Raccoon
Raccoons can grow from 24 to 46 inches long and can weigh up to 25 lbs. They are easily recognized by their trademark black lone ranger mask and ringed tail markings. They generally live near streams and marshy areas and are found throughout the United States. Although they prefer to make their homes in hollow logs or abandoned animal dens, they will occasionally find a welcome atmosphere in your attic, chimney or crawlspace.This becomes particularly attractive to the little critters once they discover the gourmet treats available from your garbage can. There are plenty of humane, commercial grade animal traps on the market that work well with raccoons, but there are also some easy homemade traps that work equally well. Here’s how to build two.
First off, I have never used this type of trap, ever! But, I had a friend in high school that used it. I saw the caught animal in it. However, if it comes down to your survival or the raccoon, then it’s your choice.
1. Drill a 1-inch diameter hole, 4 inches deep, into the root of a big, thick, main tree. If you don’t have a drill, you can burn a hole down with hot coals. Hammer four nails into the hole, angled downwards, on all four sides, so that they stick about ¾ of the way into the hole. Bait, like a piece of fish, is shoved down the hole. The raccoon will stick his paw down, and when he pulls up, his leg will be pulled into the nails. This will hold him until you check your traps. This is a very ugly, inhumane trap.
2. A Barrel Trap. This one is so simple to make, it is funny. Any type of barrel or smooth garbage can will work. Possums and raccoons climb all over the place to get food. So, to take advantage of this trait, all you need is a barrel.
Place the barrel next to a picnic table. Fill 1/3 with water. Place an 18-inch board over the edge of the picnic table so that it hangs about in the middle (or slightly less) of the barrel/garbage can. Place the bait just before dark so that the birds don’t eat it. The animals walk out on the board, and their weight causes them to drop into the barrel/garbage can. The water weights down the fur so that the animal can’t jump out. You can modify this concept to any size animal. I have used it with a 3-pound coffee can to trap mice, and with a 5-gallon bucket to trap squirrels. You can dig a pit and place them level with the ground. Just use your head, and it works great!
Have fun!
More:
im trying the garbage can the god damn raccoons ate my pumpkins
Try more and more, all to turn out!
I like homemade box traps. They are so simple to make. Nail four one foot by two foot pieces of board togather. Take a two feet square section of hardware cloth, and bend it in half. Place this in one end at a sharp 60 degrree angle. Cover the open end with another pieve of wire. Throw in some fish scraps or a tea spoon of caned dog food. Prop up the slanted wire door with a very thin three foot twig. This rig will take all types of small game. Just have the wire and wood on hand.
Perfect council. Thanks