Get rid of raccoon, and being pet friendly? (bug, dog, chicken)

[djf863000]

I would like to know if there is a safe way to get rid of a raccoon, that comes in the house and steal cat food.

Every year around this time, for now the 3rd year in a row, a big raccoon comes in the house through the cat door. I am surprise that thing can even fit through it. I don't know if it is the same one, cause the last one I really scare that one off, that i didn't see him around anymore after that, until now. The cats use the cat door to go out when i am not around, so I can't close it. I am not often around, cause I am a very busy person. So I am only home for only a few hours a day, to sleep or rest.

I don't want to put poison, cause i have cats and there are a number of pets in the neighborhood. Same reason for traps.

What I can I do? I live in an area where it is common to see wild animals in the neighborhood.

[krakenten]

The raccoon is not a pet!

I like raccoons, my late wife and I fed a small family of them for years.

But they stayed outside(the greyhounds quickly decided they were family, and stopped barking at them).

Call animal control, raccoons can be very destructive-they quickly discover where the food is, and they aren't neat about getting.

They may also harm your cats.

Not to mention the danger of rabies.

If this is a big 'coon, it's likely a boar, and a boar 'coon is nearly as dangerous as a small bear.

Try to have him relocated far, far away!

[Janecj]

I don't know how you can get rid of a raccoon, but they do make cat doors that have a magnetic latch/mechanism that only opens for animals that have collars on them. Not really sure if it is magnetic or not.. could be a a radio frequency.

Here's a link to a cat door.. http://www.moorepet-petdoors.com/Cat...catwalkmag.htm

[riveree]

My in-laws had this going on and I found it scary.

Their cats would hang back and let the raccoons eat the cat food, so no fights ever happened, but the raccoons were coming into the garage, much like your house.

Personally, that would be the end of the cat door for me. I don't know of any way to deter a raccoon - they're pretty determined and clever animals. I think you need to cut off their food source by closing up the cat door.

[krakenten]

One way that might help is to put some cat food away from the house-the raccoon will eat it, and not risk entering your home.

Maybe.

The native Americans called the raccoon, "little man of the woods''and respected him-I think they fill a similar niche to monkeys, elsewhere.

They make good wild friends-but not house pets-and a certain distance is essential.

[leorah]

My father was a wildlife rehabilitator, and I had a pet raccoon growing up. Take it from me, there's not much that can deter a determined raccoon! Even though they don't have opposable digits they can manipulate objects very well, and they seem to have very sensitive "fingertips" that help them distinguish between things. Sometimes it seems as if they figure things out be feel rather than vision. Sam was almost 35 pounds and he could open the cupboards and the linen closet, turn on water faucets and lift the lid of the clothes hamper for example. Oh, and he was VERY motivated by food. I think you may need to eliminate the cat door.

[littlelou]

my mom had a feral cat colony she was feeding for awhile and 3 coons joined in, My dad had made some feeding trays out of trim wood and screening and there was always cat food in them. At one time she had 24 cats and 3 coons 'for dinner" the cats learned to bang on the metal section of the back door and someone would come to see what happened, usually it was "need food please" well darned if the coons didn't learn the trick...they'd bang and step back, not the least bit scared of us, wait til the food was down and we'd gone back in and then eat. I was home at Thanksgiving 3 years ago and heard the banging, went to fill the "dishes" and the coon was pissed off, there was a possum eating out of "their" dish. the cats 3 or 4 at that time, had no idea what that was, and were looking like "make him go away" the coon was just plain pissed. I grabbed the broom and banged it on the deck, the possum looked at me and I said "scoot' and he started to leave, so I banged the deck again and he was gone. turned around and the coon and cats were eating. All was fine.

the funny thing was, it didin't matter who came out the door with food, they just stepped back and waited....

[AZRiverRat]

Contact your local animal control, or fish and game. Our AC has traps they will loan out. We had a skunk problem a few years back. The traps are spring loaded. You place an open can of cat food inside and when the animal goes in, it trips the trap.....Usually LOL

Our particular skunk family was very smart. They would reach thru the cage wire and get the food out of the cans without being caught!

Maybe put the trap right inside your door where the dog door is. You can cover the cage with a blanket. Fish and game will probably come pick it up and relocate it for you.

Good luck with your little bandits! I used to fish on the river at night, and the racoons would steal my fish right off the stringer.....Brave little buggers!

[grannynancy]

I agree with the trap inside the door and put up your cats until it is caught - I had a friend who trappped many raccons [who were killing and eating her chickens - actually we think the raccoons killed them, the foxes killed and ate them - She shot her racoons but I am sure you could have it hauled off. Racoons LOVE canned cat food.

Even if you discount the damange they can do, they can carry Rabies for a long time without symptoms and also distemper. A raccon could also kill at cat if so inclined

[AaronK]

Raccoons are dangerous to people as well. Not just because of rabies, but they could probably rip your face off if they wanted too. I'd be more scared of a raccoon than a coyote or wolf.