Help me catch Houdini Coon

[tallyho8]

This coon has been raiding my chicken coop for 3 weeks now, eating their feed and eggs and chicks. I have set multiple traps, 2 kinds of coon traps and a coyote trap and he keeps getting out.
My game cam keeps track of his escapades and shows me how he gets out and I work on my traps to prevent his escape but so far no luck.
He comes between 10 PM and 4:30 AM so I would have to stay up all night to try to shoot him and I can't do that at this time. I sure wish I had one of my old coon dogs left.
He knows where the triggers are in the 2 coon traps and is very careful not to step on them. I'm sure he knows where the trigger is in the coyote trap but the lure of marshmallows is so great that he goes in and sets the trap off anyway knowing that he can escape after.
I hate to try poisons because we have barn cats to keep the rats down and even though we have them trained not to go in the trap it is a possibility.

Any suggestions?

I have his latest video on Youtube at STC 0142 - YouTube and sorry but the video is a little dark.

 

[GAFarmer2]

Not knowing the law of LA....are snares legal for coon? I have seen them used before with success, as well as conibear traps (like are used for beavers). It may not be pretty, but if he sets that conibear off when he walks through it...he's gone. The trick is getting him set up in a "funnel" where he has to walk through it to get to where he's going. Again, make sure those types are legal before you try 'em...don't need to get arrested over a coon!

 

[wagne223]

Please don't use poison.

Professional trappers use this style leg trap or a snare.
Fleming Dog Proof Raccoon Trap - Brown

You will need to check if they are legal in your area though.

 

[tallyho8]

Since many of my neighbor's dogs and cats frequently visit my barn during the night I would not use a conibear trap. I need to learn a little more about a snare to make sure it is not lethal in case I catch the wrong animal.

 

[wagne223]

Since many of my neighbor's dogs and cats frequently visit my barn during the night I would not use a conibear trap. I need to learn a little more about a snare to make sure it is not lethal in case I catch the wrong animal.

Snares are lethal. Some snares are sold as "live catch" however the animal usually stresses and dies anyway.

 

[bcp]

Instead of getting trapping tips, I think I would work on making the coop more secure.

Bruce

 

[Ford850]

He should not be able to escape the coon traps. I would wrap the bait in wire mesh, and wire it to the trap so he has to wrestle with it enough that he trips the trigger. You can add a loose marshmallow, and tie one in tight, for example. If they are the type that rely on loose rings to slide down (gravity) and lock the door, be sure to add a stake through the trap so it cannot roll over after catching the coon.
On the other hand, if you put enough bait in the coyote trap, he'll be too fat to squeeze out next time.

 

[GAFarmer2]

Since many of my neighbor's dogs and cats frequently visit my barn during the night I would not use a conibear trap. I need to learn a little more about a snare to make sure it is not lethal in case I catch the wrong animal.

I'm with Bruce then. Make the coop and barn more secure. Or, as has been stated, work on making the traps more secure. Though if he is smart, that might just scare him off.

The neighborhood dogs and cats don't give you trouble? I know the ones out here have in the past.

 

[nybirdman]

I have gone to an electric fence around my bird pens;dusk and dawn timer;only on at night.Those cuff traps do work and are safe.

 

[mddorange]

I also use a ten mile electric fence. The lower voltage fences do not work. Also, I buried the chicken wire to stop them from tunneling under.

 

[tallyho8]

It would be impossible to make my barn more secure since this coon can squeeze through a 2 inch opening. Most of my coops are now secure because I had to wrap them with 1/4" hardware cloth since the coon could reach through chicken wire and pull the chickens through a little at a time eating as he goes. My chickens are free range in the day and sometimes one does not return to the coop at night and by morning he is coon feed.
This coon can pierce an egg laying on hardware cloth and stand under the coop catching the drippings. My chickens have a bad habit of laying eggs everywhere.
The neighbors dogs and cats are used to my horses, goats and chickens and do not bother them, not even the chicks, and they also help keep rats out of my barn and the dogs will kill possums but are afraid of the coons.
Lightning has destroyed 2 of my electric fencers in the last year and are impractical to use around here.
I keep a piece of railroad track on top of my coon traps to keep them from turning over but the coon refuses to put his foot on the triggers. He has been partially in the traps before and set them off where the door came down on his back and he was able to back out and is now too smart to trip the coon trap again.

I ordered one of the foot traps but it won't be in till July 22 so I guess I will just feed the coon about $20 more marshmallows till then as I keep reinforcing my coyote trap to keep him in. I fear the coon will chew his leg off before I get to the trap in the morning and if he doesn't die from the loss of his leg I will probably be back on the forum asking how to trap a 3 legged coon. I wish the coon was as easy to catch as the rat snakes. The snakes get through a very small hole into the coop but after they eat a chicken or turkey they can not fit back out the hole and are trapped till I get there in the morning.

 

[GAFarmer2]

That is one heck of a coon.

 

[rekees4300]

Any suggestions?

I've had good luck with those live traps baited with dry dog food.

View attachment 514966

 

[TnAndy]

I've had good luck with those live traps baited with dry dog food.

View attachment 514966

Yep...me too. Mine have the door at each end, which works great. I use tuna fish for bait.

Caught a lot of them with Conibear 220's as well, but they are very indiscriminate if you have pets around.
One night's haul:

 

[billwa]

I had horrible problems with coons over the winter. There were initially seven of them working together. They kept chewing holes through the welded wire around the enclosure. After attempts to trap and staying up all night to shoot them failed, I smartened up and installed a baby monitor in the coop. I put the receiver next to the bed and every time there was a ruckus, I got up grabbed the .22, and shot a raccoon.

 

[wagne223]

Funny thing about this.......trapping wild animals does require skill, however, to me coons are the easiest. I though anyone could trap a coon.

I can say that when it comes to cage traps, the "easy set" ones are no good. You have to use one that has a sprung door on it. Put in a can of cat food and your done. You will catch cats, opossums, and coons though.

 

[tallyho8]

I've had good luck with those live traps baited with dry dog food.

View attachment 514966

I've had great luck with those traps. Last October I caught 23 coon by my barn using that trap. But this coon is now too smart to catch with that trap. I have also caught my cats and chickens in that trap so many times that now they know better than to go into it.

 

[Goose69]

We had somewhat of the same problem lost 3 ducks to something that could squeeze thru a 3" gap that it dug under the door.
.. we made our chicken coop and duck enclosure as secure as possible, digging trenches and filling them with concrete along the walls, pouring concrete pads along the door swing areas, and using hardware cloth over every hole or gap.

.. and installed motion lights that I can monitor from the house. First week, I noticed the lights on, twice, ended up shooting one raccoon, because it kept trying to climb the door, which I hated to do, because we think they are cute..

,, we also seen some foxes, an opossum, and 2 other raccoons, but they seemed to check out the new security measures,
.... then they read the "all intruders will be shot on the spot" warning sign, and went on their way.
... so far it has been working,

OOOOOO, and the other thing, we got a LGD, that stays outside at night, and even tho she is still a puppy, and sleeps in my chair on the front porch, her scent, and presence, seem to have deterred nighttime visitors.

 

[tallyho8]

Last night the coon refused to go in the trap and managed to steal bait from the side. Now I have to put hardware cloth on the side so he will have to go in the trap to get the bait.

STC 0162 - YouTube

 

[Goose69]

Could you get another coon dog that would stand guard at night.??
Of all the things we did, I'm pretty sure the puppy is probably the biggest deterrent.. of course she has led to all types of other issues LOL