Raccoons

[Ryuu]

I found out there's a raccoon living in one of the basement window wells, and was gonna go chase it out. But then I realized that it just gave birth to four cubs (awwwww or aww crap?) lol

So what do I do? The nice thing to do would be to let it stay there until the cubs get bigger then get them out and seal up the window well, but I don't know what kind of problems that will bring me.

Should I chase them out now? or maybe keep them as pets :lol:

So far it didn't cause any trouble, it just stays curled up in the well most of the time.

[leafsrule06]

I saw freakin racoons mating on my deck recently....twice within days they were up there. Looked like the female propped herself up under my bbq for the male to jump her. Then I think they went under my deck so I think I'm in for a gang of these things in the near future and have no idea whether they'll just go away or if it will be an ongoing home for them. When I turned the light on during their session the male I presume looked at me and walked over to the door. Next morning I saw a big load of crap next to my patio door.

I hear that these things very oftem have rabies and that the fecies can contain very dangerous bugs to children and I have a toddler who's going to be all over the backyard soon. Now I wish I had enclose the outside of my deck but don't want to do it now if they're under there.

[nzeeshop]

Call pets control, they`ll come and get then out. Then can be a big problem.
My friend was telling me they eat there way under the roof and it cost then$10,000.00 in repairs. Don`t think they are cute because they can be a pest.
Good Luck:cry:

[gr8dlr]

I saw freakin racoons mating on my deck recently....twice within days they were up there. Looked like the female propped herself up under my bbq for the male to jump her. Then I think they went under my deck so I think I'm in for a gang of these things in the near future and have no idea whether they'll just go away or if it will be an ongoing home for them. When I turned the light on during their session the male I presume looked at me and walked over to the door. Next morning I saw a big load of crap next to my patio door.

Perhaps you should charge a cover charge to come over....:cheesygri This was so funny I had to read it again....someone who can draw animations please do it. :cheesygri

[sungfra]

Better get professional to do it properly. Mother raccoons are very agreesive

[Techhead]

If ya call animal control to remove them, they will kill them. Control will not relocate Raccoons.

The window well will become to small an area for the family to live, eventually mother will move them to a bigger home to live.

[flip114]

I have a family of racoons living under my deck. Last summer I noticed poop all over my deck. Then one day I saw two racoons going under my deck. The next day I covered their entrance way with a rock. They simply dug around it. My rose bush was being trimmed so I used the thorns and lined them up against the, by this time 4 entrance ways, to prevent them from entering again. Still did not work. Tried to flush them out with some water, no luck. If only they paid rent it would be ok, but I guess this summer Im going to have to call Animal control.

[Gotcha]

They are a pain to get rid of.... especially after they have mated... they will always come back no matter how secure you close the opening... after you succeed to get them out that is...

my friend had one and tried all sorts of trap and they are too clever to catch.. finally, they left , so he decided to close the hole using steel plates and rivetted them....
a season has passed and they were back!!! They managed to pull it a corner off and bent it further to squeeze their way in!!
This time they took the insulator off and made a mess...

Let us know how you get rid of them eventually... i have a family of racoons who came for a visit recently by my patio door ... i just hope they are not looking into moving my place:P

[mcplar]

a rotten steak and some rat poison should work....

[Vladimir]

the best way we found for taking care of racoons is you get a carbonated soda (we use coke) and mix it with fly poison. Racoons literally die within a minute or 2 of drinking it.
We have a bowl of this stuff out in the corn patch all summer long, and often we will go out and find anywhere between 1-5 dead racoons within a few meters of the bowl (usually right beside it).

We tried many other things before finding this solution.. The 2nd best way was putting a radio or music outside and that kept them away for a while, but eventually it didn't trick them anymore.

Just don't trap it. So what you trap it and dump it on someone elses lawn? Trust me, I know a couple people drop off their racoons around our place, they think they are being fair to the racoons, but they die couple days later when they find our poison.

[macy69]

...I hear that these things very oftem have rabies...

Raccoon rabies is not common. Very few cases in recent years...at least in Ontario


...Just don't trap it. So what you trap it and dump it on someone elses lawn? Trust me, I know a couple people drop off their racoons around our place, they think they are being fair to the racoons, but they die couple days later when they find our poison.

fair? compared to your solution, which isn't really viable (or legal) in a large urban setting. Hope I never have to visit your Sovkhoz, comrad general.

