Raccoon Traps

Raccoon traps are great for solving the problem of that pesky raccoon that keeps getting into your garbage. With a humane, live-capture raccoon trap, you can quickly and easily catch a raccoon, and then relocate them far away from your home and yard.

Live traps are better to use than traps that kill the raccoon for several reasons. Because cats are about the same size as raccoons and many people let their pet cats outside, there is a good chance that you could catch and kill your neighbor’s cat instead. Simply catching and then releasing your neighbor’s cat is preferred by most people to telling your neighbor’s children what really happened to Fluffy. You can find live raccoon traps at most gardening and hardware stores.

The first thing you want to do with your new trap is test it out. Be sure that you know it inside and out, and that it triggers when the mechanism is triggered. You want to be sure that when it does trigger, it closes completely and locks the raccoon inside so that it can’t escape. Raccoons are fairly intelligent, and will get out if they are presented with the opportunity.

Placing your trap is important. You need to place it somewhere that the raccoon frequents, and where it will feel comfortable. If you are near the woods, you can place it just inside the tree line. If the raccoon comes into your garden, you can place it where you typically see the most footprints, or where the most damage is done.

For about three days, leave the trap where you want it, and leave it open. Keep it baited, but don’t set it. Check it every day for activity. This will get the raccoon used to the trap, and it will begin to see the trap as a safe place to easily get food. Because raccoons are not picky, you can use anything as bait, but sweet things like candy or fruits are best. Sweet things will attract a raccoon, but won’t a cat, which reduces your risk of catching a cat instead.

If you are not going to be able to immediately release the raccoon when you catch it, put a dish of water inside, or use a rabbit’s water bottle on the outside. Once you have set your raccoon traps, it is important to check them frequently, so you can get the raccoon released far from your home as quickly as possible.

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If a raccoon has come into your house and is refusing to leave your house then raccoon traps is what you require. A raccoon is basically a mammal that is a native to North America. It is a medium-sized, intelligent and a furry animal. The number of raccoons in urban areas has been increasing. These creatures do whatever they can to get a den like shelter for themselves and their offspring. Though forests and areas near water are their regular habitats, raccoons have the tendency to adapt the environment that they are in very quickly. They have all the capability to harm a person and pet animals though their attacks on humans have been very rare.

To avoid the damage to your yard or your pets or to yourself, it is essential to trap these raccoons if they happen to enter your house. There are several repellents available but the best and the most successful option is to use traps. However, before a raccoon is trapped, it is important to know whether the laws in the area you live allow trapping them or not. Raccoons do not usually get afraid of noise or lights and therefore a trap is considered to be the option. The trap must be placed in such a location where these raccoons frequently visit. These creatures are not particular about their appetite and therefore the bait that is usually placed outside the traps can be just about anything.

There are many pesticides and repellents that are available in the market to capture these raccoons but traps continue to be the most successful weapons to catch these creatures. Apart from using traps, other preventive measures must also be taken. Garbage bins must be sealed properly, pet doors must be locked in the night, holes in the fencing of your house must be repaired and also food must be stored properly inside rather than leaving it open. These measures will not just stop the invasion of raccoons but also other pests and unwanted creatures in your house.

Before trapping a raccoon it is important to see to it that the edges of the trap are smooth in order to protect the animal from injuries. The size of the trap also matters. Raccoons are intelligent and therefore they can identify anything that appears unusual. The trap must be placed in a very careful and smart manner not giving the animal the slightest chance to doubt. Clearly, raccoon traps are undoubtedly the safest and best ways to capture raccoons.

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If raccoons are slinking in through your pet doors, knocking over your garbage cans and upsetting your kitchen for food, then raccoon traps are what you need. Not only are the raccoons bothersome, they are dangerous to your pets and family too, as they transmit rabies and other diseases. In addition to this, repairing the damage caused by them is terribly expensive.

The simplest and most effective way of getting rid of raccoons is by trapping them. A few ‘raccoon facts’ might help make the challenge of eradicating these menaces, simpler.

• Keeping garbage cans sealed, locking pet doors, and repairing holes in the fencing, can eliminate the problem of raccoon infestation.

• Keep food out of sight. Raccoons are not fussy eaters and will scour through your property to eat absolutely anything.

• The best time to catch raccoons is during fall or early spring as they are the most desperate for food at this time. Place the traps cautiously to ensure catching a raccoon and not your neighbor’s cat!

• Raccoons are masters at sniffing their way back into your property. So, once captured, be careful to leave them at least 10 miles away from your home.

There are dozens of variations in raccoon traps, but three of the primary types are Live Cage Traps, Paw Hold Traps and Body Grip Traps

Live Cage Traps

These are easily the best and most humane raccoon traps. They are effective and don’t cause the raccoon undue harm. This rectangular metal cage should be at least 32inches (81.28cms) long and 12 inches high (30.48cms) to ensure the raccoon’s safety and comfort, once inside. Bait is strategically placed at the end of the cage, such that, a lever snaps it shut the minute the raccoon approaches the food. Remember to keep checking the trap to make sure that, if a raccoon is caught, it doesn’t die of dehydration or hunger.

Paw Hold Traps

These raccoon traps are only used by hunters and professional trappers. Paw hold trap contains a clamp that closes over the paw of the raccoon disabling its movement.

Body Grip Traps

These traps are generally used by old fur trappers. Body grip traps are set up at places where raccoons are bound to be like a hole leading to an attic. When triggered, a clamp closes down over the raccoon, usually killing or choking it.

Though, raccoon traps are fairly easy to set up, choosing the right one for the right purpose is a crucial task. But, the end result of a ‘raccoon free’ home is way worth the effort!

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Raccoons are one of nature’s most beautiful animals but can sometimes cause damage, and raccoon traps are needed to eliminate the problem. Different types of traps are used with varying effectiveness depending on the number of raccoons being removed and where they have made their home.

Some trappers still use body grip traps and paw hold traps although they are considered very inhumane. Body grip traps basically work like a very large rattrap that crushes the animal’s neck or spine when tripped. Death is not always immediate, which can be very agonizing for the animal. Paw hold traps work as the name implies, but can have disastrous results if the raccoon tries to chew its way out of the trap. Even if they are able to free themselves, blood loss and infection will often take their toll weeks or even months into the future. Even if the crippled animal initially survives, it will be in a weakened state and be more apt to fall victim to predators or be unable to feed itself properly. Other methods exist to be able to trap raccoons with less stress and pain to the animal even if it is being trapped for its fur.

Most trapping situations are homeowners who wish to remove a troublesome raccoon in their yard or in their home. Basements and attics are favored places for females who are seeking a safe place to raise their young. Trapping the mother is only part of the equation. If the babies are not removed prior to trapping the mother, they often starve and rot in the area they were born in. This attracts other pests and vermin that eat carrion as well as possibly spreading disease, not to mention the impending odor. Trapping any raccoon that is in the vicinity is not guaranteed to solve the problem if it is not the correct raccoon. There are procedures to follow to help rid the homeowner of the problem and reduce stress and suffering on the part of the animals.

When we think of traps we think of bait. Most people’s first instinct for bait is meat. Meat attracts many animals as well as pets. That does not solve the problem and can have unfortunate outcomes. Raccoons are omnivores, meaning they eat a variety of food. Bread, peanut butter, or even marshmallows can be used that will be less likely to draw other animals and pets.

The best method is to find the young and use them as the bait for the mother. The homeowner is more likely to trap the proper animal and rid themselves of the problem without destroying a family unit. Relocated animals should be taken at least five to ten miles [eight to sixteen kilometers] to avoid their return. In most cases it is best to consult a professional to avoid being injured by the young or the mother.

There are many laws governing the trapping of raccoons and some involve euthanizing any trapped animals to avoid the possible spread of disease. Countless animal lovers have ignored these laws but should be aware they exist before using raccoon traps.

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