4 baby racoons

[hammytime]

I would suggest contacting the park service/game and fish (that's what we have in Arizona) if you really want to get rid of the raccoons safely and humanely. Like someone said, they can be very unpredictable, especially if they're cornered, and even more so when it's a mother raccoon and her babies.

 

And, like someone said, what happens when the raccoons run out of places to live? They were there first, and, if they aren't causing problems, I would let them be. But have game and fish (or whatever) on speed dial, just in case.

[Big Reed]

The baby racoons are a lot cuter than my picture would suggest. They also allowed me to come within 5 feet of them without too much trouble.

 

However, mama racoon is not cute. She's a big mama. Mama racoon is also destructive. Mama racoon was able to take the bird feeder off it's hook, slam it to the ground, and was able to open the bird feeder, and ate all the bird food. the bird feeder has a lockable top and mama raccoon was able to figure out how to open it.

 

I would guess my first option is to remove the bird feeder - at least temporarily. You would not believe the variety of birds that have come to our back yard and lake ranging from bald eagles to indigo buntings to wild turkeys to hummingbirds. I see over 50 varieties of birds on a daily basis.

 

I love to watch the birds, raccoons, and other wildlife that frequent our lake and nearby woods. However, I know what mischeof (SP) adult raccoons can cause. I've already had a hawk perch itself on my deck to enjoy the view of my back yard. What I don't want happening is to be awakened in the night by a raccoon looking for food.

[uecker9]

Nor a nice warm place to stay when it gets cold out, like your attic.

[TooLiveBrew]

I don't know quite why people are so quick to stick up for raccoons, like they're some kind of endangered species with nowhere left to live! This made me giggle, as they were a common sight where I grew up.

 

They aren't running out of places to live, they're just really pretty smart, bold (sometimes aggressive) scavengers and predators. The notion that a raccoon doesn't have room to live in the wild in Wisconsin is laughable, IMO.

 

Raccoons are not the kind of animal you want thinking that your yard is an ok place to make a home & rely on as a food source. The birds you covet will be spooked away from their feeder (if not killed & eaten, too), and your cat will be a constant source of worry, I'd imagine.

 

The little ones are cute for now, but once they join Momma's size category, you have 5 full-grown raccoons that will be brazen and unfazed about your yard being their stomping grounds. I'd suggest getting rid of the bird feeder until they realize they need to move on.

 

One raccoon anecdote: When camping years ago, my parents, sister, & I (along with the dog) were awoken in the black of night to three raccoons (IIRC, this was another family-unit) rummaging through our coolers, which we'd put atop the picnic table to avoid just this. One cooler they opened wasn't really shocking, since it was just a swinging lid, with no latch. The other cooler, however, had a latch that you have to turn 90 degrees-+, then swing up the lid, in order to get into. They got into that one seemingly as easily as the other.

 

These are sharp, problem-solving animals, which is one reason why they're hard to get rid of. They're also bold and not scared off easily, once they identify a theoretically easy source of food.

Woodland creatures? Yes. Woodland bullies? You bet.

 

 

p.s. -- Don't let the 'just get a squirrel baffle' crowd get you down! I'm just as familiar as you with the problem-solving ability (& leaping ability) of determined, hungry squirrels.

 

Best of luck ridding yourself of these pests. My advice would be to call Animal Control to help get them back into the woods, where they belong. Once they're gone, go crazy with birdfeeders, and continue to enjoy that gorgeous scenery, raccoon-free!

 

 

p.p.s. -- Just to go on record, my HS mascot was a raccoon. Sent chills down our opponents' spines. To be fair, though, our biggest rival had a gosling for a mascot, so I guess it's all relative...

[logan82]

I would talk to somebody who knows more about livetraps before using them. They are smart enough to get out of livetraps. Also are very agressive when cornered.

[uecker9]

I moved a couple traps I use for relocating the lost souls of wayward muskrats and it got me thinking about this thread. What is the situation of the racoons?

[cweber39]

Big Reed-

 

I just read your post about the birds and all the variety you get at you feeders, I like watching birds as well and I am really jealous. The good thing about moving your feeder now however, is that a lot of the birds now are relying on insects and other mother nature food.

[Weirdos19]

Reed, do you have a dog?

 

There are racoons all over janesville, but they stay away from my yard. I'm guessing it's because of the scent of my dogs.

 

Although, the rabbits are too stupid to figure that out.

 

Get this:

 

We have a decent sized back yard (80 x 120) with a chain link fence. My dogs see this rabbit in the back yard, and she scoots under the fence, knowing my dogs can't get there.

 

Then, she decides to put her "nest" or whatever you call it, right in my backyard!! I thought my dogs had found mice to start with. All I can say is that my mini-dachshund swallowed one whole. Two weeks later, she nested in the backyard again.

 

Nice. eh?

[TooLiveBrew]

Kudos to your mini-dachshund! That'd be like me gulping down a soft-shelled taco with no chewing! Or like a certain bassett hound I know almost literally inhaling an entire slice of pizza - NY style, not our smaller pieces here. That was a sight too.

 

Weirdos, give your little guy/gal an extra tummy rub for me! Well done!

[Weirdos19]

Little "Schnitzel" almost made me sick that day.