Learn how to Entice Raccoons to Defend Your Chickens

Eggs ain’t getting any cheaper, so in case you’re sensible, you is likely to be contemplating elevating your individual layers. Chickens are pretty straightforward, however there’s only one drawback: Rooster is scrumptious and each criter within the animal kingdom agrees. The worst of the lot are raccoons.

WARNING! This text incorporates graphic photographs of useless chickens and raccoons. Take into account your self forewarned.

Little children and metropolis slickers love raccoons as a result of they’re cute they usually do humorous issues in YouTube movies. However these of us who’ve spent any time residing life within the nation know the reality: Racoons are the spawn of Devil himself. They’re evil little monsters who destroy property, crops, and small livestock for enjoyable. Devious and intelligent, they are often arduous to thwart.

Conventional raccoon looking occurs at night time, with educated canines and lights, which is a big expense each in money and time. The tactic we’ll element right here includes trapping and taking pictures, so it’s extremely environment friendly, and we’ll present you the right traps to set that gained’t journey up canines or different undesired creatures.

Due to Brayden at River Cottage Farm for cluing me in to this technique.

Raccoons Eat Chickens

Raccoons are each merciless and intelligent. They’re intelligent sufficient to work easy locks and latches which are typically used across the farm, like on hen coops. They’ll check and determine weaknesses in your fencing, or dig beneath it totally.

If you happen to’re rising corn, raccoons will fortunately damage it, very all of the sudden, simply because it’s prepared to choose. A single raccoon can destroy a complete row of corn in a single day. Even worse, they deal with your corn like a buffet: Taking just a little nibble out of every ear, so you may’t even salvage what’s been knocked down.

If you happen to suppose raccoons are imply to corn, it’s best to see what they’ll do to a hen. In late 2022 and early 2023, a household of raccoons started selecting off my chickens one after the other.

I attempted all the things I may to cease the raccoons, however they continued to adapt…and develop extra brazen.

Electrical web fencing? Fuggetaboutit.

Earlier than I lastly put a cease to it, issues acquired particularly nasty. There was nearly nothing left of this poor hen. At the very least I feel it was a hen.

Nonlethal Strategies Are Ineffective towards Raccoons

There are a lot of nonlethal options to raccoons, however sadly, I’ve but to search out one which works:

• Fencing: Good fencing can dissuade raccoons, but when they’re sufficiently motivated (i.e., hungry), they’ll determine a approach to route round just about any fence, whether or not it’s climbing, digging, and even ripping a gap in it.
• Loud music: Organising a radio in a single day with music or discuss does nothing besides annoy your neighbors.
• Outside lighting: The raccoons don’t care in the event that they’re hungry sufficient.
• Scent repellants: Varied urines and repellants can be found to dissuade racoons. I’ve but to search out one which works.

To cease the raccoon drawback, you both must take away what attracts them, which is undesirable in case you’re attempting to develop corn or elevate chickens, or should remove them totally.

That’s soiled work and could also be disagreeable to some, but when the choice is your chickens being spontaneously become a 12-piece meal, you’re in the end doing the animal kingdom a service. Typically being type to 1 animal means being merciless to a different.

Authorized Issues with Raccoon Searching

Earlier than you remove your undesirable trash pandas, remember to perceive the legal guidelines the place you reside. The tactic detailed right here includes trapping and taking pictures a nuisance animal.

For example, the place I’m in Tennessee, there are two raccoon seasons: One from September twentieth at sundown till March 15. Then there’s a separate private-land-only season from July 1 at sundown by way of September twentieth. Nevertheless, trapping season is year-round with no bag restrict. There may be additionally a beneficiant coverage round nuisance animals. TCA 70-4-115 states:

The proprietor of lands could destroy any wild animals, wild birds, or wild fowl when such wild animals, wild birds, or wild fowl are destroying property upon such lands.  Any individual, earlier than destroying any huge recreation beneath the situations supplied for on this part, is required to acquire a allow for destroying such huge recreation.  Such permits shall be issued by an officer of the wildlife assets company.

By regulation in Tennessee, as soon as trapped, raccoons can’t be relocated. Many scoff at this, however the state offers a number of good explanation why relocation is a nasty concept. It’s unhealthy for the raccoon as a result of it then has to combat for brand new territory, and it’s unhealthy for the native ecology as a result of raccoons are harmful.

These are simply examples of issues it’s best to take into account earlier than dealing with your raccoon drawback. Examine your state’s wildlife useful resource company, and in case you’re nonetheless confused, give them a name to be sure you’re inside the confines of the regulation.

Why Reside Traps for Racoons Are Ineffective

It’s tempting to go to the Tractor Provide and purchase a few of these reside animal traps, they usually can work, however they’re problematic.

One drawback: Since raccoons are so intelligent, they’ll typically determine learn how to seize your bait with out springing the lure.

The opposite drawback is that undesirable animals can wander into your traps, like this poor possum.

Let’s focus on a greater resolution.

