What kind of Wildlife Problems do you have? (Fairfield, Montgomery: gated, subdivision)

[Wilson513]

Raccoons should be trapped and relocated. A very large live cage type trap (sometimes called a "hav-a-hart" trap) should be baited with fried chicken tied to the trigger with wire, or peanut butter spread all over the trigger, and the trap checked every few hours. The raccoon will hurt herself trying to get out of the trap so it is imperative that the trap be checked and the raccoon relocated ASAP. People say that the coons need to be relocated across a body of water so they don't come back. I have done it both ways (sorry HP Country Club) and just don't know if that is true.

I have probably trapped 20 adult raccoons and relocated them. My number two son has chickens in his yard and has my traps which he is using to great advantage. You need the largest cage type trap which is about 23" square opening, if I recall. Its like 23x23x36 or somewhat.

A house raccoon can always be trapped in just a couple of nights unless you have possum that get into the trap first. At my house in HP, I don't think I ever came out in the morning to find the trap empty - either a possum or a raccoon. Cutting the trees back keeps them out of the attic and off the roof. Even though they can climb right up the downspouts or the brick siding, they won't do it more than a couple of times. So, the trees and foundation plantings should be checked.

[tntnb]

I looked out the front door a couple weeks ago and a hawk was sitting on the front porch railing. A few days later, it was up on the tree in our back yard, going after a squirrel. Yesterday, I saw it across the street on the sidewalk, eating what appeared to be a freshly killed squirrel. Maybe we should stop letting the cat go outside....

[tntnb]

Originally Posted by Wilson513

I saw a bunch of sea gulls in the Walmart parking lot last year. Weird. I think its the global cooling we are experiencing. Its going to get a lot worse now that the sun spot activity is way down. Theorists think that the sun spot hiatus is what caused the Little Ice Age.

You know, thanks for posting that about the sea gulls. I could've sworn I saw a couple of gulls last year in a shopping center parking lot somewhere but dismissed it. "Couldn't be," I thought. "Must be some other kind of bird."

[Wilson513]

Originally Posted by tntnb

I looked out the front door a couple weeks ago and a hawk was sitting on the front porch railing. A few days later, it was up on the tree in our back yard, going after a squirrel. Yesterday, I saw it across the street on the sidewalk, eating what appeared to be a freshly killed squirrel. Maybe we should stop letting the cat go outside....

A few years ago I was sure that my siamese got taken by a hawk. He went missing and there was a hawk all over our area. A few days later, the siamese came back. But my cat is now an inside cat.

[wolden]

Originally Posted by Wilson513

A few years ago I was sure that my siamese got taken by a hawk. He went missing and there was a hawk all over our area. A few days later, the siamese came back. But my cat is now an inside cat.

I don't think your average red tail hawk could take my 12-14 pound cat. He's mostly muscle, teeth and claws.

On the other hand 100% indoor cat, because I know coyotes could get him.

[wolden]

Originally Posted by Wilson513

I have probably trapped 20 adult raccoons and relocated them. My number two son has chickens in his yard and has my traps which he is using to great advantage. You need the largest cage type trap which is about 23" square opening, if I recall. Its like 23x23x36 or somewhat.
.

Dang, that takes guts. Some of those raccoons look like they are 25 pounds! I wouldn't want to mess with them. Yikes!

I have used Hav-a-hart cages for mice. I threw them out in the bushes and I'm sure they ignored the stern lectures and came right back inside.

[Sarah Perry]

Originally Posted by Wilson513

Raccoons should be trapped and relocated. A very large live cage type trap (sometimes called a "hav-a-hart" trap) should be baited with fried chicken tied to the trigger with wire, or peanut butter spread all over the trigger, and the trap checked every few hours. The raccoon will hurt herself trying to get out of the trap so it is imperative that the trap be checked and the raccoon relocated ASAP. People say that the coons need to be relocated across a body of water so they don't come back. I have done it both ways (sorry HP Country Club) and just don't know if that is true.

I have probably trapped 20 adult raccoons and relocated them. ..

I know you're the attorney and I'm not, but are you relocating those raccoons under some exception to the statement quoted below? Hubby and I wanted to trap them, too, but several years ago the SPCA told us this same thing.

"Nuisance or sick raccoons may be trapped without a permit, but it is illegal to live trap and relocate them to a new area. In order to prevent the possible spread of raccoon diseases in Ohio, all live trapped raccoons must be released again on the homeowner's property or humanely euthanized. Consult your district wildlife office for further information."

Nuisance Species: How to deal with them

[Sarah Perry]

Originally Posted by wolden

I don't think your average red tail hawk could take my 12-14 pound cat. He's mostly muscle, teeth and claws.

On the other hand 100% indoor cat, because I know coyotes could get him.

We've tried to strike a compromise, since our pampered housecats obviously love going outside, too. They spend a couple hours in the woods behind the house every morning, but they only get fed after they come back in. And they do come in, consistently and dependably. Anyone who says you can't train a cat just hasn't observed cat psychology closely enough. They love routine, and they love tasty treats.

Yes, this is not completely without risk, but it seems like a reasonable tradeoff to us.

[wolden]

Originally Posted by Sarah Perry

We've tried to strike a compromise, since our pampered housecats obviously love going outside, too. They spend a couple hours in the woods behind the house every morning, but they only get fed after they come back in. And they do come in, consistently and dependably. Anyone who says you can't train a cat just hasn't observed cat psychology closely enough. They love routine, and they love tasty treats.

Yes, this is not completely without risk, but it seems like a reasonable tradeoff to us.

They just get in too much trouble. They can quickly get in a fight with another cat (leading to abscesses), or get stuck in a hole, or up a tree. Or, they get ticks or other bugs. Not to mention dogs, coyotes and, worse of all, cars and humans!

But it sounds like you keep pretty good watch on them

[Crew Chief]

We live up here in the wilds of Southern Montgomery Co. and our home backs up to a nature preserve. We have deer or an occasional possum stroll through the yard.

Leaving the house for work at 10 p.m. one night, I had just turned onto the main road from our subdivision. I encountered three deer. The first two grazed the front of my pickup truck. The last one slammed square into my driver's side door. Fortunately, he didn't break through the window. But he did have a "paned' look on his face...

Our cat, Lord Byron, oversees his domain solely from the comfort of the house.