig tunnels under my flowers.thus killing them.We were told they are beginning to weaken our foundation at one spot.They have even chewed holes though the side of our garage.I had been told by an elder amish gentleman about blue marlin,this sounds like the same kind of stuff.What would be the ratio for these little guys.And I don't care what other people think,I will be having my own issues with this. I am trying to save our property from thier destuction.Sorry it has to come to this.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on June 22, 2016, 06:39:32 AM
Quote from: sorryithascometothis on June 22, 2016, 05:57:28 AM
My problems are chipmunks.Last year we used rat traps,killed 17 in two weeks.Also had two drown a couple that didn't die right away.(that was tough) And I did have to free a bird caught only by the tip of it's wing. I have allways considered myself to be a huge animal supporter. I have been known to cry if I hit something on the road.And I have saved more animals than I can count.My mother used to say that there must be a neon sign over my porch that reads. If you are sick or injured come here,she will save you.
Since we have left the big city,and moved to the country,I am finding a shift in my reactions.I am still ,and allways will be an animal lover and supporter(all gods creatures great and small)
But these guys seem to be the most destuctive little SOB's alive.They have tunnelled under my home,gotten up in to my attic,leaving thier droppings everywere(contamination)Chewed through everything form christmas decorations to a air mattress.The list could go on and on.Outside they have chewed holes through our privacy fence,they dig tunnels under my flowers.thus killing them.We were told they are beginning to weaken our foundation at one spot.They have even chewed holes though the side of our garage.I had been told by an elder amish gentleman about blue marlin,this sounds like the same kind of stuff.What would be the ratio for these little guys.And I don't care what other people think,I will be having my own issues with this. I am trying to save our property from thier destuction.Sorry it has to come to this.
:biggrin:
I feel your pain. I had a vole infestation several years back, voles are like moles on steroids with razor sharp steel teeth, and you never know where they'll come up.
I went on a snake hunt and found to rather large gopher snakes, between the snakes and my dog, the voles disappeared and never returned.
Though I don't know which was worse, the vole mounds, or the crater my dog dug going after them.
I credit my success equally to the dog and the snakes. Oh, and you can buy the snakes at a pet shop.
Good luck...
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Hoofer on June 22, 2016, 04:27:52 PM
Quote from: sorryithascometothis on June 22, 2016, 05:57:28 AM
My problems are chipmunks.Last year we used rat traps,killed 17 in two weeks.Also had two drown a couple that didn't die right away.(that was tough) And I did have to free a bird caught only by the tip of it's wing. I have allways considered myself to be a huge animal supporter. I have been known to cry if I hit something on the road.And I have saved more animals than I can count.My mother used to say that there must be a neon sign over my porch that reads. If you are sick or injured come here,she will save you.
Since we have left the big city,and moved to the country,I am finding a shift in my reactions.I am still ,and allways will be an animal lover and supporter(all gods creatures great and small)
But these guys seem to be the most destuctive little SOB's alive.They have tunnelled under my home,gotten up in to my attic,leaving thier droppings everywere(contamination)Chewed through everything form christmas decorations to a air mattress.The list could go on and on.Outside they have chewed holes through our privacy fence,they dig tunnels under my flowers.thus killing them.We were told they are beginning to weaken our foundation at one spot.They have even chewed holes though the side of our garage.I had been told by an elder amish gentleman about blue marlin,this sounds like the same kind of stuff.What would be the ratio for these little guys.And I don't care what other people think,I will be having my own issues with this. I am trying to save our property from thier destuction.Sorry it has to come to this.

a couple of weeks ago, a racoon ripped open an elevated cage and killed all but ONE of our Ducks - breeding stock.  all dead in a single night.  To us, racoons are like slow moving coyotes - we'll go years without any trouble, and suddenly, they just appear and kill everything they can sink their teeth into.  Occasionally we'll find one partially eaten - most of the time, just carcasses everywhere... both are like the Taliban of wild animals, killing for fun.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on June 22, 2016, 05:13:49 PM
Quote from: Hoofer on June 22, 2016, 04:27:52 PM
a couple of weeks ago, a racoon ripped open an elevated cage and killed all but ONE of our Ducks - breeding stock.  all dead in a single night.  To us, racoons are like slow moving coyotes - we'll go years without any trouble, and suddenly, they just appear and kill everything they can sink their teeth into.  Occasionally we'll find one partially eaten - most of the time, just carcasses everywhere... both are like the Taliban of wild animals, killing for fun.
Same here. After years of not having any issues with them, the last two weeks momma and her baby have hit us every night.
Whether it's cat or dog food, she's hit it all, even freeze dried cream cheese. yech...
I had Toy go out and make sure there was nothing left but large metal cans, because she opens anything that isn't metal.

She probably won't be back, there's nothing left to eat.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: jdzbrain on June 27, 2016, 10:56:04 AM
Coons have become a HUGE problem in some areas.  There was a time when I felt obligated to stand guard while my wife went out to fill her bird feeders.  They started coming up in the day and when the motion light came on one night and I counted 12 coons under her feeders, not 20 yards from the back of the house...it didn't take me long to decide to rectify that problem.  Especially given I'd already shot 2 that obviously had rabies in my back yard in less than a year.

Fortunately...coons are pretty smart.  They are closely related to bears.  They have similar habits and diets to black bears and they may actually be a little more intelligent.  SO...it doesn't take but a couple of um catching lead poisoning before the rest get the message and modify their behavior.  I watched for the boldest, used my pellet gun to light their butts up a few times and if they came back more than twice...the 22 came out. 

Populations of coons are exploding all across this country cause people have this romanticized notion of them being the cute little bandits and refuse to do their part for wildlife conservation.  The fact is, they are dangerous predators, just like coyotes, bobcats, wolves or bears.  They are NOT rodents, they are predators.  There have been several attacks on humans in their own yards over the past few years and even a few deaths when packs...that's right, I said packs...of coons attacked someone unprepared or incapable of fighting them off.  One woman was killed beside her home in the suburbs when she went around to toss her garbage out and was attacked 2 years ago.  Do a search for women attacked by raccoons and you'll find DOZENS of stories of recent attacks.  Not to mention that they are literally killing thousands of domestic animals each year.  Bet you all know someone that had a cat or dog go missing.   

If you allow them to over populate your area, they WILL become increasingly aggressive as food sources become more stressed.  That puts your wife, your kids and your elderly parents at risk.  Besides, coon taste GOOD!  And they make cool hats.  ;~)
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: KillerKustums on July 08, 2016, 01:05:28 PM
Hi everyone.  I've got chickens that we love. We have them for their eggs, but they've turned into pet.  Last night we had 2 killed by coons!  I'm pissed and heart broken. They were so friendly and love the attention.  I've got to be honest with I want to kill ever coon I can. I live in the woods and we have wildlife everywhere,  so I don't want to kill the deer or turkeys, but every other predater is on the hit list. I want to protect my girls. Period!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Hoofer on July 08, 2016, 04:24:56 PM
Quote from: KillerKustums on July 08, 2016, 01:05:28 PM
Hi everyone.  I've got chickens that we love. We have them for their eggs, but they've turned into pet.  Last night we had 2 killed by coons!  I'm pissed and heart broken. They were so friendly and love the attention.  I've got to be honest with I want to kill ever coon I can. I live in the woods and we have wildlife everywhere,  so I don't want to kill the deer or turkeys, but every other predator is on the hit list. I want to protect my girls. Period!

They will be back.
mix coke/pepsi with a spoonful of Golden Marin (sp) fly crystals, set it near the cage.  Keep your dogs away from it!  It has been said, 'they won't get 10 feet'.   If it's a momma raccoon that's nursing, the youngsters will be coming your way soon enough (or already have, while momma introduces them to the delicacy of fresh chicken.

Electric fences work as a preventative, if they've never tasted fresh foul.  We had electrified netting/fence, and knew exactly when a pesky Bob Cat discovered it...  so much for kitty stealth, woke up the whole house with a shriek followed by intense growling.  Apparently Bob Cats think "growling" will turn off electric fences - yup, the kitty tried it a 2nd time.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: KillerKustums on July 09, 2016, 05:10:33 AM
LOL . I'm putting out some for them tonight. Our neighbor has killer 39 of them in the last two month. He lost 41 of his 45 layers. They are everywhere around here, a real problem to say the least.

Thanks for all the great advice guy's.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: stevco60 on November 01, 2016, 03:36:52 PM
Hey thanks tbone0106, I had to drive 150kms to buy Golden Malrin from a TSC Tractor Supply. I followed your instructions & even made the coons a peanut butter sandwich too to go with the coke. Got up at 6am went to the front lawn, it was dark & almost tripped over the bastards. 3 coons & a skunk... I put a new $ 3000 lawn down in May & the coons have constantly been rolling it up, it drove me nuts. I have tried cayenne pepper, vinegar, wasabi, ammonia but they kept coming back, I bought a professional bow & arrow but who wants to sit up all night, I have to work...!! First time I tried GM, got the whole tribe... how true...lights out. Maybe I can repair my lawn now. Thanks again. 
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: thewiz666 on November 24, 2016, 01:00:48 PM
How much of this stuff are you supposed to use per 'trap'?  I put maybe a tablespoon or two on globs of grape jelly in an old dog dish I found and it took several days for em to even want to touch it but then one day I saw it was all gone.  No dead coons to show for it though... did it a second time, and still nothing within 20-30 feet that I've ever seen. 

I want the instadeath I've read about way earlier in the thread here.  Does the jelly neutralize the GM or is there something wrong with my serving size?  Didn't see any proportions mentioned so I'm assuming too little.  Little f'n bastards are in my attic and need them out and dead before I can patch the holes under the eaves... been using the downspouts to get there or tree limbs.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Hoofer on November 25, 2016, 06:19:22 AM
Quote from: thewiz666 on November 24, 2016, 01:00:48 PM
How much of this stuff are you supposed to use per 'trap'?  I put maybe a tablespoon or two on globs of grape jelly in an old dog dish I found and it took several days for em to even want to touch it but then one day I saw it was all gone.  No dead coons to show for it though... did it a second time, and still nothing within 20-30 feet that I've ever seen. 

I want the instadeath I've read about way earlier in the thread here.  Does the jelly neutralize the GM or is there something wrong with my serving size?  Didn't see any proportions mentioned so I'm assuming too little.  Little f'n bastards are in my attic and need them out and dead before I can patch the holes under the eaves... been using the downspouts to get there or tree limbs.

A tablespoon of Golden Marlin (sp) dissolved into a cup of Coke / Mnt Dew, provides fast, long lasting relief, in less than 10 feet.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: thewiz666 on December 01, 2016, 02:57:14 AM
Quote from: Hoofer on November 25, 2016, 06:19:22 AM
A tablespoon of Golden Marlin (sp) dissolved into a cup of Coke / Mnt Dew, provides fast, long lasting relief, in less than 10 feet.


Maybe that's my mistake, not necessarily dissolving the stuff in a fluid vs sprinkling it on top of the jelly.  I was mainly concerned about evaporation or now, freezing up.  I shall try that approach and see what comes of it.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Hoofer on December 15, 2016, 05:49:49 AM
My place got hit again, lost half my Duck breeding stock, and my last Narragansett Turkey hen.

Time for Astrolorps  chickens, I guess...  they're mean and will go after anything threatening them.  Good snake killers.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on December 15, 2016, 05:53:24 AM
Quote from: Hoofer on December 15, 2016, 05:49:49 AM
My place got hit again, lost half my Duck breeding stock, and my last Narragansett Turkey hen.

Time for Astrolorps  chickens, I guess...  they're mean and will go after anything threatening them.  Good snake killers.
Brother had a couple, very sweet chickens.
Are your dogs sleepin on the job?
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Hoofer on December 17, 2016, 07:29:27 AM
Quote from: Solar on December 15, 2016, 05:53:24 AM
Brother had a couple, very sweet chickens.
Are your dogs sleepin on the job?

Darn HOUSE DOGs...  bark at shooting stars and passing cars, hardly a night goes by they don't bark about something - cameras were out of sync, and missed it all.

Black Astrolorps are notoriously protective and mean.  A Buff Orpington is a calm, peaceful chicken.

Maybe we'll get back into Royal Palm Turkeys - the Toms will take on dogs without hesitation.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Libtard on June 04, 2017, 05:05:51 PM
Lent my big traps out and can't remember who got them.

Been battling coons for a few months now. Exwife was feeding chickens by throwing feed in the yard. Wouldn't listen to reason. She moved out and I am back on my farm. Now I have a coon problem. Malrin is not available here, not by law, but I think varmit demand is flyin it off the shelves. Putting to the test tonight. Lost three chickens per eve all month. How can they be so smart as to apprehend a delectable slice of ham floating on an inch of straw halfway down a 55gal barrel but fall for grape soda?
Keep up the good work, you guys are funny.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Clacky on August 09, 2017, 10:46:00 PM
Just call me a dumb a--. I thought coons were cute and didn't want to kill them just rid myself of them. I bought a catch and release trap 32x12x12 and proceeded to trap them. well i caught one every night for three days and i transported them about 8 miles in my truck and released them each day. Then i went three days with no catches. well i thought i had gotten rid of them. NOPE. new tactics now, went and bought 5lb of malrin. and set out 4 pans of blue mt dew. had to, these little bass turds literally destroyed my corn field. i plant five 20 ft rows every 3 weeks. planting one was half destroyed then in one night they finished off planting one and tore down half of planting two. that's it, they don't want to leave any for me. THE WAR I ON. they don't bother with the trap anymore. So i don't care about the trap anymore either.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Hoofer on August 10, 2017, 05:25:58 AM
Quote from: Clacky on August 09, 2017, 10:46:00 PM
Just call me a dumb a--. I thought coons were cute and didn't want to kill them just rid myself of them. I bought a catch and release trap 32x12x12 and proceeded to trap them. well i caught one every night for three days and i transported them about 8 miles in my truck and released them each day. Then i went three days with no catches. well i thought i had gotten rid of them. NOPE. new tactics now, went and bought 5lb of malrin. and set out 4 pans of blue mt dew. had to, these little bass turds literally destroyed my corn field. i plant five 20 ft rows every 3 weeks. planting one was half destroyed then in one night they finished off planting one and tore down half of planting two. that's it, they don't want to leave any for me. THE WAR I ON. they don't bother with the trap anymore. So i don't care about the trap anymore either.

Beware of rabies, raccoons are known to carry it.  If you have dogs, keep them vaccinated and up-to-date.  Since they've caused so much damage for us, if we see any evidence of them, it's all-hands-on-deck.   They've sneaked by the starlight cameras so many times, got in and out without a peep out of the dogs, we ran out of options.  Good luck battling them, they are relentless - and usually have hungry little guys trailing them in no time.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: walkstall on August 10, 2017, 05:49:54 AM
Quote from: Clacky on August 09, 2017, 10:46:00 PM
Just call me a dumb a--. I thought coons were cute and didn't want to kill them just rid myself of them. I bought a catch and release trap 32x12x12 and proceeded to trap them. well i caught one every night for three days and i transported them about 8 miles in my truck and released them each day. Then i went three days with no catches. well i thought i had gotten rid of them. NOPE. new tactics now, went and bought 5lb of malrin. and set out 4 pans of blue mt dew. had to, these little bass turds literally destroyed my corn field. i plant five 20 ft rows every 3 weeks. planting one was half destroyed then in one night they finished off planting one and tore down half of planting two. that's it, they don't want to leave any for me. THE WAR I ON. they don't bother with the trap anymore. So i don't care about the trap anymore either.


QuoteI bought a catch and release trap 32x12x12 and proceeded to trap them. well i caught one every night for three days and i transported them about 8 miles in my truck and released them each day.

With Trap and release, all you do is move the headache into some other persons back yard.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on August 10, 2017, 06:22:44 AM
Quote from: walkstall on August 10, 2017, 05:49:54 AM

With Trap and release, all you do is move the headache into some other persons back yard.
Just imagine the poor guy that had thought he finally got rid of his coon problem and out of nowhere, they start showing up, as if some magical hand was bringing them in from 8 miles away. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

When I worked on the ranch running cattle, I saw a white Sacramento County truck parked along the pasture, so I saddled up and rode out to see why they were in ElDorado County.
They said they were in Sac county and pointed at the sign designating the county line, I said OK, so what are you doing on ranch property?

They didn't ever think about it being private property, they were just doing their job, which I said was what?
They then admitted that Sac County had a no kill order for certain animals and this was the spot they release Rattlers.
Yeah, fuckin rattlers! Sure, it was more than a mile to the ranch house, but it was all down hill to the creek, the very thing a rattler needs to find prey. Now we finally knew why we had a rattler problem.

I never knew the end result of the battle, but last I heard the owner was suing the county for trespass and reparations.

I can't believe this thread is still going since the Coon out break finally ended a few years back.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: walkstall on August 10, 2017, 10:50:29 AM
Quote from: Solar on August 10, 2017, 06:22:44 AM
Just imagine the poor guy that had thought he finally got rid of his coon problem and out of nowhere, they start showing up, as if some magical hand was bringing them in from 8 miles away. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

When I worked on the ranch running cattle, I saw a white Sacramento County truck parked along the pasture, so I saddled up and rode out to see why they were in ElDorado County.
They said they were in Sac county and pointed at the sign designating the county line, I said OK, so what are you doing on ranch property?

They didn't ever think about it being private property, they were just doing their job, which I said was what?
They then admitted that Sac County had a no kill order for certain animals and this was the spot they release Rattlers.
Yeah, fuckin rattlers! Sure, it was more than a mile to the ranch house, but it was all down hill to the creek, the very thing a rattler needs to find prey. Now we finally knew why we had a rattler problem.

I never knew the end result of the battle, but last I heard the owner was suing the county for trespass and reparations.

I can't believe this thread is still going since the Coon out break finally ended a few years back.

Only in some states. The coyotes and fox keep them down in my area.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Clacky on August 10, 2017, 12:27:30 PM
Quote from: walkstall on August 10, 2017, 05:49:54 AM

With Trap and release, all you do is move the headache into some other persons back yard.

Yup, If I had it to do over again I would have taken my pellet gun at point blank range and popped them in the brain. no mess. backhoe a little hole and cover them up with the bucket.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on August 10, 2017, 01:14:50 PM
Quote from: walkstall on August 10, 2017, 10:50:29 AM
Only in some states. The coyotes and fox keep them down in my area.
Same here, Mtn. Lions seem to keep the critters to one breeding pair at a time, as if they were farming the little masked bandits. :lol:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Hoofer on August 11, 2017, 06:02:06 AM
Quote from: walkstall on August 10, 2017, 10:50:29 AM
Only in some states. The coyotes and fox keep them down in my area.
In our area, when the bounty on coyotes runs out, they quit shooting & trapping them, let the population increase...
When the coyote population is down, the fox & coon population explodes again.  It never ends, one or the other.

2x4 mess helps keep it all out, with the dogs, but, they are always there, like criminals... looking, waiting, licking their chops....   How about "Duck for supper, with side dishes of farm-fresh beans, corn-on-the-cob, tomato, and fresh apples & pears for dessert?"

This year, the deer population has exploded again.   They are destroying everything, faster than the coons.  Every fruit tree has damage from the ground up to 10' - every apple, pear, peach has a bite taken out of it.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on August 11, 2017, 06:50:47 AM
Quote from: Hoofer on August 11, 2017, 06:02:06 AM
In our area, when the bounty on coyotes runs out, they quit shooting & trapping them, let the population increase...
When the coyote population is down, the fox & coon population explodes again.  It never ends, one or the other.

2x4 mess helps keep it all out, with the dogs, but, they are always there, like criminals... looking, waiting, licking their chops....   How about "Duck for supper, with side dishes of farm-fresh beans, corn-on-the-cob, tomato, and fresh apples & pears for dessert?"

This year, the deer population has exploded again.   They are destroying everything, faster than the coons.  Every fruit tree has damage from the ground up to 10' - every apple, pear, peach has a bite taken out of it.
Calif. has been fucking up the balance of nature for decades, from tiny insects to top of the food chain predators, allowing the deer population to explode, something we refer to as rats with antlers.
As you pointed out, they can decimate any crop in a single night, and if the dogs sleep through it, you may have lost an entire year worth of income.
It's for this reason the community shares a secret of poaching, as a way of offsetting crop losses and stocking one's freezer.

It's funny, as a kid growing up in the valley and never having all that much interaction with deer, I never saw first hand the path of destruction Bambi could have on a single industry, but living in nature I see it up  close and personal and actually support my neighbors for poaching, because despite the wishes of the state, these rats are also baiting in lions by their very existence and helping feed the coyote population as well.

Yeah, the state has the balance of life all fucked up, but what would you expect from some bureaucrat over a hundred miles away playing with the states wildlife resource as if it didn't have a diverse topography.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Hoofer on August 11, 2017, 04:31:38 PM
Antlered Rats, White-tailed Rats - if it's brown, it's down. 

Thanks to Nosler Ballistic Tip bullets, it's one-shot, one-kill... no matter where ya hit em.

One shot, get's everyone's attention, deer & people, but nobody knows where it came from.  It's the second shot they zero in on, direction and range.  Nosler makes you difficult to find.

Thanks to some Rack Hunter, Chronic Wasting Disease has been imported into Southern Virginia, with the introduction of infected deer.
My guess, it's another case of the wildlife management folks ... again.

In a couple of years, we'll get the "kill em all" order to stop the spread, just like they did in Wisconsin.... shoot deer on sight, 365 days of the year in Dane & Iowa counties.   The farmers has some of the best Alfalfa & Corn crops ever!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Hivoltage on November 16, 2017, 08:06:29 AM
New to this forum. We lost 5 hens 2 days ago from a raccoon or a group of them. I believe they were late getting in the coop, coons scared them and they scattered, then the hunt was on. . No 2 were close together, front yard, back yard, 100 yards away. Happened right after dusk. We raised them from chicks and they were like pets. The coop is coon proof, custom built and zero places for a coon to get in. 2 hens survived. 1 made it into the coop before door closed, another somehow survived the night and came back next morning. 1 we found in front yard looked to be dead but was still alive and we are treating her. I do NOT like seeing my wife cry. Today I am getting a trap AND some of this Golden Malrin. Its war and game on!
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on November 16, 2017, 07:12:04 PM
Quote from: Hivoltage on November 16, 2017, 08:06:29 AM
New to this forum. We lost 5 hens 2 days ago from a raccoon or a group of them. I believe they were late getting in the coop, coons scared them and they scattered, then the hunt was on. . No 2 were close together, front yard, back yard, 100 yards away. Happened right after dusk. We raised them from chicks and they were like pets. The coop is coon proof, custom built and zero places for a coon to get in. 2 hens survived. 1 made it into the coop before door closed, another somehow survived the night and came back next morning. 1 we found in front yard looked to be dead but was still alive and we are treating her. I do NOT like seeing my wife cry. Today I am getting a trap AND some of this Golden Malrin. Its war and game on!
Welcome Hi, take a look around, we have a large variety of forums. The political forum is the primary forum here.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Hoofer on November 18, 2017, 07:36:15 AM
Quote from: Hivoltage on November 16, 2017, 08:06:29 AM
New to this forum. We lost 5 hens 2 days ago from a raccoon or a group of them. I believe they were late getting in the coop, coons scared them and they scattered, then the hunt was on. . No 2 were close together, front yard, back yard, 100 yards away. Happened right after dusk. We raised them from chicks and they were like pets. The coop is coon proof, custom built and zero places for a coon to get in. 2 hens survived. 1 made it into the coop before door closed, another somehow survived the night and came back next morning. 1 we found in front yard looked to be dead but was still alive and we are treating her. I do NOT like seeing my wife cry. Today I am getting a trap AND some of this Golden Malrin. Its war and game on!

Man, oh man... I feel for you two.   

Coons love sweet soda & Golden Malrin (several different names), known as "Fly sugar".   The 10ft rule - they'll not get 10' away.
Bob Cats won't touch it, neither do Possums, weazels.... all who seem to enjoy hunting and killing birds.

Keep in mind, Raccoons & Possums can manipulate locked cages with those little "hand-like paws", any latch that is released by just pulling something, they can open.  Those old movies of a hasp, with a stick or pin through it to hold it shut - a coon will just pull at everything, eventually pulling it out, and walla!, it's open season on the roosting birds.  The only lock that *always* works for us, is a padlock & key.   I've had cages with heavy wire we used fencing staples to wooden posts - they pulled out the staples.  Switched to "barbed staples" - impossible to remove without destroying the wood.   Metal siding nailed to wood, they loosened that up too, switched to drywall like screws with big washers.  Plastic roofing material, again, screws with big washers at least every 12" close. 

Weazels & rodents are really good at finding & exploiting tiny gaps.  We had a 1" size hole in the hatchery wall, and notice the newborn chicks were disappearing.  After a couple of days the chicks growing rapidly, one of the kids said a chick was stuck in this tiny hole in the wall.   It's body was too big to fit, the rats had eaten off it's head.

Dogs, Cats, bob cats, weazels, etc., like to get the birds scared, running back and forth, in circles, tiring them out, and then grab the ones they can reach through the wire - these people who sell these lawn cages with 1x2 or 2x2 or chicken wire, are making & selling bird death-traps. 

Owls and hawks are the silent killers.  Hawks by day, owls by night.  Beware of what you don't see, can't hear and leaves no trace, not a feather, nothing behind. 

Those wonderful looking, movable cages, and those "tractors" (met and talked to Andy & Joel, years ago), those cages are far from varmint proof.  Any cage open to the ground can be penetrated, because it's "open".   Someone called those cages "inhumane", and quit using them, because they were losing more birds than the commercial chicken houses - at least they were being honest, instead of pretending they were eco-friendly & the birds were healthy & happy.  I heard one guy say he was making more money on books than on the bird business...  1"x2" wire across the bottom is a waste, making it difficult to move, and the weight of the birds, legs getting caught/broken between the wires... nope.   What did work, is a 6-12" wire skirt, laying flat around the outside of the cage, stapled to the bottom, so when you move the cage, it's permanently attached to the cage edge, it lays flat on the ground.   A varmint walks up to the cage, when they get close, they're standing on the wire mesh, and can't dig under the 6-12" of wire, nor can they lift it to get closer.

Even 1x2" hard wire is too big of an opening for the sides, any bird cage.  If the birds sleep within a foot of the walls/wire, the coons, cats, possums can reach in, pull them to the wire and decapitate or completely consume their chest in a night.  Ever see a domestic cat reach through a tiny opening - they can stretch almost 12" - right up to their chest and then hook something with a single claw, pulling it back to them.  1/2"x1" is the only wire we use to keep out everything, including snakes... we use triple galvanized, after welding, or the black plastic coated stuff... 15yrs in the weather, and it still looks like new.  Plus, the birds can walk easily on the coated stuff, especially the ducks, and nothing has ever reached up through the wire to get a duck, chicken, turkey, egg, chick, rabbit, quail, pheasant.  (doesn't mean they don't get scared, they don't get killed or ate).

The *only*, and I mean absolutely fool-proof, animal, rodent, snake, hawk, owl, etc., cage is the simplest one we ever built.
a satellite dish on top of metal posts, with wire welded on the outside, and wire welded to the inside.   Ours is 6' tall, with a people size door, and 11' across, the dish on top.   the inside cage wire 1/2"x1" goes up 3', the outside wire 1"x2" covers the entire outside, top to the ground.  So there is a 2" gap between the wires, and the cage is so heavy, nothing, I mean nothing, can lift it and crawl under, or dig under that big gap.  I can look at the DVR recordings of the cameras on our cages, deer, rodents, owls, and all kinds of varmints, pace back and forth, pull on this and that, circle them half the night, and the roosting birds (chickens & turkeys) are just quiet and peaceful.  The ducks will sound off - as ducks do, but with the right kinds of wire, too small to reach through, we quit losing birds.  As a bonus, it has no corners where young chicks can pile up and suffocate each other.   Takes a bunch of people to move, or the tractor's front-end loader.

For ducks, an elevated cage, 12-24" off the ground, coated 1/2x1" wire for the floor, double wire (as I described) around the outside, it can be square, round, rectangular (like ours is), and a solid ramp with railings on the sides for getting in and out.  15yrs old, it's wood framed, wire on 3 sides, with a corner sort of boxed in with sheet metal, smoked Plexiglass roof.  Ducks LOVE it.  It's been repaired 3-4 times, mostly wood aging & breaking from moving (it's on long skids, easy to slide around with a tractor, truck or little riding mower.  Like I said, the Ducks love it.  It's shady and cool in the summer (they'll nap under it, on the ground), and at night, after a week or so of routine training, they march up the ramp for food, treats & water, the door swings down, locked shut, and they "happy quack".

If you already bought one of those designer cages, or plan to build one for chickens or turkeys, attach heavy tree branches for roosting.  1"-4" gradually tapered tree is just about right, they'll pick the diameter they like (they tend to like bigger than we imagine for roosting).  If the ends of the branches are close to the outside wire, either cover that area of the wire and/or add a ball or wire ball so the birds can't roost next to the outside wire... to keep them out-of-reach of predators.

BTW... a rooster is not necessary for hens to lay eggs... but, a good rooster, with 2" spurs can tear the hell out of a dog or cat, protecting his "girls".  Same with Turkeys, a couple of big Toms can quickly bloody a dog.  It's quite unnerving watching 5-6 Toms take apart a would-be varmint, they stalk and attack like true predators.  Hens are totally helpless, add a Tom or Rooster, and they'll sleep good!  You might not, with the crowing at every passing car, shooting star, lightning bug, full moon, bathroom light going on, etc...

Speaking of light, to keep 'em laying all year long, 14hrs of light will keep the eggs coming.

There.  I wrote all that, because predators will never stop showing up on your farm, farmette or back yard.   Once they get an easy meal (and share it with their kids & friends), they'll be back, hungrier & bloodthirstier than ever.  The best protection is prevention, cages that are varmint proof, anything less is... as one guy put it, "inhumane".
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on November 18, 2017, 08:03:31 AM
One thing I've learned from others failures, is chicken wire is for chickens, not predators.
One neighbor spent more than a thousand on his professional grade brooding house and coop, only to discover predators are still stronger than cheap fencing material.
This individual finally resorted to having a chainlink enclosure with a cement boundary as well as intruder lighting, bells on wires etc.
He hasn't lost a chick for several years now.

When Toy retires, I'm having a low ground, half wall parking structure built with no-climb wire surrounding the enclosure from ground to roof as well as a covered open area for sunlit winter days.
They'll still be able to wander during the day freely outside the enclosure, but at least at night, they'll be protected.

Unfortunately, there are no shortcuts where housing bait is concerned, you have to do it right from the very beginning. (that's what chickens are, bait to the predator world).

Sounds like Hivoltage did everything right, just got caught off guard one time, and that's all it takes, considering the predators are always checking their regular haunts, waiting for the right moment to strike.

Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Hoofer on November 18, 2017, 03:14:26 PM
Typically, I hate crows, they steal the birds food.  Last week, they made such a racket, I went outside to see what was going on.

A Hawk was trying to get a full grown Duck next to the pond... the crows were having none of it, and ran the hawk off.
Couple of weeks ago, we found a dead chicken in the same area, claw marks on it's back.
When Owls and Hawks start moving in, you lose birds so fast - the vanish without a trace.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Hivoltage on November 19, 2017, 05:29:33 AM
I DID do everything right or so I thought. They were free ranging which I know is risky. They always stayed close to us and we checked them every evening to make sure the auto door shut. I think daylight savings time screwed them up. We went in, took showers and when I came out to check them seen feathers all over the yard and you all know the rest. Have a trail cam out to see if I can find out for sure what I am dealing with. No bodies, only piles of feathers all over the place. I wanted to put a pic of the coop but not sure how.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Hivoltage on November 19, 2017, 07:10:56 AM
(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi64.tinypic.com%2Fziorp2.jpg&hash=ec47690617431f45a3cabf247f57a94efe21dcc1)

This is the coop. The bottom, windows, and door are all covered with small mesh heavy guage sheetmetal type screen. That heavy door gets shut every night. The "screen" looking door has 2 latches on it.


