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RANT: Damn Racoons

Started 1 year ago by grr
Latest reply from grr

grr
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ok..where the hell are the coyotes to take care of these vermin???

4am today they decided my coy pond would be fun to destroy going for a snack.. Of course..the Dogs heard something, and ran out all "Cujo to see what was going on'..

Two of the coons scattered up and over the fence, but the third decided to be all Rambo and take on the dogs. One dog (58 lbs) got the worst of it. Other dog ran back inside.

Nasty puncture wound by her ribs. Managed to get it all cleaned up before the vet opened, but went up for some hefty antibiotics and pain pills. She's had all her shots..but we want to be sure.

We have an old feral cat trap in the garage..It's going out tonight. grrrrr.

Posted 1 year ago #
dhg
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It's possible your dog did not give her a chance to get away. It is better to learn to live with nature than to fight it. I know of just one person with a coy pond and his technique was to make it too deep for the raccoons. They won't dive for their meals.

Posted 1 year ago #
hammerhead
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So I have recently found out that if you trap the raccoon you can drown it yourself. Do that in your coy pond to show them who is boss.

Yes I do know this because fish and wildlife told this to me directly as did our new (useless) Burien animal control.

Good Luck

Posted 1 year ago #
datamuse
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@hammerhead: yep, a friend of mine down in Tacoma has been doing that because they've been decimating her garden. I think she's nabbed over a dozen.

(Btw folks, it's "koi". Though I suppose koi may be coy, on occasion...)

Posted 1 year ago #
westseattledood
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I like the idea of a deep pond, but if you've got toddlers, not so great an idea I guess.

What about a larger mesh netting to float on top. Holes too small for 'coons to pull through? Tho' they'd probably rip it to shreds first. Hmm. Never mind. Not a great solution.

Posted 1 year ago #
cjboffoli
Member Profile

I was out on Beach Drive a few nights ago, trying to shoot the Perseid meteor showers, and I actually got chased away by aggressive, growling raccoons. It was the craziest thing.

There were a lot of them too! More than I had ever seen in one place. No fewer than ten of them crossed the road one-by-one and headed down to the water's edge to scavenge for food. They gradually worked their way up the beach and when they got to where I was, along the top of the little bluff there, a couple of big ones climbed up the rocks and started growling at me from about 30 feet away.

I'm not sure if they were after the nearby trash can or if they didn't appreciate me shining my light on them as I monitored their progress up the beach. But they held their ground and were aggressive.

I couldn't really shout too loudly as there are lots of houses down there and it is dead quiet at that hour. And the handful of pea stones I threw over their heads on the rocks behind them didn't have any effect. It was 3:30am by that time and I wasn't seeing a whole lot of meteors anyway. So I decided to take their unsolicited advice and vamoose. I didn't need an early-morning trip to the emergency room for rabies shots.

Here I was thinking that some early-morning thug might mug me for my camera gear and instead I got menaced by the Beach Drive raccoon posse.

Posted 1 year ago #
Wilma
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We heard our neighbors dog being attacked by a racoon at 5:45 Saturday morning. We were surprised since the dog was not a small dog. Also, we caught a racoon getting ready to go after another neighbors dog last week. They seem super aggresive this year.

Posted 1 year ago #
grr
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yeah..the koi pond is certainly deep enough..even have some wire mesh on it..they just tear it all to shreds trying to get to it.

Pretty sure it could have gotten away..the other two did. It was just a nasty one :) THey haven't been back tho..

Posted 1 year ago #
The Velvet Bulldog
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Christopher, are you a raccoon whisperer or just out at all hours? :-)

Posted 1 year ago #
cjboffoli
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Velvet Bulldog: I wasn't exactly whispering to those raccoons. They responded to neither orders to shoo nor Jedi mind powers.

And in reference to the ungodly hours, all I can say is that news never sleeps. ;-)

Posted 1 year ago #
EmmyJane
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Oh my gosh DROWN it? For decimating a garden? Holy jeez I'm sure glad I'm a far-superior-to-every-other-living-thing-huuuuuman and capital punishment only applies to serious crimes.

Isn't there some way we can live peacefully together? And I'm asking that as a real question, not the "please everyone out there is WSBLand, attack me now" kind of statement. I agree that a racoon attacking my dog would be upsetting and I would want to do something, so does anyone have any ideas/options other than killing them?

Posted 1 year ago #
datamuse
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EmmyJane, they're living on what that garden produces. But the real problem is that their next door neighbor has been feeding the raccoons.

Yeah, we can live peacefully with raccoons. Until they get the idea that humans are a food source. Then they get aggressive.

My father used to shoot the foxes that raided his family's henhouse, how exactly is this different?

Posted 1 year ago #
EmmyJane
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Two things datamuse. First, it's sad to me that the racoons get punished because of the human's actions (human feeds racoon, racoon gets killed.) Second, in your example, it's not a lot different, and I also disagree with your father shooting the foxes.

Posted 1 year ago #
datamuse
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Yeah, it is sad. And it's why I really wish people would secure their garbage cans and not leave pet food outdoors and not litter food waste, and basically not do a lot of things that give wild animals the idea that coming after human food sources is a good idea.

I am curious to know, however, what you think Dad should've done instead. It's not like foxes can read "Keep Out" signs, you know?

Posted 1 year ago #
GenHillOne
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What EmmyJane said, on both counts.
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and I guess vermin is a matter of definition, because though I can appreciate a big professional koi display, I've never seen the draw of having big dirty goldfish poop in a puddle in my yard...most home versions are disgusting. I am truly sorry about your dog though, grr; just sounds like the racoon was doing what wild animals do, defending "its" food.

Posted 1 year ago #
EmmyJane
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Agree Datamuse, agree.

Honestly, I've never had to deal with keeping foxes out of a henhouse so I'm not sure what your dad should have done, but I'd rarely agree with killing an animal. That's why I asked the question to see if anyone else had dealt with this in other ways and could offer other ideas.

I think we have racoons eating all of our garden, but I don't mind because I can afford to go up to QFC and buy some food. I suppose if I was in a genuine struggle over resources I might react differently, but with how wealthy our society is, I doubt most of us truly face those situations. Your dad (sounds like growing up on a farm a generation ago) might have been in more of that situation and since I've never been there, it's hard to judge.

Posted 1 year ago #
TDe
Member Profile

There's a great device called a Scarecrow with a motion sensor that attaches to your garden hose. Shoots a strong stream of water when the motion sensor is activated. I bought one last year at a water garden store and it pretty much stopped the problem at my pond. Just remember to turn it off when you're working in the garden... :)

Posted 1 year ago #
melissa
Member Profile

Golly. I can see why one would want to kill them, as I'm about to. They create toilet areas, sometimes in people's yards. From http://www.seattle.gov/animalshelter/pdfs/LivingWithRaccoons.pdf : "Raccoon droppings may carry a parasite that can be fatal to humans. Do not handle or smell raccoon droppings and wash your hands if you touch any."

I have a dog & I have a racoon nest in the tree in my yard. That dog will do anything to protect his yard and family & I don't want him harmed. I have children. The dog can be a vector of disease between racoons and humans. I will not endanger my children, myself, or my dog by allowing the racoons to continue to live there. So rather than carrying them into woods elsewhere to become someone else's problem, I intend to kill them. And no, I don't relish the thought. I'd rather not do it, but they are dangerous, so I shall.

Posted 1 year ago #
westseattledood
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Just another possibility to consider how to deal with racoons. And other wildlife.

I KNOW there are multiple solutions to these kinds of problems. And I also know that folks might want, need and perhaps appreciate alternatives being fully represented.

So, on that note:http://www.paws.org/humane-wildlife-solutions.html

Posted 1 year ago #
grr
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well..the mrs didn't plant the garden to feed the racoons, that's for sure. I don't want to kill them. If I can capture it and take it out to the woods (like..Mt Si or somthing..) I will.

Posted 1 year ago #
GenHillOne
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"It is unlawful to release wildlife anywhere within the state, other than on the property where it was legally trapped, without a permit to do so (RCW 77.15.250; WAC 232-12-271)" - on page 9 of the animal shelter document above. Same page describes how moving a raccoon will very likely kill them. Please read about the vacuum effect there as well. You may figure out how to get rid of one/some, but as long as there is a food source, others are likely to move in and take their place.

Posted 1 year ago #
westseattledood
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GenHill -

exactly. It is about where racoons find food. When that is removed, the problem is less likely to present itself as aggressive behavior. Aggression is most often found when the path to that food source is impeded, by whatever.

Posted 1 year ago #
WorldCitizen
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Just out of curiosity (I'm taking no stance here)...for those of you out there with the argument along the lines of "we caused the problem as humans, so should live with it", do you feel the same way about mice/ rats? Are they ok to dispense of, or should one live with them as well? What constitutes a pest ? Raccoons seem to be of the same ilk as mice...just bigger and able to fight back, right?

Posted 1 year ago #
grr
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I know, Gen. I'd rather let some other creature kill/eat the thing than me...Circle of life and all that.

it sucks that humans have cause this problem, and it's one with NO easy solution.

Posted 1 year ago #
LisaM
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Please just try to be humane in your actions.

Posted 1 year ago #
funkietoo
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Drowned them!?!?! Whether it is legal or not--it is incredibly inhumane! Can’t believe someone would do it or suggest it.

Said it before and will say it again---T-N-R (trap-neuter-return) for raccoons. If at least 70% of a species population is spay/neutered, then the population will level off. Any spay/neutering over 70% will result in a reduction of the species population.

If people would adhere to the guidelines for living with wildlife, along with the TNR method, we just may see a reduction in both the population and the aggressiveness.

Posted 1 year ago #
ALS
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Funkietoo, I had to read that several times myself, to be sure I was really reading that correctly. I am certainly not a fan of raccoons, but of all the ways to kill something, drowning sounds horribly violent and inhumane. I am also in favor of TNR, but if that is not realistic, at least make the death as quick and painless as possible.

Posted 1 year ago #
Diana
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I think this might be helpful to everyone: http://www.wdfw.wa.gov. Search under raccoons.

Posted 1 year ago #
austin
Member Profile

What are you going to do if you don't want to drown them? Poison? Burning? Sounds even worse. If you're complaining about raccoons on the internet it's a safe bet you don't own a gun.

Posted 1 year ago #
GenHillOne
Member Profile

TNR of raccoons - wouldn't that be civilized?! I wish. I'd take a fully-staffed/funded animal control as a start. And wildlife officials that didn't suggest the public try to trap and kill wild animals.
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World Citizen: the most honest answer I can give is that it would depend on the situation. I'd look at the variables - and the law - and decide what I could and couldn't live with. If there was a food source that I could control/eliminate, I'd start there.
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I think that's the same info in the links up above, Diana :)

Posted 1 year ago #
EmmyJane
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World Citizen- I don't think I could kill a mouse/rat. That's just me.

The thing I try to remember is that while other animals are not as intelligent as humans, they have the ability to feel pain and fear. Impending death activates the feelings of fear and pain, regardless of intelligence, so I imagine it would be as horrible for an animal facing death as it would be for me. To me, that means I'll try to prevent killing an animal.

Posted 1 year ago #
BBGuest
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I am pretty sure that raccoons are trapped and killed when hiring someone to remove them from your property (per my pest control person). I don't believe they are allowed to do anything else.

Drowning would not be an option for me. Egads, I tried it on a severely injured chipmunk once and it was horrible! The little critter kept bobbing up and it took forever...I'll never forget it.

Since raccoons really like water, I am surprised the spritzing works. They are omnivores and opportunistic critters. I like them but would never intentionally feed them. They will become aggressive if you ever stop feeding them (they love eggs by the way for those of you who do feed them).

I believe it is not a veterinary option to surgically alter a raccoon (though it sounds like a really good idea funkietoo). Do you know a vet that can/would do it? Might be good for the person trapping one but I don't think it is actually 'legal' to relocate them. Probably what I would choose.

For now it is yelling at them while chasing with a broom. Hope to hear more on the subject.

Posted 1 year ago #
rockhills
Member Profile

Here's the formula I grew up with: a gecko for the kitchen, a cat for the house, and a big loud dog for the outdoors. Just make sure they're all thoroughly vaccinated (except, probably, the gecko). You'll probably have to worm them all periodically. Taken together, they greatly reduce issues with ants, palmetto bugs, mice, rats, raccoons, and possums.

Posted 1 year ago #
velo_nut
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Watch what you say around here... You joke about killing a raccoon in your yard and the police will show up at your door.

It happened to me. They had printed out my posts off this forum and showed up at my front door.

Posted 1 year ago #
grr
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how'd they know your address, velo?
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rockhills..yeah..uhm..the big loud dog ended up at the vet...doing much better now though.

Posted 1 year ago #
mannamc
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We had a family of raccoons that took up residence under our deck. We finally got them to move on by shining a flood light under there for about 24 hrs, they haven't been back in a while.

I tried squirting them with water but they seem totally unfazed by it.

Posted 1 year ago #
velo_nut
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@ Grrr

Not a clue. TR says it wasn't info the WSB provided.

Someone was sneaky.

Posted 1 year ago #
JanS
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I think at the time, velo, you had linked your name to your website/biking blog, and had some personal contact info on there. That's probably where someone went with it. You have since removed that linkage. I have my name linked to my website, and that has been used against me, too, from someone who I suspect used to come onto this forum. Not a fun thing to go through. The city makes it damned difficult to find out who your accuser is. They just assume you're guilty.

Posted 1 year ago #
grr
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velo and Jan.

GRRRRRR. That sooo pisses me off.

Posted 1 year ago #
mehud7
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"If at least 70% of a species population is spayed/neutered, then the population will level off." (funkietoo)

I vote for TNR for humans-I believe the raccoons would agree.

Posted 1 year ago #
JoB
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mehud7...

RofLOL
some days i would agree

thankfully i don't have that option

Posted 1 year ago #
maplesyrup
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Forget spritzing them- we use a whole pitcher of water. They hate it.

The main thing is not to leave food around though, including pet food.

Posted 1 year ago #
grr
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mehud7...everytime I fly on an airplane with a screaming child and clueless parent, I think the same thing :D

Posted 1 year ago #