Damn raccoons

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by hatidua

[snip]

Back when we had two little dogs that were not much bigger than the local racoons, our veterinarian warned us more than once that our 15# dogs tangling with a raccoon would very likely mean the end of our pet. As such I took to hating racoons. Mothballs sprinkled around where racoons live seem to drive them away for a bit, as do rags soaked in amonia.

As guaranteed a reply as "shoot them" is when this topic comes up on firearms related forums, I'd not risk the penalities when there are potentially other methods of abating the problem.

---

Exactly. Which is why the "animal lovers" are beyond stupid.

I think the same as with coyotes. It should be legal to take them anywhere in civilization when it can be done so safely. These are nuisance animals. And the bleeding hearts that have criminalized doing what is necessary cry when their pets get sick, or worse, are taken.

We had our an elevated wood walkway pulled this month for that reason (mainly rabbits but also concerned about what comes with them). Replaced by concrete and I'm very happy with the work/lack of maintenance and worry. I pulled four dead rabbits out of our back yard this year, no thanks! I'll keep working next year to eliminate bushes/scrubs and other places for critters.

We haven't had any issues with the little bandits returning since I borrowed a paintball gun loaded with pepper balls and lit the little fuckers up one night about a year ago...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Irving

I know right? Sorry Stag, that's a myth.

---

Thank goodness,now I can stop drinking so much water. [Sarcasm2]

Sage advice and anecdotes, guys. I suspect there are more than a few dens around here- just about everyone around here has a raised deck. The last time I had this issue, I went the ammonia-and-moth-balls route, and it drove them away (and prevented us from using the deck for the remainder of the year.) I'm going to do a multi-faceted attack on the issue:

1. Nextdoor posts, enlightening people on the dangers of these pests. There's a lot of fooferaw about coyotes, but I don't think people realize their ankle-biter dogs and their outdoor cats and their kids are imperiled by the continued and encouraged presence of the raccoons.

2. I'll try and talk with the neighbor that's feeding them. I know she's not the only one leaving food out, and I know that "she's been feeding her wild friends since Hector was a pup, and she's never had a problem" so I don't really expect her to change her mind. But I will try, nonetheless. Maybe I can get her to at least bring the food in when it gets dark out.

3. I need to make this yard less raccoon-friendly. I'm pretty pissed about their presence in this section of the neighborhood; our yard is the staging area for the fox to squabble over territory/mate, and there are a hell of a lot of mice around this year. The raccoons' presence is preventing that from happening.

Dammit. This would happen during the busiest time of the year.

Have a neighbor that had coons getting into his garden. He electrified the top of his fences and other points of ingress. That seemed to discourage them. Too bad raccoons are practically monkeys when it comes to getting into areas you don't want them.

I would emphasize that while she may not have had any problems, the rest of the neighborhood now has a problem. I wish I still had some pictures of raccoons tearing through a roof all the way into the attic. When it rains raccoon urine in her living room, then perhaps she'll wise up. In my experience though, she won't.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by CO Hugh

Maybe the animals neighbor would like some decon with her food!

---

**DISCLAIMER: Not legal in all states. Please check with your local law enforcement agency to determine the legalities of spiking your idiot neighbor's food with rat poisoning.**

Problem with poison is that it is indiscriminate and often kills animals other than those intended.

Call animal control and ask whether they would like to trap and destroy and if not, would they approve of you taking care of the problem. They may breed fast, but they can be trapped and destroyed faster than they can breed.

I'd rather have 'yotes in the neighborhood than raccoons.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cstone

Problem with poison is that it is indiscriminate and often kills animals other than those intended.

Call animal control and ask whether they would like to trap and destroy and if not, would they approve of you taking care of the problem. They may breed fast, but they can be trapped and destroyed faster than they can breed.

---

Animal control tells us Sorry, not a dog or cat not our problem

They suggest we contact one of the wildlife control folks on line.. So that mean i can't shoot them? Umm discharging a firearm in city limits is prohibited.. great have a fun day.

poof, drops off neighbors roof. Hypothetically of course.