We've been ousted from our yard by 2 racoons

[yorkiemini]

Have a gadget that has an electric eye that sprays water when it is triggered. I used it to keep the cats from using my new mulch as a litter box. Works great!

[dawn27]

Originally Posted by yorkiemini

Have a gadget that has an electric eye that sprays water when it is triggered. I used it to keep the cats from using my new mulch as a litter box. Works great!

Yea, Me too its called my HOSE !


But that sounds like an interesting little gadget . .

[SWHouston]

I have a 12"x 36" Have-A-Heart Trap. Relocating them is really the best way. Here's a link to the ones they recommend for raccoons.
Humane Raccoon Traps| Havahart Live Cage Traps for a Coon

[SWHouston]

I have a 18"x 36" Have-A-Heart Trap. Relocating them is really the best way. Here's a link to the ones they recommend for raccoons.
Humane Raccoon Traps| Havahart Live Cage Traps for a Coon
(right side of page)

[Wallee]

Wow...thanks for all the great ideas everyone. For sure Wallee is never allowed out in the yard before I go out and check for them. Thankfully he is pee pad trained as well which really limits our trips out back. The only thing he really wants out for is to poo so if they are out there we have been walking...but it is so dang cold out now I hate walking at night. ...lol..weird thing is that this tree is not that big..no more than a few inches higher than the house...I am sure they are there for the cherries...I was saying to my hubby tonight, who knows, maybe they come here ever year but we never notice cause we have only had Wallee just over a year and last year he would go on his pads after dark...uggh..either way... I will keep my eye on them and see what is going on...I dont think our animal control here will rehome them unless they are in your home or garage...they would just tell me to ignore them in my tree.

[gracielove]

I basically live in a forest so we have all kinds of woodland creatures in the backyard. The Racoons don't hibernate but when it gets really cold they will burrow into a den and sleep a lot more. When it warms up they will go out and look for food.

I feed feral cats until I can capture them and get them spayed or neutered so we once had a feeding station on my patio. We had to stop the night feeding because we had skunks, opossums, raccoons and Porcupines on my patio pigging out at night. I remember seeing one of the feral cats being quite upset at the racoons and she would swat them from behind but the coons never as much as batted an eye. Turning on the outside light does nothing.

Usually Racoons will try to camp near a food supply so make sure your garbage is well secured against attack and your neighbors, too. Anything that they would consider a food supply or a burrow needs to be disposed of.

I would never let Gracie outside without a leash where I live and I never walk her at night. I made sure she kept her potty pads for indoor use during inclement weather as well as because of our wild animal population. We have foxes, bears and the occasional bobcat around here, not to mention the owls and hawks.

[Wallee]

Originally Posted by gracielove

I basically live in a forest so we have all kinds of woodland creatures in the backyard. The Racoons don't hibernate but when it gets really cold they will burrow into a den and sleep a lot more. When it warms up they will go out and look for food.

I feed feral cats until I can capture them and get them spayed or neutered so we once had a feeding station on my patio. We had to stop the night feeding because we had skunks, opossums, raccoons and Porcupines on my patio pigging out at night. I remember seeing one of the feral cats being quite upset at the racoons and she would swat them from behind but the coons never as much as batted an eye. Turning on the outside light does nothing.

Usually Racoons will try to camp near a food supply so make sure your garbage is well secured against attack and your neighbors, too. Anything that they would consider a food supply or a burrow needs to be disposed of.

I would never let Gracie outside without a leash where I live and I never walk her at night. I made sure she kept her potty pads for indoor use during inclement weather as well as because of our wild animal population. We have foxes, bears and the occasional bobcat around here, not to mention the owls and hawks.

Yikes. We have coyotes in the forest accross the street from us so we never go near there unless it is sunny in the summer and then, ony on leash on the sidewalk near the forest. Wallee is "never" outside without adult supervision and until those guys are no longer in that tree, no backyard use after dark. No one here has any garbage outside thank goodness as everyone knows that living near the forest brings lots of wildlife. Our yard is fence but even mr skunk was visiting at night in the summer digging grubs from our back yard. ugggh.....

[dawn27]

How close is that tree to your house ?


Im wondering how often they are there and if you hear any odd noises around your house?


Do you think that they could be living under your house and possibly getting on your roof ?


Its definitely something you might want to check out !!

[capt_noonie]

Clever little raccoon walking across some phone wires - YouTube

[capt_noonie]

Watch this one to the end.
Raccoon eating cats' food (Original) - YouTube

[Wallee]

The tree branches reach our roof. I think the coons could possibly live under one our neighbors sheds. I know about them eating cats..disgusting. Another reason Wallee is not allowed out back by himself. Our yard is pretty small but we also have a large pine tree there as do many of the neighbors. We personally would chop both the trees down but we only rent the house so dont think our landlord would approve. We have cement basements here and there is a tennant in the basement apartment below us so they won't get into our house unless they manage to get in through the roof. the roof was just done a couple years ago so dont think there has been any evidence of them getting in as of yet. I think I am more scared of them than they are of me though..lol

[gracielove]

I was just wondering.....are these Racoons up in the tree or are they borrowing insome part of the tree? Racoons don't usually go up into trees very far unless they have been chased up one so I guess I can't really picture them hanging around in a tree unless they have decided to make some kind of a home inside the tree. They usually do that kind of thing in a hole near the bottom of the tree or a rotted part a little further up.

If they are up in the tree could it be that a neighborhood dog be chasing them up the tree? I guess my only other idea would be that they have someone's attic staked out for entry.

[Wallee]

They are hanging out in the tree.it isn't a very big tree.The trunk is only about 10 inches around. I am pretty sure they are coming to eat the cherries. The branches at the top are weak and can't support their weight.

[gracielove]

Originally Posted by Wallee

They are hanging out in the tree.it isn't a very big tree.The trunk is only about 10 inches around. I am pretty sure they are coming to eat the cherries. The branches at the top are weak and can't support their weight.

Oh, well that makes sense. If the tree still has some fruit they are going to be trying to get it, especially at night time since they are nocturnal creatures.