Moving a young raccoon

[Sigarms]

Been by myself the last two weeks while the wife is visiting her mom.

Last couple of weeks, found out we have a young raccoon moving from tree to tree in front of the home at night or early morning when I take the dogs out for the first and last time of the day.

Guy is maybe 1.5 times the size of my cat. Not full size, but not small by any means. When I first caught his eyes with the flashlight the other week, at first I thought it might be a possum until I got closer and could tell by the tail it wasn't a possum pretty quick.

Last 14 days I've seen him perhaps 6 times early morning or after hours at night.

Game plan is put the live trap out at night in the front yard, put some cat food in it (make sure I bring the cat in for the night LOL). Check trap around 04:30, and if I catch him, load him in the truck bed and take him for a drive out back where there are some nice gullies that are forested that go down to the creek. Of course leave the trap open for him to get out, come back and pick up the trap.

Only used the trap in the past for dogs and cats for the local humane society. Had to put a couple rabid skunks down, but never had to move any wildlife.

For those who have done this before, assuming my game plan is sound? Figuring it's not rocket science.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

I think racoons have a wide range territory, I'd move further so it doesn't return.
Some states have laws preventing relocating of certain animals, if it matters any to you. Wouldn't bother me.

 

[Sigarms]

I think racoons have a wide range territory, I'd move further so it doesn't return.
Some states have laws preventing relocating of certain animals, if it matters any to you. Wouldn't bother me.

With my dogs (and the neighbors dog who comes over occasionally) I'd probably be doing the young fellow a favor by moving him. Not certain about their range, but for whatever reason, seems to be hanging out in front of the house with all the trees.

Only see him late at night or early morning when there is no light. Leads me to believe non rabid, and he ended up out front some how. If I were to see him during the day, odds are he would be put down.

You made me look. Per law, a trapped raccoon in NC must either be put down or stay on the property where it was found (he'll be let go on my property which a decent distance from any other homes as my home would be the closest if anything). If he doesn't like the gully near the creek in the heavily wooded area, it's up for him where to go after that.

 

[Hay Dude]

Yeah….I’d be moving that raccoon way down the road…..I don’t care what the law says.
They’re nothing but Rabies and trouble in your trash.

 

[Jstpssng]

I'd move him also, but wouldn't be dumping him to be somebody else's problem. That's why I have a box of lead free .22 magnums.

 

[Sigarms]

Never had an issue with wildlife and trash thank God.

In other parts of the world, dogs are the predominant rabies carrier.

Can't blame an animal for getting rabies and wouldn't wish it on anything. Most humane thing to do is put it down before the disease progresses IMO.

That said, animals lack intelligence. My neighbor called animal control to report a rabid fox or something because his dog got into a fight with it. I asked him if his dog ever got his rabies shot. Told me no, and I explained to him what that would mean for his dog. He probably changed the story or told them not to come, but that was more than a couple of years ago and he still hasn't gotten his dog a rabies vaccination.

 

[Sigarms]

I'd move him also, but wouldn't be dumping him to be somebody else's problem. That's why I have a box of lead free .22 magnums.

You know your old when you don't want to kill things if you don't have to (that said, yellow jackets are an exception to that rule of mine).

Animal is showing no unwanted behavior around the house at night, but that's why I'm going to move him. Please note, I'm not dumping him on anyone else's property, but relocating him on my own property but further away from our home and no where closer to anyone else's home.

Any time I've had to dispatch of some wildlife around the house, have always used a 12 gauge.

 

[Hay Dude]

You know your old when you don't want to kill things if you don't have to (that said, yellow jackets are an exception to that rule of mine).

Animal is showing no unwanted behavior around the house at night, but that's why I'm going to move him. Please note, I'm not dumping him on anyone else's property, but relocating him on my own property but further away from our home and no where closer to anyone else's home.

Any time I've had to dispatch of some wildlife around the house, have always used a 12 gauge.

While I appreciate you not dumping him on someone elses property, I don’t care how far you go away on your property, that coon will be back in your back yard the next day, because you fed it.

Take it to a public game land

 

[Spindifferent]

Been there, done that.

You need 5-10 miles distance or you will see it soon again.

Good luck!

 

[Jstpssng]

You know your old when you don't want to kill things if you don't have to (that said, yellow jackets are an exception to that rule of mine).

Animal is showing no unwanted behavior around the house at night, but that's why I'm going to move him. Please note, I'm not dumping him on anyone else's property, but relocating him on my own property but further away from our home and no where closer to anyone else's home.

Any time I've had to dispatch of some wildlife around the house, have always used a 12 gauge.

I don't want to kill things either. The last woodchuck I shot cried like a baby while I went back to the truck for a second bullet to kill it. That's when I switched to the 22 magnum. Yet it's quite likely I had to kill it because somebody else didn't want to, and let it go on "some old back road" instead. I live on that backroad. Over the years I've had woodchucks, dogs, cats, and a rat appear. The first and last don't naturally occur alone.
I have gone to lead free because I leave the animal for something else to eat. There may or may not be any truth to lead fragmentation killing birds but I don't need to risk it.