Killed a coon yesterday..

unregistered168043 · #1 04/13/12, 06:25 AM

I hate killing, i really do. Its the worst part of homesteading. My chickens were free ranging in the woods yesterday as I was building something in the barn and I hear a ruckus. The chickens came running out of the woods and behind them comes slowly walking this coon. A small young coon by the look of him.

He didn't seem to be chasing the chickens to fast, just walking. Then he sees me and just looks at me but pays no heed. I yelled and clapped my hands and he doesn't budge. Its 1 o'clock in the afternoon, so I'm thinking maybe this coon is rabbid because there were reports of rabbies in this area. So I goes and gets 'old betsy' off'n the mantle.

I catch up to him in the woods, and he stops and turns around and just looks at me. So I let him have it. Later I see he is small and probably young and maybe just doesn't know to be afraid. I still feel bad. IDK, I guess he would have got my chickens eventually or tore up my corn. Or maybe we would have got to be friends and I could have trained him like Grizzly Adams did..

#2 04/13/12, 06:38 AM

Anytime you kill something like that, you can always skin it and feed it to the chickens. If you don't want to eat it yourself. I don't much like coon, but its a right smart tastier than possum. Of course, its been a really, really long time since I had to eat either one.

KnowOneSpecial · #3 04/13/12, 06:41 AM

I'd never feed anything I suspected of having rabies to my animals. Off to the burn barrel for the recently departed.

#4 04/13/12, 06:56 AM

Birds cannot get rabies.

Sherry in Iowa · #5 04/13/12, 07:29 AM

Ya know..I'm glad people still feel bad about having to kill an animal like that. I mean, as homesteaders, we have to protect our chickens and stuff. But, as human beings, we feel bad about taking the life of one of the wild animals. I totally get that.

Rick · #6 04/13/12, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darntootin

I hate killing, i really do. Its the worst part of homesteading. My chickens were free ranging in the woods yesterday as I was building something in the barn and I hear a ruckus. The chickens came running out of the woods and behind them comes slowly walking this coon. A small young coon by the look of him.

He didn't seem to be chasing the chickens to fast, just walking. Then he sees me and just looks at me but pays no heed. I yelled and clapped my hands and he doesn't budge. Its 1 o'clock in the afternoon, so I'm thinking maybe this coon is rabbid because there were reports of rabbies in this area. So I goes and gets 'old betsy' off'n the mantle.

I catch up to him in the woods, and he stops and turns around and just looks at me. So I let him have it. Later I see he is small and probably young and maybe just doesn't know to be afraid. I still feel bad. IDK, I guess he would have got my chickens eventually or tore up my corn. Or maybe we would have got to be friends and I could have trained him like Grizzly Adams did..

4 have needed to leave our place over the years. 3 were trapped eating our peaches summer 2012. 6 years ago one acted just like you described. A young coon that does not flee when you take a test shot with a 22 needs to go. I appreciate your respect for nature.

My grandson, age 7 asked me why I killed a slug, LOL. Wildlife is welcome when it does not interfere with our "Pack", and our food.

unregistered168043 · #7 04/13/12, 03:03 PM

I wonder how young you'd have to get a coon to raise him friendly?

Bearfootfarm · #8 04/13/12, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darntootin

I wonder how young you'd have to get a coon to raise him friendly?

I'd want one not yet weaned

rags57078 · #9 04/13/12, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bearfootfarm

I'd want one not yet weaned

ok get that thought out of your head ,,been there done that , never again

unregistered168043 · #10 04/13/12, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rags57078

ok get that thought out of your head ,,been there done that , never again

Really? What happened? Lets hear it.

coolrunnin · #11 04/13/12, 03:51 PM

My uncle's stole ALOT...lol Anything that was shiny was gone.

MaggieJ · #12 04/13/12, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darntootin

I wonder how young you'd have to get a coon to raise him friendly?

He'd have to be very young. Young raccoons are charming, but trying to have one as a pet almost always turns out badly. Once they mature their personalities change and they can become mean and destructive. Best to leave them in the wild where they belong.

I want to say that I respect how regretful you feel about shooting that raccoon, but you did the right thing. Rabies is not something that you can afford to take chances on. Think how many other animals it may have infected before it finally succumbed to the disease.

barnyardgal · #13 04/13/12, 06:21 PM

not fun killing but when it comes to saving my critters from the wildlife then one has to do what they need to do-i don't like to loose my critters~~

I killed a bobcat back in January & a couple nights ago killed a coyote & in between times lots of possums~~

CarolT · #14 04/13/12, 08:34 PM

Birds cannot get rabies but can transfer it in their feces. It can be a major issue with raptor rehab.

If a raccoon's eyes are open, it already knows it's a raccoon and will never tame down very well. BTDT years ago. Under absolutely perfect conditions, they make pretty good companions, As long as you can remember, they are not a cat or dog, never will be, you have to let them be themselves and accommodate their needs and instincts.

Have to think it's a good chance you had one someone raised then just let go "because it's a wild animal and will just know what to do". They don't. However, if there is rabies in the area, you did the right thing. As long as it was fast, that was what needed to be done.

ETA Raccoons are considered a rabies vector animal and illegal in most states to possess as a pet.

Bearfootfarm · #15 04/13/12, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rags57078

ok get that thought out of your head ,,been there done that , never again

LOL

I don't really "want" one.
I was just answering the question.

A Raccoon is not my idea of a "pet".
I wouldn't want a 30 lb pet with 100 lbs of BAD ATTITUDE

TedH71 · #16 04/13/12, 09:04 PM

You can buy a captive bred coon. I saw one that was a full albino and a 4 year old coon....was nice as ever. I think the albino gene caused his eyes to be sensitive to light so he was nicer, lol. Coons are one of the few wild animals that don't stop growing. If you see a 40-50 lb coon..it's a very old one and oftentimes far more aggressive than your usual coon.

sandc · #17 04/13/12, 10:45 PM

Any time I see a racoon or a possum during the dayI will go out of my way to kill it.

They aren't supposed to be out during the day so assume they are sick and don't want to give them the opportunity to pass it on.

vicker · #18 04/13/12, 11:31 PM

I know how you feel, but it won't be the last time, and after you loose some of your girls to the coon you won't feel so bad.

HillRunner · #19 04/14/12, 12:13 AM

I heard skunks make good pets after there descented. Heard the had the personality of cats.

Truckinguy · #20 04/14/12, 05:23 AM

Don't raccoon's carry some sort of parasite that can get into your bloodstream and cause dementia? I have sent seven of the chicken-killin' varmints back to their creator in the last month and I handled them with heavy rubber gloves and just laid them out in the back field to let nature take it's course. I remember reading that the parasite can survive the composting process and it seemed a shame not to add them to the hungry compost pile. They would have made great maggot buckets for the chickens too.

I don't take an animal's life lightly and I try to use all of the animal that I can and not be wasteful of their sacrifice and I was a little disappointed that I wasn't able to put them to better use, even to tan the hides. I think I read somewhere that the parasite can survive the tanning process too.