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Facts
Raccons are a distinctively marked, stocky animal. They have a prominent black mask over their eyes and a heavily furred, ringed tail. Body fur color is a salt and pepper gray and black. Adults are about two to three feet in length, and weigh from 12 to 30 pounds. There are occasional large specimens weighing from 36-38 pounds.
The raccoon lives throughout the United States, with the exeption of higher elevations in mountainous regions and some areas of the arid southwest. They are also common in southern Canada and all of Mexico.
Raccoons are nocturnal, although they are sometimes active during the daytime, especially on cloudy days and in the spring. They usually den up during the winter but will come out during warm periods.
Hollow trees, ground burrows, rock crevices and brush patches are their denning sights in the natural environment.
Raccoons fear nothing and will live close to people. In rural areas raccoons will stay in barns and other outbuildings. In cities, they will live in storm sewers and other subterranean places.
Raccoons are very good climbers and will often be seen high in the branches of a tree on a moonlit night.
Beware of raccoon's temper. They have a nasty disposition when cornered or caged, so do not provoke them.
Raccoons are omnivores, which means they will eat most anything. They are also a very curious animal with an endless appetite. They investigate every smell and every unusual sight for something to eat. In the wild, their favorite foods are nuts, berries, corn, carrion and any animal the raccoon can predate upon. Fish is a favorite of raccoons, so are eggs.
Good baits for raccoons are fish, sardines, herring, crayfish, frogs, or something sweet like honey. Some cage trappers have good luck using sweet rolls for bait. Eggs are a good visual attracter. A piece of bread with peanut butter and honey also works well as a bait. There are commercial baits available, these work well especially if used in combination with some other visual type of a bait.
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Signs
Tracks of the raccoon are very distinctive. They resemble the hand and foot prints of humans. Look for tracks in muddy areas or along travel ways the raccoon is using. Often, the only noticeable sign left by a raccoon is the disturbance they have created. Garbage cans tiped over and garbage strewn about, sweet corn patches stripped of ripe corn, and poultry kills with the dead birds partially eaten near the spot, are some common signs left by nuisance racoons.
Raccoons cause problems in residential areas especially because a house chimney can replace the cavity in a tree that they normally live in. This is a problem because the raccoons can get stuck and when a fire is lit, or a furnace is running, carbon monoxide fumes can back up and suffocate the occupants of the building.
In domestic gardens, raccoons damage far more than they eat. They ransack corn stalks, pull back the husks and eat the ears. Raccoons will break holes in watermelons and scoop out the insides.
When raccoons raid poultry pens, they leave telltale signs that identify them as the perpetrater of the damage. Heads of the birds are usually bitten off and left some distance away from the body. Several birds may be injured or killed by raccoons reaching through the cage wires and attempting to pull them back through the mesh. Eggs may be removed completely from the nest or they may be eaten on the spot. The lines of fracture of eggs broken by raccoons will be along the long axis of the egg and they will often disturb all of the nest.
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Trapping Tips
- Set cage traps for raccoons along their pathways, and near
their living areas.
- In those situations where raccoons are causing problems with
domestic fowls such as chickens, it is best to locate cage traps
directly along the side of the building or pen the raccoon is
raiding.
- In barns, conceal cage traps directly amongst bales, and other agricultural stock.
- To capture raccoons living in chimneys, it is best to devise some way of attaching the cage traps to the top of the chimneys. Then, go inside and drive the raccoon up and into the trap. If attached to the chimney, make sure the trap is stabilized, level, and secure for the trap to work properly.
-With exception of chimney top sets and trail sets, all cage traps must be baited with a good, visible, enticing bait. The odor of the bait is important. The use of a good prepared bait or lure with a strong, sweet smell is recommended.
- Be sure to anchor all raccoon traps securely.