Adjusted jpg size.
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Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on November 19, 2017, 07:17:23 AM
Quote from: Hivoltage on November 19, 2017, 05:29:33 AM
I DID do everything right or so I thought. They were free ranging which I know is risky. They always stayed close to us and we checked them every evening to make sure the auto door shut. I think daylight savings time screwed them up. We went in, took showers and when I came out to check them seen feathers all over the yard and you all know the rest. Have a trail cam out to see if I can find out for sure what I am dealing with. No bodies, only piles of feathers all over the place. I wanted to put a pic of the coop but not sure how.
Dogs, a German Shepard, one from Europe, preferably so as to avoid health issues. You can't beat the love of a Shepard over their flock, always vigilant and on duty 24/7.
That aside, you just made the best argument I've heard to date, for eliminating the "Daylight Savings Time" bull shit!
Sure, man can reset his clock, but animals don't run on man's clock. What you just described, has probably happened to tens of thousands of people over the decades.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on November 19, 2017, 07:23:11 AM
Quote from: Hivoltage on November 19, 2017, 07:10:56 AM
(https://conservativepoliticalforum.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi64.tinypic.com%2Fziorp2.jpg&hash=ec47690617431f45a3cabf247f57a94efe21dcc1)

This is the coop. The bottom, windows, and door are all covered with small mesh heavy guage sheetmetal type screen. That heavy door gets shut every night. The "screen" looking door has 2 latches on it.
Looks fine, the only change I'd make, is to cut back the foliage, assuming it's on your property,. if not, drag the coop out in the opening more.
Be it rats, coon, coyote, and everything below and above the food chain, they all depend on foliage for defense, be it from their own predator, or avoiding being seen by their prey, dense foliage is much of your problem.


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Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Hivoltage on November 19, 2017, 08:00:28 AM
Thanks all....I joined Tinypic to get the photo up. Youtube video showed me how. AS far as dogs, we have 3 of them. All got along fine with the chickens. Only problem is they come in when we do. Foilage, it just goes on and on we live in the middle of 30 acres of it. What you cant see is the coop is not far from the house. Even has lights on the front. That little fence was for when they were chicks. They all went in at dusk. I opened the front of the fence so they could come and go. Yeah, the daylight savings time......they should have been in the coop and the auto door shut. 1 made it in. Also if the weather was nicer we would have been outside to make sure they got in like we did all summer. Never a problem. I know better now. They will not free range any more unless we are home for the day and make sure they get in. Also we are going to fence in a large area, maybe 80 x 80, 6 foot chain link buried a foot and covered. Fence people coming tomorrow. We like having chickens and will do what is needed to keep them safe and not an easy meal. Oh, and I will take any fencing tips. The fence will be in that foilage area which is only a couple hundred feet from our yard.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on November 19, 2017, 10:11:07 AM
Quote from: Hivoltage on November 19, 2017, 08:00:28 AM
Thanks all....I joined Tinypic to get the photo up. Youtube video showed me how. AS far as dogs, we have 3 of them. All got along fine with the chickens. Only problem is they come in when we do. Foilage, it just goes on and on we live in the middle of 30 acres of it. What you cant see is the coop is not far from the house. Even has lights on the front. That little fence was for when they were chicks. They all went in at dusk. I opened the front of the fence so they could come and go. Yeah, the daylight savings time......they should have been in the coop and the auto door shut. 1 made it in. Also if the weather was nicer we would have been outside to make sure they got in like we did all summer. Never a problem. I know better now. They will not free range any more unless we are home for the day and make sure they get in. Also we are going to fence in a large area, maybe 80 x 80, 6 foot chain link buried a foot and covered. Fence people coming tomorrow. We like having chickens and will do what is needed to keep them safe and not an easy meal. Oh, and I will take any fencing tips. The fence will be in that foilage area which is only a couple hundred feet from our yard.
Excellent! Chickens love the foliage as long as they feel safe because they can bug the shit out of it, from ticks to gnats, they love it, only problem I can see is laying in the brush like my brothers chicks did, of course, they'd lay under the hood of the car, they didn't care.
Sounds like you have it under control, really. Aside from sleeping with them, there is only so much one can do to keep them safe.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Hoofer on November 19, 2017, 12:01:32 PM
Quote from: Hivoltage on November 19, 2017, 08:00:28 AM
Thanks all....I joined Tinypic to get the photo up. Youtube video showed me how. AS far as dogs, we have 3 of them. All got along fine with the chickens. Only problem is they come in when we do. Foilage, it just goes on and on we live in the middle of 30 acres of it. What you cant see is the coop is not far from the house. Even has lights on the front. That little fence was for when they were chicks. They all went in at dusk. I opened the front of the fence so they could come and go. Yeah, the daylight savings time......they should have been in the coop and the auto door shut. 1 made it in. Also if the weather was nicer we would have been outside to make sure they got in like we did all summer. Never a problem. I know better now. They will not free range any more unless we are home for the day and make sure they get in. Also we are going to fence in a large area, maybe 80 x 80, 6 foot chain link buried a foot and covered. Fence people coming tomorrow. We like having chickens and will do what is needed to keep them safe and not an easy meal. Oh, and I will take any fencing tips. The fence will be in that foilage area which is only a couple hundred feet from our yard.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/starbar-quikstrike-fly-bait-1-lb?cm_vc=-10005
(https://media.tractorsupply.com/is/image/TractorSupplyCompany/1133279?$prod_det$)
Stopped at TSC today to get a couple of bags of feed.

There's a guy buying a big trap, he left before I made the suggestion.  Kid behind the counter had never heard of it, but told me the poor guy was losing chickens from something.  Well, it is that time of year, an easy meal once had almost guarantees a return visit.

We freerange all our birds, but have no woods for cover - about 75 yards to the closest woods.  Open space really makes a difference, but it does nothing to stop an aerial attack.  I expect to lose a few birds, but with the 24/7 cameras on them, I can figure out what's going after them, maybe head it off before the varmint gets their 'buddies' addicted to Duck, Turkey & Chicken.

The really BAD situation you're in, something has tasted chicken, and LIKES CHICKEN enough to come back, over and over.  If it was one of your dogs, you tie a dead chicken to their neck and let them live with it a few hours or days, till they hate the idea of killing Chickens.  funny how they seem to tell other dogs, "don't do this... master doesn't like it!"  Ours got the message from a single bird kill.

Feathers all over the place... and no sign of a bird carcass?   Look for a blood trail into the woods, paw prints, etc., 'cause that doesn't sound like a Raccoon.

Cage up what you have left, put wire on the top of the outside run area, and get a DVR, couple of Cameras - just look through it daily, for the Varmint trying to get to the birds.

Another method, a two compartment trap, one for the Varmint, and one for the live bird.  Bird must be completely enclosed in a wire cage.  Cover 3 sides of the bird's cage, and top, leaving one side open.   Park the open side against the live trap, so the only way the Varmint can "see" the bird is through the live trap.  Get a big enough trap (or build it) that a FOX can get into it.   When I think Fox attack, it's a single bird disappears.  Coyote attacks, I'm thinking a pack that's killing for fun, feathers everywhere - like a feral dog.

Also as a preventative, once you figure out what it is, try Urine repellents for different species.  Unfortunately, it'll also keep Deer away, if you're a hunter.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: UrbanOrganicFarmer on December 15, 2017, 07:43:16 AM
I would love to grow corn but between the squirrels & the raccoons, I'd be lucky to harvest one ear. Took years to evict raccoons from the attic. Tore up the roof & caused $$$ thousands in water damage. Not to mention the disease causing filth they left behind. They're lucky I didn't know about the spiked grape soda solution then! Trappers caught nothing. I would have gladly paid them to remove carcasses. Had to chase a mother & babies away myself with a bb gun & water hose after I had their access tree cut down & caught them climbing gutters. Recently I found burrows in ground where their access tree once stood. I mixed up a half gallon of super hot paste made from super hot peppers & poured into the holes.
I despise toxic chemicals more than most but I am not above using them in a desperate situation. I am thinking if I have ever feel the need to resort to the spiked grape soda solution, I'll rig up some kind of disposable feeder bottle to contain the poison.

Anyway, I appreciate the information. It's good to know there are effective options. I have had a few face to face encounters with these disease causing vermin. They are dangerous and not afraid of humans. If I lived in the country away from municipal rat poison, I'd put up little box homes to attract large predator birds to handle the Raccoons & squirrels. Owls in particular will kill them for food and avoid people. They are also nocturnal like the raccoons. Owls are already endangered though & wouldn't want to expose them to poison.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on December 15, 2017, 08:04:29 AM
Quote from: UrbanOrganicFarmer on December 15, 2017, 07:43:16 AM
I would love to grow corn but between the squirrels & the raccoons, I'd be lucky to harvest one ear. Took years to evict raccoons from the attic. Tore up the roof & caused $$$ thousands in water damage. Not to mention the disease causing filth they left behind. They're lucky I didn't know about the spiked grape soda solution then! Trappers caught nothing. I would have gladly paid them to remove carcasses. Had to chase a mother & babies away myself with a bb gun & water hose after I had their access tree cut down & caught them climbing gutters. Recently I found burrows in ground where their access tree once stood. I mixed up a half gallon of super hot paste made from super hot peppers & poured into the holes.
I despise toxic chemicals more than most but I am not above using them in a desperate situation. I am thinking if I have ever feel the need to resort to the spiked grape soda solution, I'll rig up some kind of disposable feeder bottle to contain the poison.

Anyway, I appreciate the information. It's good to know there are effective options. I have had a few face to face encounters with these disease causing vermin. They are dangerous and not afraid of humans. If I lived in the country away from municipal rat poison, I'd put up little box homes to attract large predator birds to handle the Raccoons & squirrels. Owls in particular will kill them for food and avoid people. They are also nocturnal like the raccoons. Owls are already endangered though & wouldn't want to expose them to poison.
Maybe you could borrow the neighbors' dogs for a few nights in a row?
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: UrbanOrganicFarmer on December 15, 2017, 09:02:06 AM
Thanks but unfortunately any dog big enough to intimidate these vermin must be restricted by a fence. Raccoons are not deterred by fences. Chasing them myself, I've watched them climb & slip under fences and between horizontal gaps. Motion lights & sonic repellants so far seem to be a better deterrent for the raccoons, at least. Horse of a neighbor's dog never deterred them. I think I scared them more screaming bloody murder with bb gun, water hose & long handled hoe.  Got a few hits with bb gun too. Unlike squirrels, raccoons move slow. Didn't seem to hurt them though.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on December 15, 2017, 09:46:05 AM
Quote from: UrbanOrganicFarmer on December 15, 2017, 09:02:06 AM
Thanks but unfortunately any dog big enough to intimidate these vermin must be restricted by a fence. Raccoons are not deterred by fences. Chasing them myself, I've watched them climb & slip under fences and between horizontal gaps. Motion lights & sonic repellants so far seem to be a better deterrent for the raccoons, at least. Horse of a neighbor's dog never deterred them. I think I scared them more screaming bloody murder with bb gun, water hose & long handled hoe.  Got a few hits with bb gun too. Unlike squirrels, raccoons move slow. Didn't seem to hurt them though.
I take it you don't have a good fence?
It takes two dogs to tangle with one raccoon, by the way, one is generally not going to fight one by itself, coons are quite formidable.
I had a wolf/Husky mix and a small German shepherd take one on one night, lasted 15 minutes till I broke it up and the coon walked away without serious injury.
They tag teamed for a bit, then the Shepard took it on alone, while the wolf had a hold of its tail.
Problem is, coons are fighting for their life, while dogs are simply guarding territory and would rather not actually tangle with a coon, which was not backing down which is why I broke up the fight, I didn't want vet bills.

I've had one menacing the house lately, but that's because my new Shepard is still young, but as soon as I have two, they both go outside and the coon problem will be eliminated, I guarantee it.

The other dog is a Chihuahua mix, I call her bait. :laugh:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Possum on December 16, 2017, 01:27:56 PM
This thread needs a couple of good coon recipes. :drool:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on December 16, 2017, 01:37:59 PM
Quote from: s3779m on December 16, 2017, 01:27:56 PM
This thread needs a couple of good coon recipes. :drool:
Is there such a thing?
They're rats, they just wear masks to disguise themselves. :biggrin:
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Hoofer on December 16, 2017, 04:59:24 PM
Quote from: s3779m on December 16, 2017, 01:27:56 PM
This thread needs a couple of good coon recipes. :drool:

They do NOT taste like chicken.  Maybe it's the fat, like Venison (Deer), where all the bad taste originates.  With that in mind, I'd try canning.

1 Quart Jar.
1 slice of onion (put in bottom of the jar)
1 beef bullion cube (put on top of the onion)
cut the Venison into 1" cubes and pack the jar with as much as you can fit.
fill the air gaps with water.
Pressure cook.   90min at 15psi.  (consult your canning manual & recipe book for exact details, don't trust me!)
When finished and completely cooled, you'll notice all the fat is on the top of the jar, when you open the jar, scrape all the fat out and discard... the meat will be very tender, and almost taste like lean beef.

Small Stainless Steel pressure cooker, place a wire screen or basket in the bottom.
add just a little water, just enough so it is shy of wetting the screen.
place meat chunks into the basket.
pressure cook at 15psi for ???  an hour?
When the pressure cooker is cooled, open it and you'll see the fat is floating on top of the water, under the basket, off the meat.
If the meat is "done" it will flake apart so easily, it'll fall apart as you're trying to remove it from the basket.
Add your favorite BBQ sauce and serve it on a bun to your favorite anti-hunters at the Company Christmas Pot Luck Luncheon, and enjoy.
(When they ask, "Oh, this is all organically raised on my/uncle's farm."  If you did it right, they'll insist you bring it again, next year.  Did that for 6 years, feeding a bunch of whacko hunting hating liberals, Venison ... after one of them found out, she said it tasted so good, and went back for a 3rd helping, "It's too good to pass up!".  A 6 quart crock pot, and every year, it was the first thing to get eaten up.)

If you're into making Summer Sausage, mix the meat with anything and increase the seasoning just a tad, add some extra Smoke Flavor.
(When they ask, "Oh this is a family favorite from the neighborhood, RK has a big part in making it." - RK = Road Kill.  Make it sound like "RK" is an old fart who makes sausage.   I heard of a guy who did that for 18 years, till someone ratted him out).

If anyone gets "sick" ie.,the squirts, "Yeah, that organic meat is really RICH, even my dog get's loose occasionally."
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: CindyR on January 20, 2018, 05:25:31 PM
My husband's Son called tonight after he saw my sad comment on facebook about finding half eaten cats again this winter. Last winter I heard a cat screaming bloody murder, ran outside to see the biggest coon I have ever seen (size of a dog) biting a still alive kitten by the neck. Without thinking, I kicked it in the ass. It just turned and looked at me. I realized that was a bad move and ran back into the house.

I installed an outside camera and stayed up till prob 3:00 am every night waiting and watching. We loaded up the pistol and waited. When the coon finally showed up I would wake up my husband and try to sneak outside for him to shoot it. Coons are fast. Changed to shotgun and still didn't get a good shot. It still came back. Limping but still came back. By this time I had made sure there was not any food in the bowl for the outside farm cats at night.

Evidently, either he didn't die or there are more coons. I have found 2 half eaten young cats this week. My husband's son suggested this GM/pop mixture thing, and here I am. I can't stand the thought of my kittens being eaten alive. It just hurts my heart so much.

My reason for posting is...I want someone's assurance that my cats will not drink this and die. I would feel so bad.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on January 20, 2018, 06:10:19 PM
Quote from: CindyR on January 20, 2018, 05:25:31 PM
My husband's Son called tonight after he saw my sad comment on facebook about finding half eaten cats again this winter. Last winter I heard a cat screaming bloody murder, ran outside to see the biggest coon I have ever seen (size of a dog) biting a still alive kitten by the neck. Without thinking, I kicked it in the ass. It just turned and looked at me. I realized that was a bad move and ran back into the house.

I installed an outside camera and stayed up till prob 3:00 am every night waiting and watching. We loaded up the pistol and waited. When the coon finally showed up I would wake up my husband and try to sneak outside for him to shoot it. Coons are fast. Changed to shotgun and still didn't get a good shot. It still came back. Limping but still came back. By this time I had made sure there was not any food in the bowl for the outside farm cats at night.

Evidently, either he didn't die or there are more coons. I have found 2 half eaten young cats this week. My husband's son suggested this GM/pop mixture thing, and here I am. I can't stand the thought of my kittens being eaten alive. It just hurts my heart so much.

My reason for posting is...I want someone's assurance that my cats will not drink this and die. I would feel so bad.
That's terrible! :cry:
I guess you could use it something cats won't touch, at least they'll be safe, Coons aren't all that particular, they'll eat almost anything when they're hungry.
Good luck.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Rotwang on July 01, 2018, 08:51:09 AM
Quote from: Solar on January 20, 2018, 06:10:19 PM
That's terrible! :cry:
I guess you could use it something cats won't touch, at least they'll be safe, Coons aren't all that particular, they'll eat almost anything when they're hungry.
Good luck.


I have a small backyard (50ft X 30ft).

Part of it has a steep slope and scrub.

There used to be a Raccoon in the neighborhood, but my Wildlife cam this year shows nothing (but my wandering House Cat).

QUESTION: In such a small yard, if a raccoon died in its burrow, would there be an odor ? Because there sure isn't.

Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on July 01, 2018, 09:24:14 AM
Quote from: Rotwang on July 01, 2018, 08:51:09 AM

I have a small backyard (50ft X 30ft).

Part of it has a steep slope and scrub.

There used to be a Raccoon in the neighborhood, but my Wildlife cam this year shows nothing (but my wandering House Cat).
My cam has already caught 5 bears, several foxes, couple of coons, one cat the size of a dog, never did figure out what it was.
So far, I''m the only one that hasn't had any issues, but then, I keep all trash and feed locked away.

QuoteQUESTION: In such a small yard, if a raccoon died in its burrow, would there be an odor ? Because there sure isn't.

Yeah, it may take a bit, but eventually, something is going to drag it out in the open most likely.
Watch for buzzards circling in the same spot for a day, that's usually a 'dead' giveaway.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Rotwang on August 17, 2018, 02:32:55 PM
Quote from: Rotwang on July 01, 2018, 08:51:09 AM

I have a small backyard (50ft X 30ft).

Part of it has a steep slope and scrub.

There used to be a Raccoon in the neighborhood, but my Wildlife cam this year shows nothing (but my wandering House Cat).

QUESTION: In such a small yard, if a raccoon died in its burrow, would there be an odor ? Because there sure isn't.


My neighbor caught a pic of the Raccoon.

It has to be 30 pounds if it's an ounce.

We NEVER feed our cats outdoors, and our Trash is never overturned or molested. Nor does this happen to any neighbor, to my knowledge.

I have no garden.

What the heck is this thing eating ?

Do they eat Rabbits ? I have many rabbits on the camera.

And I know what they eat. My backyard weeds.
Title: Re: How To KILL A Raccoon That's Raiding Your Garden
Post by: Solar on August 17, 2018, 03:32:18 PM
Quote from: Rotwang on August 17, 2018, 02:32:55 PM

My neighbor caught a pic of the Raccoon.

It has to be 30 pounds if it's an ounce.

We NEVER feed our cats outdoors, and our Trash is never overturned or molested. Nor does this happen to any neighbor, to my knowledge.

I have no garden.

What the heck is this thing eating ?

Do they eat Rabbits ? I have many rabbits on the camera.

And I know what they eat. My backyard weeds.
They'll eat anything. They are called "Trash Pandas" for a reason.
I've caught them eating roots as well as fishing out crawdad from my creek, they eat quite well. :biggrin: