Raccoon
Raccoons prefer hardwood forest areas near water. Although commonly found in association with water and trees, raccoons occur in many areas of the western United States around farmsteads and livestock watering areas, far from naturally occurring bodies of permanent water. Raccoons den in hollow trees, ground burrows, brush piles, muskrat houses, barn and abandoned buildings, dense clumps of cattail, haystacks, or rock crevices.
This nocturnal animal is a frequent guest at many homes and buildings. You’ll find them searching through garbage cans or dumpsters looking for food. In other cases, this animal may literally tear into an attic and nest there leaving droppings and making quite a bit of noise. In yet other instances, they may climb down into a chimney and nest near the damper.
No frightening methods have effectively reduced raccoon damage to sweet corn for more than short periods of time. Lights, radios, dogs, scarecrows, streamers, aluminum pans and lids, etc. have been tried with little success. Also, no toxicants or fumigants are currently registered for raccoon control. The repellents tested to date have also been ineffective.
Raccoons can be easily captured in traps or homemade raccoon traps. Live traps at least 10 by 12 by 32 inches in size and constructed of sturdy metal can be baited with marshmallows to reduce captures of nontarget species. Environmental Conservation Law permits only licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control persons or Wildlife Rehabilitators to transport live-captured animals, so the landowner must euthanize raccoons caught in cage traps or release them at the site of capture. Raccoons may also be captured in #1.5 leg-hold traps, and #160 or #220 body gripping traps can effectively catch raccoons in bait boxes. Body gripping traps are designed to kill quickly and should not be used in areas where there a chance of catching nontarget animals.
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