Raccoons!

[WayneB]

I have had problems with coons, but not on a grand scale like you are talking. We have a few acres of gardens and I have found where I have the sweet corn if I place a few small lights (talking 25 watt light bulbs) on about 8 to 10 foot poles these little lights will keep the coons out.

Been doing this for a number of years now and we get to eat most of the corn. Can't say it will work for everyone, but it has for us. I use a day/night sensor and the lights come on at dust and go off at daylight.

One year we had a rainstorm and one of the light bulbs burnt out. The very next morning I noticed the coons had gotten into the corn and ate a whole bunch right beneath where that light bulb mounted.

This year we had some Silver Queen left in the field and I decided to heck with it and took down the lights. Not sure how long it took but the corn was eaten. Now this could have been coons, deer, turkeys as I am not sure just when it took place.

I tired electric fences, staying up to hunt them, placing fake snakes around the field, nothing seemed to work at all as the coons would come and hit the sweet corn about two days before it was ready to eat. At least now I am able to eat corn every year.

 

[mbohuntr]

They make very small traps that fit in a small (1") hole. Dogs likely can't get their paw into it, and if you use marshmallows, cats won't bother. they stick their paw in and like a chinese finger puzzle, can't get it out. Called coon cuffs, or egg traps I think. very pet safe. they will breed every year, but a trapper will also give you $$$ for the coons. everyone wins 'cept the coons.

 

[6string]

Back in 1977,coon hunting got very popular in our area. There was a local fur trader that paid pretty good price for hides. The price went up to $10 a hide and everybody and his bubba got in on the action and wiped out the coon population. The fur trader went out of business because of th anti-fur movement. So the coon population is now flourishing once again. I used to tag along with my neighbors when they would go hunting, be out at 3AM freezing your buttoff. It was fun though, they were/are Bigfoot believers and they would tell some whoppers about the "thing" they heard or saw lurking in the corner of a field late at night. Yeah, they are called cows!

 

[meadowlarkponds]

I hate trapping coons but its about the only way I have found to deal with them. Unlike others, I've found that trapping and killing them does indeed reduce their numbers and nuisance effect on my property.

In my case, I believe that the presence of traps actually becomes a coon deterrent after awhile. They learn to avoid the areas where the traps are located and that can really work to my advantage. I'd much rather them avoid than me have to dispose of them.

 

[AaronP]

Those cuffs sound interesting.

That trap detterent sounds like a good plan, I will give it a try...however I think the draw of a garden will help the coons overcome their fear of the traps.

 

[schmism]

i trapped and shot about 6 coons at my place that were getting in the barn and messing with the cat food.

after those 6 no real issues.

the problem can be effectively dealt with in such a manner given enough time.