Racoons

[maximumangel]

Anyone have racoon problems in their barns? I have one, I was moving and counting my hay and of course noticed that she pooped on an end of a bale .. and wow big poop! Anyhow after moving more hay up front I heard noise and low and behold babies! Well after moving all my hay around I decided to put them in a box and sent them off to a wildlife rehab place (because I'm sorry but I dont want them in my hay, plus more of a problem). Good healthy babies problem 2-3 wks old, eyes still closed. Does anyone know of a good way to keep them out? Esp of my hay?

Thanks!
Christine

[ttjab3]

I can't help ya out but I just wanted to say good luck!! They can be a pest!!
We had baby racoons once for about 2 days (my husband was doing lawn work for some people and found them with their mommy in a shed and he had to trap them but the mommy ran off and never came back, but he was able to get the babies and we feed them from bottles and then he had a friend with a big farm and land that he brought them too and released them. They were so cute, but noisy!!)

Take care,
God Bless,
Tari

[fletcher]

we dont get racoons over here in england, we have plenty of rats though.

[msdaisy]

Hey there,
I am no expert, but I might suggest that you set a "Live" trap to catch the mother. If her babies are gone she will come looking for them. She will end up having more babies in the future so you will be dealing with 'her" again. Put some fish or chicken in the live trap and you should be able to catch her no problem. However, you must check this trap daily as you just may catch your cat too!! But because it is a live trap you will not hurt anything. Once you have her send her off to the Wildlife rehab with her babies.

They are pretty territorial so you may be lucky, but once you have the Mom keep the live trap up for a few days and see if there are any other takers!!

Just my Opionion. I have had to do this to keep Mama and Babies out of my chicken coop. Caught them and drove them out to the forrest and released them. Problem solved......Of course until the next ones move in ..... But none so far and it has been since last year.
Dee

[merlinsmomtwh]

No racoons, but SKUNKS! We borrowed traps from the humane society and caught them and they came and picked them up.

[Marion]

When we had chickens we had lots and lots of raccoons. One thing that worked for us is music. They don't like to come around sounds and lights.
We have to watch our hay for possiums because that is how our stallion got EPM.

[msdaisy]

The radio works great!! We had it on a talk station. We had crows and mink trying to steal the eggs. (and chicks and chickens) So yeah..the radio works for all sorts. And the chickens seemd to like it too!