Raccoon Decimating Flock - Help

block up the open area and get a have-a -hart trap and set it. I like them because if you catch your cat or whatever you can just let it out again. Coons like cat food, which is why there is a risk of catching the neighbors cat!

Remember that coons will go back home if they at all can, and releasing them a few miles away will not work. Also in some areas it is illegal to relocate a problem varmint. So, use your own judgement!

I have done this half a dozen times: the traps work very well! (Though, if you release a coon and it comes back I think you will never trap that coon again. Just a word to the wise!)

I like to put dry cat food sprinkled near the back of the trap: as the coon shifts around getting every last bit it almost always triggers the trap. Make sure there is some in the middle so the coon cannot just reach in.

Also, if the coon takes a couple a night you might be dealing with a family group! Set the trap again when you catch it!

I GOT IT!!! I set the trap with some fish and marshmallows under the grate. I moved the chickens to a new spot and set the trap by the old run area. Dispatched it this morning. Thanks all for the help!!

WOOT!!!!!!

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Set your trap again tonight - chances are he's got friends and relations in the area...

Good to hear. I was going to suggest putting flour around and under the coop to see if you could see where the feet left the ground. Another thing we use is temporarily locating a game camera.

Glad you don't need the suggestions anymore.

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Check to see if there is any wire or siding that the coon could be pushing up to get in and out and that would fall shut behind him so it looks like there is no opening.

Tie a can of cat food in the back of the trap with a few holes cut in it. That will keep him in the trap until he trips the trigger. Be sure to secure the trap so that he can't roll it once caught.

I would reset the trap because there are probably more.

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"Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?" Hobbs
"I'm not sure that man needs the help." Calvin

Your coop just isnt secure. You can get this coon, but your gonna have this problem again.

Just let us know if you do not have any good coon recipes. Seriously!!! I sure like a good baked coon with sweet potatoes. mmmmm good

Also I would look at doing a bit of work to your cage. If this one figured it out sooner or later another one probably will also. Glad you got it though.

Thanks all. Great suggestions! But yes, i will be resetting the trap tonight and looking to fortify the coop ASAP.

A large MN coon can easily get through a 4" tall x 9" wide opening. A trapper makes boxes like that and he catches large coon.

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"Do you believe in the devil? You know, a supreme evil being dedicated to the temptation, corruption, and destruction of man?" Hobbs
"I'm not sure that man needs the help." Calvin

My best guess is that it's shimmying up the nest box doors and sliding through the 5" opening on the top.


A coon can enter a 2 inch gap.If they get their head in they are in.

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Zone 6

Bubba, if you have more problems get you a baby monitor if your coop is close enough to your home---if not get you a set of these http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-COBRA-CX21...item3a91780b9a using the voice activated part(vox) on the one you put in the coop---then if something grabs a chicken run out the door in the middle of the night with your gun and take care of it. I use these radio's alot.

I also keep a trap set till I do not catch anything else for several days. Then I put the trap up---wait a couple weeks and reset it to see if I have new visitors. Keep repeating this through out the year.


OH, forgot to mention---if you are using these to monitor your coop-----If you got a rooster---they Crow ALOT in the early AM while you are trying to get that last couple of hours sleep----LOL.

I'm glad to see you got the coon. I was gonna comment that it may be a possum. I've got my chickens in a 10X20 chain link dog lot with 2X2 18 gauge wire covering the top and folded 10 inches down the top side. One evening late just after dark the chickens started raising cane. Went out to check on them and there was a small possum bout half grown in the coup. It hadn't killed any yet, but I got it with a 17 hmr. It had slip through a 2 1/2" gap by the door. I'd never believed it, but that the only place it could have gotten in. Put a board up on the inside to close the gap and have had no more problems.

Keep that live trap going to catch more. A good way to kill them is to submerse the trap and raccoon in water with a large weight over the top to drown it - better than shooting them and possibly damaging your trap.

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Update. Reset the traps last night and caught nothing. NO damage to the chickens. Will keep doinf that - maybe it was a lone ranger. In any case, we've got it under control for the most part. Got 10 eggs from my remaining chickens yesterday - highest total in well over a week.

Be careful about RUNNING anywhere with a loaded gun. Be sure you are familar with the operation of the safety.

COWS