Super Racoon?

[English Oliver]

I have heard numerous times that Golden Malrin will kill a racoon in a very short time. I have posted here before that it didn't work when I tried it.

I have been live trapping predators for awhile using tunafish, sardines, and peanut butter, with pretty good results. I have had a couple savy coons that were able to get the bait without tripping the trap so I would place the bait in a depression under the trap instead of putting it in the trap. This worked until the last couple days when an old coon would dig under the trap from the outside and get the bait. I tried several methods to stop it but the coon went to great lengths to dig under the trap and still get the bait. A guy was here the other day and he repeated what I have heard about Golden Malrin, he said that it will kill them almost immediately and you will even sometimes find the dead coon face down in in the bait container. The night before last I baited the trap with two tablespoons of Golden Malrin mixed with tunafish. I waited in the barn where I could watch the trap and about 11:00 the coon shows up, digs under the trap, and ate the whole thing. The coon then snooped around the barn for about 20 minutes and left. Last night he shows up and ate another dose Golden Malrin laced tunafish and left.

Do I have a Super Coon or is Golden Malrin just an urban myth?

"O"

[fishhead]

I don't think it's legal to make an animal suffer by poisoning it.

Take a can opener and punch holes in the tuna can. Then wire the bait can to the pan of the live trap and put some weights on the trap to keep it from flipping it or stake it down. That should stop bait stealing.

[catahoula]

Do you own a rifle?

Bait the trap, wait for super coon to arrive, shoot super coon. Enjoy the rest of the evening.

That's what I would do.

[English Oliver]

Originally Posted by fishhead

I don't think it's legal to make an animal suffer by poisoning it.

Take a can opener and punch holes in the tuna can. Then wire the bait can to the pan of the live trap and put some weights on the trap to keep it from flipping it or stake it down. That should stop bait stealing.

Apparently I didn't poison the coon, it didn't look like I even made it uncomfortable. If poisoning is illegal why are there so many poisons for animals on the store shelves. I tried the tying the bait to the trap and weighting and staking it down once, but I caught a skunk instead of a racoon with no way of removing the trap from the barn without the skunk spraying, not such a good idea.

On Mr. Coons visit last night I introduced him to my .17 HMR and he isn't a problem any longer.

"O"

[foxtrapper]

Poisoning is generally legal. However, there are many animal anti-cruelty laws on the books that contradict the legality of things like mouse traps, poison baits, hunting, branding, castration, slaughtering, etc. At various times folk will get caught up in a legal mess because someone presses anti-cruelty charges against someone for one of those things.

Are you on good defensible legal ground using a rat poison against rats? Yes. Are you on good defensible legal ground using fly poison on a raccoon? Probably not.

[blooba]

I have found that some peanut butter stuck to the back bottom side of the pan. They will grab the pan and pull, which sets off the trap. Coons are very smart sometimes just gotta outsmart them (easier said than done sometimes)

[English Oliver]

Originally Posted by foxtrapper

Are you on good defensible legal ground using fly poison on a raccoon? Probably not.

But there are several members here that that do and recommend it. The point I was trying to make is that Golden Malrin doesn't work. The use of poison is not a desirable method IMO and I would only use it after most other methods have been exhausted. I have a large investment in my poultry and I have lost a huge amount of money to predators, I will do what is necessary inside my barn to protect my investment as well as the birds under my care.

"O"

[foxtrapper]

I'm not arguing that many don't use poisons on raccoons, nor am I saying you shouldn't (or should) do it yourself. I was just pointing out the basis of the legalities, as related by your question regarding same.

A poison sold for flies is legal to use on flies. In large part because the package says so. Should you be prosecuted by the local animal rights wacko they would have a hard time winning in court because you did it correctly, and because people regard flies as icky.

Use that same fly poison on a raccoon and you are in flagrant violation of the instructions, and thereby the law. Should you be prosecuted by the local animal rights wacko they would have a much easier time winning in court because you did it illegally, and because people regard raccoons as cute and cuddly.

There are many recommendations of things that are illegal in this forum, on the Homesteading today website, and on the internet. Just because you read of something doesn't make it legal, effective, safe, moral, painless, correct, etc. Though equally, reading something on the web doesn't mean it is inherently illegal, ineffective, unsafe, immoral, painful or incorrect.

There is a good reason for SSS. Bragging that you "will do what is necessary" is not wise, and can and would be used against you in a court of law.

[fishhead]

I like the idea of putting the peanut butter on the underside of the pan. I do something similar with my mouse traps and it increased the catch rate a bunch.

One way to keep the coon from flipping the live trap is to put concrete blocks beside it. Put a rope on the block and you can pull it away from a safe distance. That would let you deal with Mr. Stripes.

I completely agree with doing what's necessary to protect your birds. I HATE losing any of mine.

[blooba]

Oh yea, and if it is a 2 door trap just use one side so you can control which side the coon enters so that you can put the peanut butter on the opposite side bottom.