BS: Getting rid of a raccon in the roof.

Subject: BS: Getting rid of a raccon in the roof.
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 01:41 PM

last friday evening a flash of light alerted us to a problem.
I thought maybe it was lightning or fireworks outside, but then I noticed a circuit breaker had tripped.

In the morning we heard some critter scurrying about in the walls
(there is a small mini roof on the front of the house as well as space
under the roof - beside the bedroom walls)

We have seen squirrels on that area of the roof - so figured a squirrel may have chewed through the wiring in the walls.

Later that day we found a hole in the roof at the foot of the valley
that had obviously been fixed before. Well I patched it up with some galvanized wire mesh, aluminum plates, wood and asphalt shingles so that it was nice and secure... ANd then we set about to cut some holes in the walls to get at the wiring, and luckily we found the right place where there was a lot of chewed up wiring..

It was while checking the wiring I tugged at it a little bit and suddenly saw a familiar shadow moving about in the roof. The raccoon was still in the house and was trying to get out through the hole I had patched up. (I know, I should have made sure whatever was in got out first but I did buy a squirrel trap - originally thinking it was a squirrel. )

So the raccoon came out of the hole in our bedroom and tried to escape out of our room eventually going out the open window. And it spent a lot of time going around the roof and didnt want to leave, which made me wonder whether there are any kits around.

So last night before going to sleep we listened for any noises in the walls, but didnt notice anything.

Of course now the plan is to try to prevent it. I suspect they are attracted to our house since we have a
garden, grapevines, fig tree etc. I used to put fish in a little pond but after I realized I was just feeding raccoons I stopped.

Ive heard putting a strobe light in the attic or the space they live
makes it unattractive for them and they move on. Ive also heard fox or coyote urine? Cant imagine where Id get that. Mothballs, pepper spray?

any suggestions would be welcome,
(and youre not allowed to poison or shoot them within city limits - not that I was planning either)
what is the season that Raccons have babies? spring early summer?

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccon in the roof.
From: heric
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 04:14 PM

Mothballs worked for me. (AFTER the bugger had torn wood shingles off the roof to get in.)

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccoon in the roof.
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 04:20 PM

Mothballs aren't good for anybody or anything. They should be outlawed. You'll nuke yourself next time you have to go in the attic if you use them.

If you want to put something up there, try dried hot peppers. That repels a lot of stuff and isn't toxic.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccon in the roof.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 04:20 PM

Raccoons as you're probably learning are very clever beasts, and quite ferocious when cornered. If you have any resident pets that go outdoors, I would caution you to walk them on a lease if possible or keep them indoors until the raccoons have departed for greener pastures.

I would urge trying to trap them in a "have-a-heart" trap, using fresh grapes as baits. The neighborhood cats will not be interested in that bait but the raccoons will be very interested.

Of course, it's not that easy to set up a "have-a-heart" trap and you probably will need someone who is experienced give you instructions.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccon in the roof.
From: Peace
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 05:23 PM

They are as individuals quite able to hold three German Shepherd size dogs at bay. They are fairly fast and as CN pointed out, you don't want to corner one. They are easy enough to do that to, but you'll need about ten people to help you let it go. Try cayenne pepper. The live trap idea is very good. Unless of course you are prepared to use leg-hold traps and dispose of the creature which may not be dead when you get to the trap.

This site may be useful to you.

(Note that the site suggests mothballs. I agree with SRS. Use something else.)

Mating season for raccoons is usually from January to March, and the gestation period is around two months. It's possible you have a few in the house somewhere. If so, the mother will be back. Do NOT mess with the kids either. They look all cuddly and cute. They have the ability to rips your eyes out and bite the hell outta you. Best bet is to either kill them or drive them away. (I prefer 'drive them away'.) If you live trap the mother, she'll have to be driven at least 20 miles from where you live. They may be citified, but they get used to the bush fast enough. Best of luck to you.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccon in the roof.
From: Roughyed
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 05:36 PM

I've got a big spider in the bath that I don't want to tackle. You lot don't half make me feel like a wimp!

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccon in the roof.
From: Peace
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 05:45 PM

If that spider is big enough that you are using the word 'tackle', then you best go to plan B. Plan B.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccon in the roof.
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 06:11 PM

1. Locate the raccoon from the noise it makes in your ceiling.
2. Where the noise stops, place the muzzle of a loaded 12 gauge shotgun.
3. Pull the trigger. With luck, you're rid of the 'coon.
4. It might take several tries.
5. Clean up the mess you made.

NB: To help you towards a new ceiling and roof, you can eat the 'coon.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccoon in the roof.
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 06:24 PM

We have tarantulas here, and the trick is to get a container with a lid that fits (like for take-out food). Drop the container over the spider then slide the lid along under the edge of the container, along the surface until the spider climbs on the lid or the tub. Close the container and take the spider outside to release. I've had calls from neighbors to do my catch and release since they know I'm willing to do it.

We have a different type of spider who builds a web every night on the basketball hoop and post. She works very fast, and usually takes it down again except for a strand or two before morning. We know to walk around the hoop to keep spider web out of our hair. She's quite fascinating. The web is about 8' from the porch light and I'm sure she snags as much and more than she can eat.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccon in the roof.
From: GUEST,petr
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 06:59 PM

ok thanks, Ive come across a number of other suggestions,
such as putting in a strobe light or loud radio.. (I prefer the strobe light - the nearest thing I have is a timing gun)

now I realize I probably should have put in some kind of one way trap door for them to exit and but not come back in, and put tape or something over it to see if the raccoon has actually left.. and then fix the hole . (it would be relatively simple to build some kind of trap door)

Im just worried the kits may still be around and the mother will try to come back - I dont want them dying in the house either.

