What animal is pooping on my stuff???

[MarkLeininger]

Mossroad I hear you. We've probably got $1000 invested in protecting chickens that we got for free and don't produce but a dollar's worth of eggs a week. And they wake us up at 4:30 in the morning. The horses are another brilliant investment. They cost us a couple thousand dollars a year, and do absolutely nothing. You don't want me for an investment counselor.

I always wondered how the solar chargers work. We don't actually use wire, we use that rope that has wire filament embedded in it. It's easier for horses, humans and idiot snowmobilers to see, and it doesn't look so junky because it's white. Seems to give as big a shock as best as I can determine after touching both.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="green"> Seems to give as big a shock as best as I can determine after touching both. </font>


And why would you do that? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif But I do admit to licking the top contacts of 9-volt batteries when I was a kid. And I wanted to try one of those "shock" collars for dogs, but the lovely Mrs_Bob wouldn't let me.

 

[beenthere]

Bob
What is the poison that you use? Available over the counter?

How quick does it work on a racoon?

I'm interested in that method, albeit with my present method, I control and know where they are buried, and qm not stumbling onto a two to three day old carcass in warm weather on the edge of my lawn that I have to quickly bury. Whew!

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Via PM I was directed to a poison that is available at TSC, I looked up TSCs website and found the poison, went to the local Home Depot and found a different brand using the same poision. They actually had a couple different brands, so I checked the strength and bought the one with the highest concentration of poison in it. It is a rat poison.

Supposedly it takes a couple days to kill. It gives warning on it that it will kill raccoons, possums, dogs, etc.

I did try to take care to place it in areas that would limit the exposure to non-target animals, but any animal that can climb a tree and eat could get to any of the bait stations I placed.

 

[slowrev]

I use about 6 strands of high tensile wire with a low impedance charger. I haven't seen anything yet that wants to argue with it.

Had a 4 wheller(deliberate mispell) run into a section of it last year. Heard a crash and a scream, went over to find a banged up 4 wheller and his broken toy. He got real aggrivated that someone would put up a fence to get in his way and threatened to sue. I had fence properly marked as electrified and No trespassing signs posted a proper intervals. His lawyer called, I invited him over to survey the scene, never heard anything else. Some country lawyers have a little sense.

Fence survived fine /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[MossRoad]

<font color="blue"> And why would you do that? </font>

I'm a curious cuss... so I grabbed it. Just a little shock. Nothing like I expected. I've had worse static shocks on carpet. So I kicked off my sandal, put my foot on the grass and grabbed it again.

BZZZZTTT!!! Up through my right arm, down through my right side and right out my right foot.

YEOWYOWYOWYOWYYY /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I liked it so I did it again.

YEOWYOWYOWYOWYYY /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

One more time!

YEOWYOWYOWYOWYYY /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Take that Mr. Woodchuck!

But I will not do it again. Once was thrill enough. The real reason I did it was to make sure my kids could survive it. They easily could. From what I have read, mine is a very weak charger and the one's for horses and livestock are much more powerful. But it has done an excellent job of keeping out rabbits and woodchucks.

Poisons have always made me nervous. I think the most humane way to dispatch an animal is with a well placed bullet or very strong trap. Much faster than drowning or poisons. I have a personal fear of drowning, as I had to overcome a huge fear of it as a child. Several close calls. Funny, I went on to become a lifeguard and WSI. Only problem with bullets is they can travel increadible distances, as you already know. Perhaps a shotgun would be better. But for racoons, you'd be out all night chasing them around with flashlights, dogs, etc... Is there a local racoon hunting club around you? There are a few around here. But then you run into liability issues. YIKES!

Sounds like you have a large population of critters there. Best wishes on thinning them out. Sometimes it just has to be done. Sad but true. Just ask me about our mole problems. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="red"> Poisons have always made me nervous. </font>

Me too. To the point that I am not a big fan of simple things like Weed & Feed because we almost killed a large dog by using that stuff as per the manufacturers recommended dose! However, I also think that while a bullet is the most humane choice, it is not often the most practical choice. Land covenants permit me to control pests, but not to hunt, so bringing in the hunt club is not an option but sitting up all night with a gun and a mag light is an option. I prefer to spend my nights in bed asleep so I am opting for poison and taking what precautions I can to limit the exposure to the target animals. Everything is a trade off in life, this is one of those.

 

[Freds]

Make sure you tell the squirrels and other climbing critters (that will no doubt be drawn to the rat poison) to die somewhere that dogs and other none target animals can't get to them.

Seriously, you may want to let neighbors in a large radius know what kind of poison you are using in case their pet gets suddenly sick, possibly from eating something you poisoned, but chose to die on their property. Knowing the poison affecting an animal can mean life or death in getting prompt treatment.

My vote is for the live traps, but then I'd like to see how many I could catch. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Fred, you made some really good points and I will mention to the neighbors that I am using poison. But, dogs are not allowed to run unattended in the neighborhood, and I don't know of any that do. My dogs are not even allowed near the area that I baited unless they are with me, and I plan to remove any remaining bait this weekend. The farmer up the road has one that walks the road when people walk the road, but he stays on the road and generally near the farmers house, which is about 2/3ds of a mile away. Any cats that roam the area are wild, while they keep the mouse population down, they kill the pheasants, woodcock and other ground nesters, so if they die in the process I won't be too upset about it.

