Raccoons! How do I get rid of em?

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PsiStar

Golden Member
Dec 21, 2005
1,184
0
76
I looked into this a few weeks ago. Other than shooting them, I read 1 idea that used a radio playing during the day. It may have suggested talk radio versus music. They are nocturnal so the idea is to make their sleep time not so inviting.
 
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bignateyk

Lifer
Apr 22, 2002
11,288
7
0
We used to live trap them and then shoot them while they were in the trap. I guess you could live trap them and then poison them or starve them.

Or live trap them and take them somewhere else and let them go.
 
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NinjaTech

Banned
May 14, 2009
279
0
0
You can actually buy a device that emits a high pitched sound that will scare away pests. They usually use them for mice but since they also scare my cats I'm guessing they would also work for raccoons.

Of course I do like the suggestion of just shooing them away with a broom. :thumbsup:
 
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bignateyk

Lifer
Apr 22, 2002
11,288
7
0
NinjaTech said:
You can actually buy a device that emits a high pitched sound that will scare away pests. They usually use them for mice but since they also scare my cats I'm guessing they would also work for raccoons.

Of course I do like the suggestion of just shooing them away with a broom. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

You're taking your life into your own hands if you try to shoo a raccoon away with a broom. Those things are vicious. The claws.. the teeth. The hissing and growling.

I'm pretty sure after it was done shredding the broom you'd be pissing yourself and running away like a girl as the raccoon was chasing after you.
 
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sonicdrummer20

Senior member
Jul 2, 2008
474
0
0
Homerboy said:
So it seems we have a couple of youngster raccoons that are under our deck in the back yard. They just came out to do some foraging (should they be out this early in the night? 7pm?)

Short of a gun (I dont have one and it would slightly illegal to shoot it of in the city anyways), dos anyone have any ideas on how to get rid of em?

They actually climbed up the tree and ended up on my roof for a while. My wife is super happy about all this.
Click to expand...

http://steeplemedia.com/blogs/krupo/lasershark.jpg

Dig a moat around house and fill with seawater, put about 20 of these bad boys in there.
 
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Homerboy

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,890
5,001
126
PsiStar said:
I looked into this a few weeks ago. Other than shooting them, I read 1 idea that used a radio playing during the day. It may have suggested talk radio versus music. They are nocturnal so the idea is to make their sleep time not so inviting.
Click to expand...

Yeah I read this yesterday too. Radio and ammonia soaked rags. I dont get it though as I mean they moved in under our deck... it's nisey there 20 hours ado anyways with the kids running around, you have to go on the deck to get in the back yard too... ah hell. I plan on putting the ole ghetto blaster on the deck tonight when I get home and go buy some ammonia and, for the fun of it, smoke bombs.
 
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NinjaTech

Banned
May 14, 2009
279
0
0
bignateyk said:
You're taking your life into your own hands if you try to shoo a raccoon away with a broom. Those things are vicious. The claws.. the teeth. The hissing and growling.

I'm pretty sure after it was done shredding the broom you'd be pissing yourself and running away like a girl as the raccoon was chasing after you.
Click to expand...

LOL, you must be thinking of mutant zombie raccoons. :biggrin: I doubt he will even be able to get close to them without them running. Yeah, I have faced down raccoons before and happy to report I lived to tell the tale. :D
 
Homerboy

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,890
5,001
126
NinjaTech said:
LOL, you must be thinking of mutant zombie raccoons. :biggrin: I doubt he will even be able to get close to them without them running. Yeah, I have faced down raccoons before and happy to report I lived to tell the tale. :D
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HAH yeah. I'm not overly afraid of these two. They are youngin's and based off their actions yesterday are scared shitless of all the people around. Now if they were rabbid (which apparently my wife thinks they MUST BE because "why on earth would they be out when the sun was still up and people around?!?!?"... stupid city folk. (I grew up in the country). I tried to explain that they are out early this time of year to fatten up for the winter.... a winter that they apparently think they are going to spend under my deck.
 
BoomerD

BoomerD

No Lifer
Feb 26, 2006
65,906
14,308
146
You must leave them tasty treats.

I for one, welcome our bandit-faced overlords.



(but they can sure be a PITA once they get settled in to your place.)
 
Muse

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,433
9,941
136
The method is to put out a bowl with some ammonia in it. They hate the smell of ammonia and will vacate. It worked for me, can't remember, it may have been a family of possums for me, but I'm sure it would work for raccoons. Cheap, easy, fast, effective, no dead animals, when it's over you have a 1/2 gallon of ammonia on hand, always handy (I always keep some).
 
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Homerboy

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,890
5,001
126
Muse said:
The method is to put out a bowl with some ammonia in it. They hate the smell of ammonia and will vacate. It worked for me, can't remember, it may have been a family of possums for me, but I'm sure it would work for raccoons.
Click to expand...

Yeap this is the gameplan.
Where do I put it though? By the hole they dug to get under there? Or should I lift up some boards and put the bowel of ammonis UNDER the deck? Though I'm fearful of what bodies and lord-knows-what may be under there.
 
dainthomas

dainthomas

Lifer
Dec 7, 2004
14,897
3,860
136
I saw a guy a couple weeks ago driving a 55 or so Ford truck. He had a raccoon tail hanging off the antenna, was wearing a coonskin cap, and was blaring "Davey Crockett" with both windows rolled down. Most bizarre thing ever.

