A good method of getting rid of ***** is to trap them out. Yes it is correct to state that ***** travel far and wide in search of food, but if you eliminate the core group your problem may be solved, temporarily. I would reccomend box traps. Either store bought, or homemade. These will not harm the animal. You can release the **** at a distant place, very distant. But then all you are really doing is giving your problem to someone else. The **** can easily be dispatched in the trap. But i would rather release them since there furs are not prime and are worthless. Better to re-trap them in november. A store bought trap will run around $30-$50, depending on the size and maker. Havahart is a good quality trap. Stoutly built, easy to set and release. I make my own box traps for virtually free. I like to use box traps in heavily populated areas, when i'm running trap lines. I like to use the box traps in town as well. I would rather not harm peoples cats and dogs. But it happens. I use 2 5 gallon buckets. Remove the bottom from one. Top to top they are placed, then wired together with peices of wire coat hanger or something similar. Make a frame for the open end out of scap 1X lumber. This fram only needs 3 sides. 1 bottom and 2 sides.The frame needs to extend past the top of the bucket at least half the distance across the front of the bucket being used, for stability. Then from scap plywood, thick plexi-glass, metal sheet or whatever make a door that will slide up and down in the fram via grooves on the inside. The door must be heavy and stout. A weight may be needed on top part of the door. A scrap peice of wood works well for this. The weight helps the door to slam (slide) shut. Make sure the door slides a good 1/2 inch into the bottom board of the frame. This keeps **** from getting their fingers under the door. At the top of the bucket opening attach a small 2x2 inch scap of wood with a 3/8 or so hole thru it. Take a small gage braided metal line, or heavy fishing line will work too, but will not last. At one end of the line attach a large nail, or something similar. This nail or rod will go thru the hole on top of the bucket. Now run the line across the top of the bucket till about 2 or 3 inches from the back. Here drill another hole just big enough for the cable to go thru. Use of old brake line, fuel line is a great way to protect the cable on top of the trap, it keeps it in place as well as keeps debris off of it. Take the cable end that is inside the bucket. Tie a slip knot at the end, so it will hang a couple inches off the bottom of the bucket. Use this slip knot to hold bait. Raise the door all the way to the top set rod/pin. Trap is set. When the **** pulls on the bait the rod/pin is slid out and the door falls. Simple. Drill some small holes around the bait area to help let the smell escape. A good bait wood be fresh or tainted fish. Marshmellow with a little vanilla is good too. Any fish bait. Old fried chicken or just chicken bones is good too. ***** have sweet tooths too, so any combonation of things may work. The ***** will not hesitate entering the trap. I have caught so many ***** this way i lost track. Hundreds. You will proably catch several ***** at first. But continue to monitor the traps and keep them set. The trap is always on guard and ready to strike. You will catch alot of other critters opossum, cats, skunks. I have even caught more than one **** at a time in one of these traps. I hope this helps. Have fun
Jagger