When I checked the bait stations today, some were disturbed with the bait completely eaten, and some were totally undisturbed. I replaced the bait that was gone and moved some of the undisturbed bait stations.

 

[GRUMPA]

Bob this may be on the late side but my uncle lives in Co. and used to have the same problem. He would just nail a cut in half aluminum can (bottom half of course) to a tree and fill it with anti-freeze. Shortly afterwards there wasent a problem. Seems anti-freeze and animals dont mix, works wonders on cats as well.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Antifreeze is an amazing poison. Smells sweet, doesn't degrade quickly, attracts all sorts of animals, and a small amount of it is leathal as it only takes about a teaspoon to kill a dog the size of a German Shepard. And because it is such a good poison, I won't use it to load the wheels of the tractor! I admit I didn't think of using it on raccoons.

 

[Junkman]

If you remember what happened to your dog, you will realize what will happen to any animal that eats the poison that you have put out. Mice are also attracted to the poisons, but unlike usual mouse poisons, what you have put out will also kill a cat that eats that poisoned mouse. I have seen the effects of poison first hand as an EMT. It is a slow and painful death many times. The poisons that are used for mice and rats isn't nearly as deadly and kills by causing their blood not to coagulate when they squeeze through holes and the body is bruised. The poison that you are using causes their intestines to literally burn up.
I was hesitant to post this, but I believe that everyone should know what possible perils there are in using poisons. There is no such thing as a safe poison. My neighbor died last summer as a result of accidental poisoning. The wrong poison was used to control mice in the horse barn. Even though they gave her a liver and kidney transplant, she died about 10 days later. The good part was that she was drugged enough that she didn't feel the physical pain. I hope that no one pet or child is injured by your use of poison.

 

[RSKY]

Be very careful with poison, it is indiscriminate in what it kills.

A friend of mine was having trouble with dogs or coyotes killing his goats. He took a carcass and baited it with poison somebody had given him. They had told him it was "illegal but good stuff". I don't remember what it was, silver something or the other I believe, but I am not really sure. Anyway he left the baited carcass in a clearing at the back side of his farm. When he went back a few days later he found dead coyotes, dead dogs, dead coons, dead possums, and even a coupe of dead buzzards. He had to hire someone with a backhoe to come out and bury all the carcasses before he got in trouble with the game wardens.

Be careful with poison.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Junkman & RSKY, I think that I am being as safe with the poisons as I can be. I am actually glad both of you posted what you did becuase I think a lot of people take a lot less care with poisons that I do. I hate having them around, I don't even like anti-freeze or fertilizers in the garage.

I know they are a calculated risk and that they will kill non-target animals as well as target animals. I don't like poisons, but felt that given my situation, it was the most viable option I have. Because it is a nondiscrimate killer I took extra care in placing my bait stations so that very few animals could get to them, but I know that scavenger animals can be affected by eating the carcass of a poisoned animal.

My bait stations are all elevated, all are secured so they can't be knocked down and are reachable only by animals that can climb trees. I know that can include cats, squirrels, and possums in addition to the offending raccoons. I am planning on removing all the bait stations and any remaining bait early Saturday morning.

 

[MossRoad]

Bob,
I'm glad you are taking this seriously and are being very careful. I am also glad that everyone has taken this opportunity to share knowledge about poisons without attacking each other. A good exchange of information. Well done TBN membership.

 

[dixiedrifter]

While we are on the subject of using poisons, has anyone treated their sweet corn seed with warbex grub killer to poison crows?

 

[Junkman]

How did this work?? Update please.... thanks...

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="red"> How did this work?? Update please.... thanks...
</font>


.223, flash supressor, 30 round magazine, Mag-Lite. . . need I elaborate?

I think there were A LOT of them pooping on my stuff. Sort of a raccoon convention and/or family reunion in my valley. There are fewer now.

 

[beenthere]

Ohh!
Are you saying the poison didn't work? Or that you needed to resort to two lines of defense (or is it offense?). Either/or, glad to hear you are having some success.

The last 13 days, my live trap has taken a coon every other night without being baited at all. Just curiosity finds them in there. I am getting tired of burying them but guess that there are a lot of them around, so will do my part to thin them out. Have been interested in your poison technique, but haven't tried that yet.
I am trying to cultivate a group of fox squirrels, that seem to be making some inroads on the smaller grey squirrel population. So have been thinning out the grey's a bit, and nurturing the fox species.

 

[roho]

Hew Beenthere, I'm not againist clubin a few baby seal for a nice fur coat but sure seem like U'r missing the boat on killing the coons! I know down here in Xas we dance to a different fiddler but see if U can find a fish market to sell them to, alive! I know of a few that dress them & sell for food! Only thing is game/trapping laws need to be observed! But sound like U got a pretty big population of them & is a shame to have to kill & not get some use! & let me know how U'r fox squirrel vs grey squirrel battle ends up! seems like grays win out down here & fox move out! those little creators are hard to get rid of!