Im not about to try to trap them - if it comes to that Ill call a pest removal outfit, but all they do is release them in your yard - (I guess in case there are any young ones.

re: pets, we have 3-4 year old bengal (Reavy) and he uses a cat door
in the basement -(the door is a locking style which opens if hes wearing a little magnet on collar - but for now weve taken it off since he didnt seem able to figure it out)

I figure a while back something was coming into our kitchen at night
and opening a bag of cat food, but weve since transferred it into a closed container. (The chew marks on the back made me think raccoon rather than cat.. but who knows)

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccon in the roof.
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 07:48 PM

I had a friend who had a two-way cat door. Every morning she would get up to find the cat food cupboard open, cat food bag torn open and less cat food than the night before, plus little bits of it littering the floor. It was not another cat. It was a mother raccoon AND babies coming in at night. She had to get rid of the cat flap.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccon in the roof.
From: Rapparee
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 08:43 PM

You know, your local animal control department might take care of it for you free for nothing. That's what I did with a bird-killing squirrel when I lived in Indiana. Raccoons can carry rabies, and I suggest that you contact them.

(I was just funnin' about the shotgun method.)

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccon in the roof.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 08:47 PM

Petr-

Yes, raccoons are quite ready to come in cat doors and plunder at will. Worse than that was the family that decided to resort our CD's; they had quite the party.

Back in the old days on the farm we'd just gun down the bandits, and at one point my mother became a specialist in preparing Raccoon cuisine. None of us could quite stomach the liver paté but the meat was not too bad, just gamey and somewhat greasy.

Then we made the mistake of adopting one of the kits that our dog brought home for show and tell. He was one bundle of joy, just full of fun. He had a great time wrestling with the cats. However, when he got to be about a year old he began to manifest a temper, and an interest in our free-range chicken. We eventually transported him to an island game preserve. There he remains, most likely, to this day regaling his great grandchildren with stories about his life on Robinhood Farm.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: Lyr Add: ROCKY RACCOON (Beatles)
From: Peace
Date: 03 Jul 07 - 09:19 PM

Sorry, folks, but this has to be done . . . .

Now somewhere in the black mountain hills of Dakota
There lived a young boy named Rocky Raccoon
And one day his woman ran off with another guy
Hit young Rocky in the eye Rocky didn't like that
He said I'm gonna get that boy
So one day he walked into town
Booked himself a room in the local saloon.

Rocky Raccoon checked into his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
Rocky had come equipped with a gun
To shoot off the legs of his rival
His rival it seems had broken his dreams
By stealing the girl of his fancy.
Her name was Magil and she called herself Lil
But everyone knew her as Nancy.
Now she and her man who called himself Dan
Were in the next room at the hoe down
Rocky burst in and grinning a grin
He said Danny boy this is a showdown
But Daniel was hot-he drew first and shot
And Rocky collapsed in the corner.

Now the doctor came in stinking of gin
And proceeded to lie on the table
He said Rocky you met your match
And Rocky said, Doc it's only a scratch
And I'll be better I'll be better doc as soon as I am able.

Now Rocky Raccoon he fell back in his room
Only to find Gideon's bible
A Gideon checked out and he left it no doubt
To help with good Rocky's revival.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccoon in the roof.
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 04 Jul 07 - 01:50 AM

I feel the urge to do a falsetto howl. . .

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccon in the roof.
From: GUEST,PMB
Date: 04 Jul 07 - 03:25 AM

(1) Shock and awe. Start with a 12 hour bombardment, then send in the Marines when the raccoon is softened up. There may be some collateral damage, but hey that's the price you pay for freedom. When you've captured the raccoon, hold it in a pen in a corner of your neighbour's farm until you work out what to charge it with.

(2) Introduce a law saying that the raccoon can stay in the roof, but build a wall round the house so no more can get in.

(3) There isn't a raccoon in the roof. The noises can be explained by natural solar cycles, and will go away in about 25000 years.

(4) The two- state solution. The raccoon will agree to let you continue living in half the basement and the dog kennel, provided you recognise its claim to the rest of the house.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccon in the roof.
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 04 Jul 07 - 03:32 AM

Is this the creature that appears in films about the 1920's as a coat, usually worn by a college kid with a hip flask?

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccon in the roof.
From: Peace
Date: 04 Jul 07 - 04:07 AM

Q: What do you get when you cross a raccoon with a skunk?






















A: A dirty look from the raccoon.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccon in the roof.
From: GUEST,Keinstein
Date: 04 Jul 07 - 09:04 AM

You could use inversive geometry. Invert the house with respect to the rest of the Universe. The raccoon is now outside. It is left as an exercise to get the rest of the universe out from inside the house.

A topological approach would be to replace the roof with a Moebius strip. As this has only a single surface, any raccoon in the roof space will also be outside.

Schroedinger's method- at any time there is a finite probability that the raccoon is outside the house. Wait for that moment.

A method from agricultural science: Introduce the Cane Toad (Bufo marinus) into the roof space. This is highly poisonous and will breed and displace the raccoon. You now only have the problem of removing the Cane Toads.

Subject: RE: BS: Getting rid of a raccon in the roof.
From: Charley Noble
Date: 04 Jul 07 - 10:09 AM

What wonderful suggestions! The raccoon would be amused.

Raccoon's got a bushy tail,
Possum's tail is bare;
Rabbit he's got no tail at all,
Just a little bunch of hair!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble