Ducati Monster Forum

Kitchen Sink => No Moto Content => Topic started by: somegirl on March 16, 2009, 11:01:11 PM

Title: We've been invaded...
Post by: somegirl on March 16, 2009, 11:01:11 PM
...by a raccoon (or possibly raccoons).  It's moved in under our deck. >:(

The dogs can hear it moving around at night and get quite upset.  We're not too happy about it either.

Any suggestions on how to get rid of it?  Anybody successfully remove one?
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: IZ on March 16, 2009, 11:04:00 PM
It seems like we just had a thread about getting rid of a skunk.  I'm sure it's similar to get rid of?
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: Mother on March 16, 2009, 11:11:15 PM
(https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3459/3361516399_af7e785d23.jpg?v=0)
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: Buckethead on March 16, 2009, 11:14:09 PM
They make "Have a Heart" traps designed for raccoons.

How successful the relocation technique is varies.

If they're getting under the deck, the best thing you can do is make that area as unappealing to them as possible.

I suggest a pepper spray fogger (http://www.personalarms.com/mace_brand_pepper_spray/mace_120gr_fogger.htm). Hose down the area under the deck a couple of times a week for a few weeks in a row, and they shouldn't be an issue. Once they're out, try to seal up any sort of entry point you can find.

Pertinent info here (http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/living/raccoons.htm#tooclose).

Motion-activated sprinklers work well, too. Especially if you plan to have a garden.
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: OwnyTony on March 16, 2009, 11:55:51 PM
throw a bunch of moth balls under the deck as well
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: Desmostro on March 17, 2009, 12:42:00 AM
Those are pretty good suggestions.

A raccoon was the first animal I couldn't readily scare away. I tried to chase one out of my garbage area. I ran at him yelling and shaking my hands in the air.
He turned and ran at me on two legs screaming waving his paws in the air.

I was so surprised I started laughing hysterically and jogging backwards.
I went for the hose. He came back the next night.


Repelling Raccoons

Dr. Glenn Dudderar                                         
MSU Extension Wildlife Specialists                         

"The best way to keep raccoons out of the garden is to       
fence them out. Two- or three-wire electric fencing, a     
floppy, C-shaped chicken wire fence or a barrier of sturdy 
cloth may be effective.      "

Trapping means you then have to let it go somewhere.
25 miles minimum. Then you have to trap all the other ones...

Adding something obnoxious gets obnoxious for you as well.

Other tricks they figure out pretty fast. They're wicked smart little buggers.
Bears actually. They are small bears.

Put a little fence under the deck. Nail it up good.
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: TiNi on March 17, 2009, 04:15:31 AM
hopefully it's not the mommy getting ready to add to your collection  :)

i would think that the dogs would be enough to keep the critters away...
grover & watson better start earning their keep around there  [laugh]

good luck!
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: Got Duc on March 17, 2009, 04:45:32 AM
A buddy of mine traps them, then drives them away.

Works really well for him. He usually catches 50 a year.

But we have urban Racoons not mountain ones like you have.
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: KnightofNi on March 17, 2009, 06:19:49 AM
i say get a pack of wolves or some lions or something. that should keep them away.
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: Scooter Montgomery on March 17, 2009, 06:25:09 AM
Squirrel sling shot, but built bigger to handle racoon.

Fire in the hole!!!!
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: ZLTFUL on March 17, 2009, 06:42:44 AM
Quote from: Mother on March 16, 2009, 11:11:15 PM
(https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3459/3361516399_af7e785d23.jpg?v=0)


Man...yer such a puss sometimes. That's not a raccoon gun. THIS is a raccoon gun.

(http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/images/m107-usarmy-image05.jpg)
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: somegirl on March 17, 2009, 07:04:17 AM
Thanks for the suggestions everyone!  We've got a big deck and crawl space so quite a bit of fencing to put up.

Quote from: DuCaTiNi on March 17, 2009, 04:15:31 AM
i would think that the dogs would be enough to keep the critters away...
grover & watson better start earning their keep around there  [laugh]

The dogs have tangled with raccoons a few years before...they did pretty good but raccoons are probably rabid and weigh as much as the dogs if not more...Grover lost half an ear the last time. :(

Grover and Watson are kept in the house and can hear the dang thing scrabbling around outside, gets them very upset if it happens when we are not home.
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: corey on March 17, 2009, 07:06:31 AM
(http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/moxiepix/b3_1512.gif)

"FRONT TOWARD RACCOON"
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: Scooter Montgomery on March 17, 2009, 07:11:55 AM
I was sitting here thinking about Carl from Caddyshack.

"Hi Mr. Racoon its me Mr. Bunny, want to play together?"
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: ducatiz on March 17, 2009, 07:11:56 AM
Hav-a-hart's Critter Ridder
http://www.havahart.com/store/animal-repellents/3146 (http://www.havahart.com/store/animal-repellents/3146)

it is basically distilled black pepper oil and granules.  the smell is like black pepper and it will fade away, but it will work for 2-3 weeks and they'll pick up and move.  i had squirrels under my deck and i spread this stuff under the deck and sides. .they were gone in 2 days. 

it's non-poisonous so you don't have to worry about kids eating it (although they would probably sneeze to death if they did) and it's organic too.
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: MendoDave on March 17, 2009, 09:10:35 AM
You can buy "Mountain Lion Urine" from a good garden store. http://www.predatorpee.com/ (http://www.predatorpee.com/)
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: Popeye the Sailor on March 17, 2009, 09:30:15 AM
I'm not sure about the predator pee-there's a lot of coyotes and mountain lions about to begin with. I think I'm going to try to make it uncomfortable under there for said raccoon-maybe the link 'tizz posted, or the mothball type route-whatever they don't like, really. I'll give that a week or two. If it doesn't move on, I'm shooting it.
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: TiNi on March 17, 2009, 09:38:18 AM
 :-\ :'(
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: ducpainter on March 17, 2009, 09:54:34 AM
Quote from: MrIncredible on March 17, 2009, 09:30:15 AM
I'm not sure about the predator pee-there's a lot of coyotes and mountain lions about to begin with. I think I'm going to try to make it uncomfortable under there for said raccoon-maybe the link 'tizz posted, or the mothball type route-whatever they don't like, really. I'll give that a week or two. If it doesn't move on, I'm shooting it.
I'd do that today.
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: ZLTFUL on March 17, 2009, 09:59:12 AM
Quote from: ducpainter on March 17, 2009, 09:54:34 AM
I'd do that today.

And you can have raccoon sausage for breakfast tomorrow...
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: ducatiz on March 17, 2009, 10:08:04 AM
Quote from: MrIncredible on March 17, 2009, 09:30:15 AM
I'm not sure about the predator pee-there's a lot of coyotes and mountain lions about to begin with. I think I'm going to try to make it uncomfortable under there for said raccoon-maybe the link 'tizz posted, or the mothball type route-whatever they don't like, really. I'll give that a week or two. If it doesn't move on, I'm shooting it.

the pepper stuff works incredibly well, it is like a giant cloud of mace to them
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: NAKID on March 17, 2009, 11:04:19 AM
Quote from: MrIncredible on March 17, 2009, 09:30:15 AM
I'm not sure about the predator pee-there's a lot of coyotes and mountain lions about to begin with. I think I'm going to try to make it uncomfortable under there for said raccoon-maybe the link 'tizz posted, or the mothball type route-whatever they don't like, really. I'll give that a week or two. If it doesn't move on, I'm shooting it.

Shoot first, put the moth balls down after to prevent others from following in his footsteps...
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: KnightofNi on March 17, 2009, 11:10:57 AM
you cvan burn the house down. that would get rid of them.
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: sugarcrook on March 17, 2009, 11:40:37 AM
+1 on shooting.  Then put their heads on spikes as a message to the others. 
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: supakpow2 on March 17, 2009, 05:54:47 PM
Quote from: sugarcrook on March 17, 2009, 11:40:37 AM
+1 on shooting.  Then put their heads on spikes as a message to the others. 
[laugh] [clap] [laugh] roflmao
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: LA on March 17, 2009, 06:12:02 PM
Doesn't matter what you do, if you don't fence off access some critter will take up there.  And if you have dog food out you will have raccoons for sure.  If the coons get hungry enough, they'll fight your dogs over it.

Maybe a meaner dog. ;D  When we lived up on the Chesapeake Bay we had lots of raccoons.  Two very big bull raccoons (at different times) came down into the fenced dog lot with two big Weimaraners in some sort of suicide attempt to get the dog food and my 120 lb. male killed em so quick I couldn't believe it. 

It is true that raccoons populations may have high rates of rabies, in some areas worse than others.

Good luck,
LA
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: ducpainter on March 17, 2009, 06:33:12 PM
Quote from: supakpow2 on March 17, 2009, 05:54:47 PM
[laugh] [clap] [laugh] roflmao
Go ahead and laugh...

problems with crows in the corn?...

shoot one and hang its' carcass on a pole.

Problem solved. unfortunately those make the beast with two backsers aren't all that easy to hit... [cheeky]
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: MendoDave on March 17, 2009, 07:10:30 PM
Quote from: KnightofNi on March 17, 2009, 11:10:57 AM
you cvan burn the house down. that would get rid of them.

+1 on burning the house down thats way better than the Urine.  [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: lauramonster on March 18, 2009, 05:26:29 AM
gotta get rid of the comfy factor.

nail it closed or dig it open so there's no shelter

smell is only temporary

Good Luck!
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: red baron on March 18, 2009, 06:22:57 AM
"city folks"


[laugh]
Title: Re: We've been invaded...
Post by: somegirl on March 18, 2009, 07:08:08 AM
Quote from: trouble on March 18, 2009, 06:22:57 AM
"city folks"


[laugh]

That certainly describes me and the dogs. [cheeky]

I actually have had a raccoon living under a deck at a previous house, but it was sick and somehow managed to die on its own while I was figuring things out, so I just had to dispose of the corpse. :P