The Finest Entice for Raccoons

You want a specialised lure, typically known as a raccoon lure, an arm lure, a hand lure, or a cuff. It’s a metallic model of a Chinese language finger lure: It’s an extended tube with a set off on the backside. When just a little paw reaches in, the lure is sprung, and the lure securely latches onto the raccoon’s arm. The great factor about these traps is that they’re very efficient towards raccoons, however gained’t lure different critters like canines.

Whenever you choose up your lure, you may additionally take into account a set device in case your arms are weak. A set device is an easy U-shaped piece of metal that helps you set the lure. I simply squeeze the spring with my arms.

I’ll warn you upfront: As soon as the little bastard is trapped with one in all these items, there isn’t a protected approach to take away it from the lure alive. Even be forewarned that raccoons typically carry rabies, so that you don’t wish to take an opportunity.

Meaning you must shoot it, so that you’ll want a firearm. A .22 LR is ample, and you may most likely get away with a compound bow or a sufficiently highly effective air rifle if noise is a excessive concern. Nevertheless, in my expertise, .22 LR typically doesn’t make for a clear one-shot kill, so I favor utilizing an AR-15 chambered in 5.56. Which will seem to be overkill, and it’s just a little messy, however it will get the job achieved in a single shot.

Moreover a lure and a gun, you want some stakes to safe the lure to the bottom. 18-inch rebar stakes are cheap and efficient. Plus you’ll need a heavy mallet to pound within the stakes. The photograph above illustrates the significance of the stakes. The raccoon pulled the lure itself out of the bottom, however was securely held in place by the stake.

In case your native regulation requires it, you’ll additionally want some lure tags the place you may jot down your identify and handle so authorities know who the lure belongs to.

Lastly, you want bait. Simply one thing candy to drop into the lure. I used outdated Nutrigrain bars, however a typical bait is a single marshmallow. There’s no purpose to purchase speciality racoon bait.

Right here’s your buying checklist. You should purchase the lure and equipment at Cabela’s:

• Racoon lure
• Set device (if wanted)
• Rebar stakes
• Entice tags
• Mallet
• Marshmellows
• Disposable gloves (for disposing of the carcass)
• Skinning knife (if you need a cool hat like Davy Crockett)

Eliminating Raccoons

The important thing to profitable trapping is realizing the place to set the lure. When it got here to saving chickens, that was straightforward: I set it up proper behind my hen tractor. Set it close to what the raccoon is prone to assault, and your greatest guess as to the place it’ll assault from.

After getting a spot, put the stake by way of the loop on the finish of the lure chain, and drive it into the bottom with the mallet. Set the lure into the bottom (faucet it with the mallet if want be), after which set the lure mechanism. Fastidiously drop your bait into the tube—don’t stick in your finger!

If you happen to want a tag, scribe the required data onto the tag with a pen. They’re made of sentimental metallic, so it’s much less like writing and extra like inscribing. Then connect it to the lure’s chain with a chunk of wire, which must be included.

Now… you play the ready recreation. Raccoons are nocturnal, so the precise trapping will most likely occur when you’re snoozing. So very first thing within the morning, you must verify on the lure. That is of the utmost significance! Leaving an animal trapped longer than essential is merciless, even when it’s a raccoon. Whenever you verify the lure, exit along with your firearm and no matter else you must eliminate it.

If you happen to’ve caught a raccoon, method with warning. Keep at the very least 5 yards away so it may well’t chunk or scratch you. Raccoons additionally will play useless, so don’t be fooled. Goal immediately on the head and hearth, after all being conscious of what’s behind the raccoon, lest you shoot a hen or one thing else. Flinching and flailing is regular, even when it’s a clear shot.

Wait a couple of minutes to make sure that the raccoon is useless. Poke it along with your rifle or an extended stick to ensure. As soon as it’s completed, placed on some gloves, take away it from the lure, and eliminate it. The way you accomplish that is as much as you. If time permits, you may bury it. I simply toss them into the sting of the woods. If you happen to’re resourceful, you may pores and skin it and make your self a cool hat. I’ve additionally heard that raccoon meat is scrumptious, however I’m leery of rabies. 

As soon as the deed is finished, you’re not! Set the lure for the subsequent night time, the night time after, and till you cease trapping raccoons. I trapped three in a row earlier than the carnage ended.

FAQ about Racoon Trapping

What’s the greatest bait for a raccoon lure?

Marshmallows are extremely efficient, as is any candy deal with. Canned fish can be efficient.

What’s the best approach to catch a raccoon?

Use a specialised raccoon lure baited with one thing candy. Reside traps 

Learn how to scare away raccoons at night time?

Don’t hassle. Entice them and remove them as a substitute.

What time are raccoons most energetic?

Evening. If you happen to see a raccoon throughout the day, assume it’s rabid and remove it from a distance.

What to not do to a raccoon?

Don’t deal with a reside raccoon immediately. Raccoons can carry rabies.

Josh Facilities

Josh Facilities grows gardens, raises chickens and rabbits, is a licensed ham radio operator, and is a licensed blacksmith. He lives on 5 acres in rural Tennessee.