Anyway, you should do what that guy does to raccoons.
 
mmntech

mmntech

Lifer
Sep 20, 2007
17,501
12
0
There's one in the tree right outside my office window right now. Cute little guy. Not sure I like him there though.
 
GuitarDaddy

GuitarDaddy

Lifer
Nov 9, 2004
11,465
1
0
Muse said:
The method is to put out a bowl with some ammonia in it. They hate the smell of ammonia and will vacate. It worked for me, can't remember, it may have been a family of possums for me, but I'm sure it would work for raccoons. Cheap, easy, fast, effective, no dead animals, when it's over you have a 1/2 gallon of ammonia on hand, always handy (I always keep some).
Click to expand...


You can get the same effect with a hand full of moth balls and they are much less messy and don't evaporate as quickly.

Moth balls also work for skunks and possums
 
Muse

Muse

Lifer
Jul 11, 2001
40,433
9,941
136
Homerboy said:
Yeap this is the gameplan.
Where do I put it though? By the hole they dug to get under there? Or should I lift up some boards and put the bowel of ammonis UNDER the deck? Though I'm fearful of what bodies and lord-knows-what may be under there.
Click to expand...

You could try it the easy way and putting it by the hole. Observe after a couple of days if there's any sign that they're still there.

You have to think this through. Is it a family? Are the young ones old enough to go out at night with the parents (mom?) and forage? Or at they in the nest? You want them out, and once out, not wanting to get back in. If no animals are going in or out for a few days you can assume that all are out. Myself, once I was sure all animals were out (this is a puzzle in its own right), I sealed off the crawlspace of my house with wire. Since your coons dug a hole to get in, you might have to do something else to keep them out. However, having been scared off by ammonia, they may not consider returning. You could always put out more ammonia if they come back. Before sealing off the space with wire I made sure no animals were in there by spreading a thin layer of sand over the single remaining access and observing that there were no paw prints after a suitable period of time. This assured me no animals were going in or out and I sealed off the final access.
 
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Homerboy

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,890
5,001
126
Muse said:
You could try it the easy way and putting it by the hole. Observe after a couple of days if there's any sign that they're still there.

You have to think this through. Is it a family? Are the young ones old enough to go out at night with the parents (mom?) and forage? Or at they in the nest? You want them out, and once out, not wanting to get back in. If no animals are going in or out for a few days you can assume that all are out. Myself, once I was sure all animals were out (this is a puzzle in its own right), I sealed off the crawlspace of my house with wire. Since your coons dug a hole to get in, you might have to do something else to keep them out. However, having been scared off by ammonia, they may not consider returning. You could always put out more ammonia if they come back. Before sealing off the space with wire I made sure no animals were in there by spreading a thin layer of sand over the single remaining access and observing that there were no paw prints after a suitable period of time. This assured me no animals were going in or out and I sealed off the final access.
Click to expand...

Good info for sure.
I plan on doing the ammonia by their "front door"... then probably dropping in a few mothballs under the deckboards (this is outside, so fumes aren't too big of a concern...).

I don't think there are any "parents" left. These 2 seem like "teenager"... I saw a baby raccoon a few months ago in the yard. I'm guessing this was one of them.

I did actually see that hole under the deck a while back too. Figured it was squirrels, chipmunks. rabbits that dug it out. I places some heavy bricks I had laying around over the hole. reburied it etc. Problem is there is a new hole, right next to where the bricks end now. It will be near impossible to secure the entire perimeter of the deck I fear. They can dig out a hole all the way around the thing if they want.

For now, ammonia and mothballs.
 
Lemon law

Lemon law

Lifer
Nov 6, 2005
20,984
3
0
Call your county game warden, they should have some live traps you can borrow. Set them out at night and check them in the morning. You might trap a neighbors cat instead. As for me, I live in a rural area, and they have many other places to go rather than my house.

I spot them every once in a while, but they don't bother me. I long ago outgrew my great white hunter kill them for sport days. Live and let live says I. I might shoot em with a camera but why kill or poison wildlife?
 
Homerboy

Homerboy

Lifer
Mar 1, 2000
30,890
5,001
126
JulesMaximus said:
I said it for comedic value though. ;)

Wouldn't 4 9 year olds be the equivalent of one 36 year old? :p
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4-9...4 THROUGH 9
5 kids total in the circumstance.
Technically I think they were saying for comedy too. That's my point. You and the kids have the same comedy level (you watch SpongeBob much?!?) :)


Though your comment did remind me of a funny sign at the packers game last night
They added three #4 jerseys (Packers, Jets, Vikings) = #12 (Rodgers)
Thought it was witty.
 
T

thegimp03

Diamond Member
Jul 5, 2004
7,420
2
81
I'd set a trap for them then release them a few miles away. Watch out, they got pretty nasty teeth and claws sometimes. My wife's parents did that with a raccoon family and it worked fine. After you get rid of them though, make sure you block off the entrance to under the deck. They have a habit of returning.
 
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