[zoro69]

There is NO Raccoon rabies in ON

ON has previously met the international standard (2 years without a case) to declare itself raccoon strain free (raccoons don't get other strains)

There had been just over 100 cases over a number of years (out of estimate 1,000,000 raccoon population), confined to a relatively small area brockville mallorytown ottawa (one year on wolf island). Op in Markham, there has NEVER been a case anywhere near there. The "at risk zone" for many years has been highway 38 (kingston) and east. where they did vaccine drops

The babies will start leaving with the mother 8-10 weeks after being born. Though if she thinks its not a good space she will carry them one by one elsewhere

"or maybe keep them as pets "

they will get very friendly, very easily (very gentle, highly intelligent animals). they are kept as indoor pets in some places (illegal here), but lots of people have friendly wild ones around

"Not to mention if you had some small pets outside at night the raccoons would probably kill them"


they do not kill small pets..

[Vladimir]

fair? compared to your solution, which isn't really viable (or legal) in a large urban setting. Hope I never have to visit your Sovkhoz, comrad general.

I love responses like yours. When a mosquito bites you, or a fly buzzes around your head do you kill it? If so, what makes that any better then killing a raccoon?
Raccoons are PESTS just like insects. You obviously never worked on a farm. If we do not take care of them they would destroy our gardens and crops (you know, what we actually need to eat)
Not to mention if you had some small pets outside at night the raccoons would probably kill them

Any farmer I know would LAUGH hard at the thought of capturing it instead of taking a 22 to it

[mcplar]

There is NO Raccoon rabies in ON

ON has previously met the international standard (2 years without a case) to declare itself raccoon strain free (raccoons don't get other strains)

There had been just over 100 cases over a number of years (out of estimate 1,000,000 raccoon population), confined to a relatively small area brockville mallorytown ottawa (one year on wolf island). Op in Markham, there has NEVER been a case anywhere near there. The "at risk zone" for many years has been highway 38 (kingston) and east. where they did vaccine drops

The babies will start leaving with the mother 8-10 weeks after being born. Though if she thinks its not a good space she will carry them one by one elsewhere

"or maybe keep them as pets "

they will get very friendly, very easily (very gentle, highly intelligent animals). they are kept as indoor pets in some places (illegal here), but lots of people have friendly wild ones around

"Not to mention if you had some small pets outside at night the raccoons would probably kill them"


they do not kill small pets..

Hmmm.... the MNR would disagree with that statement -

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/Rabies/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_166309.html

[zoro69]

???

that, from 2007, says the last case was in 2005 and points out geographically where the 130 cases were (as i described). its difficult to find newer as there has been nothing to report (it is there, somewhere)

which is what i said

Note the tiny border areas now for precautionary vaccine program in 2008, previously it was a very large area of eastern ON
http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/228710.pdf

[zoro69]

Separate post so it isnt missed to dispell the widely held myth about raccoons


Ontario eliminates raccoon rabies

McGuinty Government Protects People And Wildlife
Raccoon rabies has been eliminated in Ontario.

Since the first case in 1999, Ontario has had 132 cases of raccoon rabies. International standards, set by the World Organization for Animal Health, requires two years without a case of rabies before a jurisdiction can confirm it has eliminated a particular strain of rabies.

The last confirmed case of raccoon strain rabies in Ontario was in September 2005.

The ministry has eliminated the disease through a combination of rabies vaccine baits, Trap-Vaccinate-Release and Point of Infection Control programs.

Ontario will continue monitoring for raccoon rabies to ensure early warning of possible new outbreaks

http://www.news.ontario.ca/mnr/en/2008/04/ontario-eliminates-raccoon-rabies.html

[macy69]

I love responses like yours. When a mosquito bites you, or a fly buzzes around your head do you kill it? If so, what makes that any better then killing a raccoon?
Raccoons are PESTS just like insects. You obviously never worked on a farm. If we do not take care of them they would destroy our gardens and crops (you know, what we actually need to eat)
Not to mention if you had some small pets outside at night the raccoons would probably kill them

Any farmer I know would LAUGH hard at the thought of capturing it instead of taking a 22 to it

But you aren't using a .22, your poisoning the critters.

I think you must have lived in Wisconsin at some point...http://news.cals.wisc.edu/newsDisplay.asp?id=429

[Vladimir]

so what's the difference? Raccoons often don't die from the first shot from a 22 either unless you get them square on.
The poison kills them almost instantly to.. well hard to say as I never seen one get poisoned but I would assume so since 90% of the time they are dead within 1 foot of the bowl.
Not to mention can't sit out in the corn patch all night long waiting for them to show.

And just because there was a report in Wisonsin thinks I was there? wow.
We inform the neighbour when we do it so they can keep their dog inside (they usually do anyways)

[Tjalfe]

about 3 weeks ago, we found a convulsig raccoon at work, which had snacked on fly bait... little blue crystals. ( at the time we foudnit, we did not know that is what it had eaten) .. it took 5 hours, from when we found it, till it stopped breathing. the SPCA was unfortunately not available till after lunch that particular day, so we could just watch it slowly die. We found its buddy, and the fly bait inside a wall this past Monday, after smelling death for a week. I am not sure how the Coke would accelerate the death to a few minutes.




the best way we found for taking care of racoons is you get a carbonated soda (we use coke) and mix it with fly poison. Racoons literally die within a minute or 2 of drinking it.
We have a bowl of this stuff out in the corn patch all summer long, and often we will go out and find anywhere between 1-5 dead racoons within a few meters of the bowl (usually right beside it).

We tried many other things before finding this solution.. The 2nd best way was putting a radio or music outside and that kept them away for a while, but eventually it didn't trick them anymore.

Just don't trap it. So what you trap it and dump it on someone elses lawn? Trust me, I know a couple people drop off their racoons around our place, they think they are being fair to the racoons, but they die couple days later when they find our poison.

[freebie]

Hmmm.... so rat poison or fly poison are effective at "taking care" of raccoon problems? I've got a raccoon problem in the actic of our house and have tried "humane" methods so far. First tried patching the hole but the raccoons managed to rip a new hole to get back in. Next we tried a ultra high frequency noise generator (http://www.lowguys.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=pestcontrol&Product_Code=BIR-YGARD) and it hasn't deterred them either.

Just to double-check, is it legal to kill raccoons, via poison or whatever? I could try to bust out the 9mm and go for the headshot. :lol::D j/k on that last part...

[Tjalfe]

I believe, from my brother dealing with teh SPCA that we could not touch the babies, and I suppose by extension, the mothers. You can use a live trap, and release it where it would not bother anyone. Officially you are only supposed to take it 1KM away, but that does not seem near far enough to me. Last year we caught 9 raccoons at work and release them in the "wild" .. being a farmers field.

[macy69]

so what's the difference? ...

Well, if you don't see the difference between humanely euthanizing vs. indiscriminantly targeting the entire mammal population of Waterloo county, I'm just glad I live far away from you

http://i713.photobucket.com/albums/ww134/macy69k/wile.jpg

[mcplar]

Hmmm.... so rat poison or fly poison are effective at "taking care" of raccoon problems? I've got a raccoon problem in the actic of our house and have tried "humane" methods so far. First tried patching the hole but the raccoons managed to rip a new hole to get back in. Next we tried a ultra high frequency noise generator (http://www.lowguys.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=pestcontrol&Product_Code=BIR-YGARD) and it hasn't deterred them either.

Just to double-check, is it legal to kill raccoons, via poison or whatever? I could try to bust out the 9mm and go for the headshot. :lol::D j/k on that last part...

Not sure on the legalities of it....

If you decide to go ahead with it, make sure to check the attic afterwards. You'll probably end up smelling something pretty rancid in a couple days. ;)

[thomas001]

Remember the infamous Brando “ horror & terror” scene in Apocalypse Now, well that’s how I felt when I heard Racoons in my attic a few years back. So in response to Valdimir’s witches brew, I should say “ I smell victory”. The funny thing was I got rid of it accidentally when I watch an action movie really loud from my twin subwoofers Home Theatre system that night . It came in by ripping out the ventilation vent and got out by ripping through the aluminum soffit. I am always amazed by kindness towards pest when there are so much human sufferings around the world. I am sure they eat raccoons in some starving countries.

[Vladimir]

about 3 weeks ago, we found a convulsig raccoon at work, which had snacked on fly bait... little blue crystals. ( at the time we foudnit, we did not know that is what it had eaten) .. it took 5 hours, from when we found it, till it stopped breathing. the SPCA was unfortunately not available till after lunch that particular day, so we could just watch it slowly die. We found its buddy, and the fly bait inside a wall this past Monday, after smelling death for a week. I am not sure how the Coke would accelerate the death to a few minutes.
Well I am guessing that the raccon just didn't eat enough of the fly bait, sounds like they ate only a little bit (not enough to kill it, but enough to make it deathly sick)

I am no chemist, but from the rumors I have heard, is that the carbonated beverage is the key because raccoons have no way to pass gas (fart/burp) and the cola mixed with fly bait causes instant gas build up
and well guess what happens.

I am not sure if I believe that rumor, I think it is more that the sugary smell of the cola draws the raccoon near, they drink a bit of the cola and die almost instantly. Just have to make sure to mix in a fair bit of poison
I know for a fact it doesn't take 5 hours for them to die. Because I have gone out to the garden at midnight checking... nothing there.. Then go back at 1 am and 3 dead coons. ( I was checking every hour that night because I knew there were raccoons around and wanted to see if


Well, if you don't see the difference between humanely euthanizing vs. indiscriminantly targeting the entire mammal population of Waterloo county, I'm just glad I live far away from you



Well except I don't actually live in waterloo that is where I work.
I live on a farm 4 km from any town.
We only have 1 neighbor that is actually close to us and we inform them when we put the poison out so they know to keep their dog and cat in the house.
And I glad I don't live near you. You are obviously a very naive city person that has never been on a farm in your life. If you love raccoons so much maybe you should leave your front door open to feed all the raccoons.

Also I love how you have so much feelings for these raccoons, but for some reason it doesn't bother you that they destroy our gardens and if we didn't do it WE WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO EAT.
Yeah sure we will spend thousands on pest control (who either a) kill it anyways or b) drop it off at someone elses farm)

I sure as hell hope you have never used one of those death mouse traps if so you must be evil:rolleyes:


humanely euthanizing vs. indiscriminantly targeting the entire mammal population of Waterloo county
We have never found any other dead animals besides raccoons and we put it out very often during the summer for years. And yes, we do have over 10 stray cats that live in our barn and not 1 of them ever has drank it.

But ya, continue sitting on your high horse and look down on me while you go buy everything from the grocery store (which was grown on farms, which was sprayed with PESTicides which have probably killed a bunch of raccoons to.. and if their pesticides didn't their combines sure have killed a few) and think how much better you are then me.

[macy69]

If you love raccoons so much maybe you should leave your front door open to feed all the raccoons.

Also I love how you have so much feelings for these raccoons...


...blah, blah, blah, blah...



I'm not debating the merits of culling animals, raccoons or any others. That's a fact of life, whether it's hunting, farming or for general wildlife managment. I'm no tree-hugging PETA member.

What I take exception to is your method...and the fact that you broadcast it as an acceptable way to euthanise animals. The OP lives in Markham and you're essentially telling him that the best way to manage his problem would be to set out some poison, go back in the house and wait to see what happens!

[Ryuu]

Well, update on my situation.

They just left! o.O lol, was kinda surprised when I went to check on them, to see that they're gone. At first I thought only the mother was gone but after looking closely the babies were gone too!

This one is actually quite friendly and didn't make any mess so I didn't mind it staying until the cubs get bigger. But since it left on its own, great! Saves me the headache of getting them out later. And definitely no need for the poison lol.

Now that its gone though how do I "raccoon proof" the place? Seeing how many of you say they're a pain to keep out, being able to rip through metal and all :-0

[Mattones]

Well, update on my situation.

They just left! o.O lol, was kinda surprised when I went to check on them, to see that they're gone. At first I thought only the mother was gone but after looking closely the babies were gone too!

This one is actually quite friendly and didn't make any mess so I didn't mind it staying until the cubs get bigger. But since it left on its own, great! Saves me the headache of getting them out later. And definitely no need for the poison lol.

Now that its gone though how do I "raccoon proof" the place? Seeing how many of you say they're a pain to keep out, being able to rip through metal and all :-0

Good to hear they left so shortly.

They tend to love going on roofs and ripping holes through the shingles and plywood.

[messerchmidt]

a dish with anti-freeze should eliminate the problem...

[nornet]

a dish with anti-freeze should eliminate the problem...

This could be the worst advise given ever. When an animal is poisoned (or is dying of natural causes) it looks for a place to die and if its in the attic it will find some remote corner and try to hide itself. I've seen them crawl down in wall cavities, die there and nothing will prepare you for the stench.

[alsonot]

Well, update on my situation.

They just left! o.O lol, was kinda surprised when I went to check on them, to see that they're gone. At first I thought only the mother was gone but after looking closely the babies were gone too!

This one is actually quite friendly and didn't make any mess so I didn't mind it staying until the cubs get bigger. But since it left on its own, great! Saves me the headache of getting them out later. And definitely no need for the poison lol.

Now that its gone though how do I "raccoon proof" the place? Seeing how many of you say they're a pain to keep out, being able to rip through metal and all :-0

Ignorance is bliss I suppose, but you might want to read up on raccoon round worm / "Baylisascaris" to start:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/baylisascaris/factsht_baylisascaris.htm

Factor in that raccoons **** and piss on your roof, so the rain running off your roof carries the eggs of this parasite all over the perimeter of your house, and spread it into the soil even if the crap is just on the ground.

When professionals clean up their crap up they treat it like it's very toxic; dust masks, suits, mass disinfection etc... plus this is just one of many complications; co-habituating with wild animals is a bad idea.

For this and other reasons living with Raccoons is unsafe, especially if you have kids who play in the yard, a garden, or even if it's just you in general interacting in the same surroundings.