Raccoon and/or Possum Problems? (Elmendorf: fit in, house, buy)

[fierce_flawless]

Geez, I live 2 miles from downtown!!!

We have a raccoon that comes up on the front porch to get the cat's food and it is the size of a toddler! It also doesn't seem frightened when I go outside.. it will only run away if I let my dog see it and then she starts barking and it runs off.

Then we have seen a mama possum running across the driveway (from our house to the neighbors) and a baby up on the porch... the cats didn't bother it at all thank goodness.

I know they're after the cat food but I can't remedy that because we have one cat who will NOT come inside.

I'm just wondering if anyone else has these kinds of problems?

[googie2525]

Funny thing, but I JUST finished my nightly "battle" with our gang of raccoons again - a mere five minutes ago.

I live around the Hildebrand/Burr Road area (very close to downtown as well, but heavily wooded) and am having hellacious Raccon problems, and Mama Racoon is ENORMOUS!

AND she just had 5 baby racoons. Problem is, we feed several stray/feral cats (well, like eight, BUT we practice TNR, so we spay and/or neuter them to control the poulation, so I'm not one of those nutzoid cat-hoarder types.)

Anyway, these dang racoons come every night, dirty up the poor cats' water, eat their food, while the poor cats watch helplessly keeping their distance. I tried at first, upon several suggestions, to start feeding the cats in the day (Racoons never come out during dalylight hours evidently), but as cats are nocturnal, several of our "customers" who insist on dinner after 9:00PM have a tough time getting their suppers. Three of the cats have finally gotten used to the daytime schedule.

Anyway, the racoons exhibit absolutely NO fear of me (I actually learned they're in the BEAR FAMILY and will attack if their young is with them!). So, this is what I've doing: filling plastic squirt bottles with pure bleach, and spraying them in the eyes. I know, I know, it seems inhumane, but I just hate them and their pushy attitude. It seems to bother them for about 30 minutes, then back again.

I'm at wits end here. I'd like to trap them and drop them off in Elmendorf or somewhere remote, but I'm afraid Mama will go nuts if one of her kids gets trapped in the cage and go into attack mode on me as I gather up baby-in-a cage.

My neigbnor suggested I buy a high-powered pellet gun and kill them, but I don't have the heart to go to that extreme.

As for the possums, I find them almost comical, and the cats and the possums seem to get along quite well, so they're okay in my book. Pitiful looking creatures, I almost feel sorry for 'em.

Any suggestions anyone?

[ShaneSA]

I live near downtown also. Last night I was sitting by the pool and saw a HUGE owl sitting on the wires that run across the back. We stared at each other for awhile, then the owl went back to hunting. He sat there for about 20 minutes and then swooped down and came up with an opposum..at least I think it was. It was his dinner. I haven't seen him before and will watch for him to come back.
Maybe get an owl. Do they eat raccoon?
With this drought, the feral animals are getting braver to find food and or water.
I think we invaded thier territory so they should be respected. I have had opposums trapped and relocated when they got under the house and were causing problems. Other than that, I let them live and let live. Maybe a professional can trap them and relocate them for you.

[TXtrkgrl]

You can get a havahart trap. Check out their website:
Havahart® Animal Traps, Animal Repellents and Pet Supplies

Click on "animal repellents" then "racoon", they have something called critter ridder. You can probably buy it at a feedstore for much cheaper than this website but at least you can get some ideas.

Good luck~

[dhayes88]

Roflmaooooo dude last night there was this giant raccoon atop the garbage container, it freaked the woots out of me, at first I thought it was a cat as it climbed up the container then it turned back and kept staring at me.. boooo. as long as they won't come kill me I'll leave them alone, after all we all have the same rights.

[firstclassflyer]

Raccoon= very nasty when cornered.

[googie2525]

My problem with the repellent is that they seem to repel EVERYTHING (cats, opossums, raccoons, rats, etc.), and I don't want to run off the feral and semi-feral cats that we feed nightly (the rats are okey-dokey though).

I already have two Havahart traps for the cats to have fixed, etc, but I read that trapping raccoons in cages by non-pros can be a VERY dangerous proposition (say you catch the baby, and Mama sees this, you have a BIG problem + Mama is SO big she wouldn't fit in my trap). Raccoons can get really nasty and you really would be wise not to confront one (they can kill a human if cornered or threatened or fell that their children are in danger - I know, it seems ridiculous that a raccoon can kill a person, but it's happened before, do a Google on it).

I guess I'll have to call in an expert trapper (I've been recommended to use one local company - Five Star Wildlife & Pest). Think I'll give them a call today and see what they have to say on pricing, the process, etc.

As for that owl, I think owls are amazing creatures and all, but if the owl came by my pad and scooped up one of my feral cats, I would be utterly devastated.

And yeah, I've always gone by the live and let live ideal, but I really fear for the cats' safety regarding the (rocky) raccoons...man, those cats know a real sucker when they see one.

[Chaka]

No raccoons but we did have an oppossum in our old house. It had made it's way under, then widened a small hole in the floor (I didn't know the hole was there before). One morning I awoke to a loud crash in the bathroom and some scurrying. I thought it was just a rat, then I found the hole. Then after we closed it up, saw a sad little opposum sitting on the back porch staring longing at the house. We had a few around there, but I haven't seen any at this house, which is just around the corner.

[Bo]

It's really tough to selectively feed critters here. We used to throw stale bread in the yard for the birds, until we figured out that the raccoons and skunks were coming into the yard to enjoy it, too!

[Ray Stout]

you can get these at Lockhill feed and supply on Huebner

Originally Posted by TXtrkgrl

You can get a havahart trap. Check out their website:
Havahart® Animal Traps, Animal Repellents and Pet Supplies

Click on "animal repellents" then "racoon", they have something called critter ridder. You can probably buy it at a feedstore for much cheaper than this website but at least you can get some ideas.

Good luck~