Electric fence wire strung around near the edge of the pond works really well for those masked pond raiders. I don't think a nail strip would work. And knowing my luck...I'd step on the darn thing myself!!

I try to keep the pond looking as natural as possible. I think electric fence-wire would detract too much from the appearance (unless someone has suggestions on how to hide it). Also, having a way to plug it in would be a problem.

Someone said that the nail boards work. Has anyone actually tried them?

Bill

Use the frame you have for your netting to support the electric fence. Set up some type of hidden plug, plug it in, set up your netting as you do now and keep them out. Check your local regulations before thinking of trapping and relocating, where I am, if you trap it, you must get rid of it!!

Don

yeah...I have fond memories of raccoons breaking into our house while I was growing up.....they are tough, very smart, and very determined.

I have heard of people using small to medium sized mouse traps to give them a good whack and temporarily spook them from the area. Normally they will come back in a week or so and eventually not touch the mouse trap...If you want to try it...peanut butter works well since they have to lick it off...just make sure you kind of secure it down or they will learn to knock the trap over...then lick off the peanut butter....Like I said..they are smart...(as my wife says, PITA's) (pain in the A@@'s) Relocation is the best way...

I've heard that Minneapolis, where I live, has one of the largest urban raccoon populations in the country, so I'm afraid that to make relocation work, I would have to provide taxi service for a heck of a lot of raccoons, and I (like you) have better things to do!

The mouse traps sound like a temporary solution at best; and, besides, our neighbor who has a cat that likes to prowl our backyard would be upset if their cat returned home with a busted paw. (I'd be upset too.)

The electrical wire fascinates me. I assume you need some kind of transformer to tone down the jolt so that you just tickle the raccoon instead of frying it. Any suggestions on where one would go to get information on how to set up a safe electrical fence or what product to buy?

(By the way, I'd still like to hear if anyone has tried the carpet-nail boards.)

Thanks!
Bill

Bill, Google "Fido Shock" [costs around $70.00] or small horse corral electric fencing chargers [ costs around $35.00 for just the charger].
I use the latter and it works a treat to keep the raccoons away.
You have to leave it in place around the pond, as the next family of raccoons will arrive and the trouble starts all over again, if it is not there protecting the area.
My posts are made from pvc pipe, and are about eight inches high. I have electric fence insullators fastened to the tops of the posts. The wire I bought at Home Depot for $3.00. It all works off a timer, coming on at midnight and off at six A.M.
Really I don't notice the posts etc, now, they have been around the pond so long and are partially disguised by the plants.
After losing fish and frogs, plus all the devistation to the plants etc,by raccoons, three times over the years, I keep the electric fence in place permenantly.
"Horton".

Horton,

Thanks for the tips.

Your setup may be different than ours; there aren't any plants, etc. to hide the wire where we sit close to the pond to enjoy it.

Since the frame I use for the netting is pvc pipe, I'm thinking that Ohio Don's suggestion (use the frame you have for your netting to support the electric fence) might work. What I'm envisioning is that the wire would travel around the frame so that any raccoons trying to move the frame or climb onto it (it lies on top of the pond) would get a shock.

Since I have to remove the netting each morning anyway, unplugging the fence would not be a problem. I'd want to keep using the netting as backup in case of a power failure.

One problem I foresee, however, which might make my idea impractical is that if the frame should somehow dip into the water, any fish etc. in the pond would be killed! Not a good outcome!

One question: Does rainfall cause a problem as far as the system shorting out, etc.?

Thanks!
Bill

Hi Bsquared18:

I had a terrible time with raccoons ripping apart my pond last year. I would get up to find waterlilies, hyacinths, everything, just pitched around on the rocks. So I installed a motion-sensitive spotlight, and waited anxiously for dark. Sure enough, after a few false alarms (neighbourhood cats), I saw my furry friend, basking in the light, munching on my water plants. And people ask me why I don't have fish - every raccoon from miles around would arrive for the buffet! Anyway, the spotlights do not seem to bother them at all, but at least you can go outside and admire your gardens at midnight with no problem. Looks quite beautiful then.
Judith

We had a motion sensor light and it didn't even suprise them... just made it easier for them to find the pond. I think they even waved the fish at me in a big "thanks" for making it brighter for them.

We used to feed a number of badly injured momma raccoons and their broods until they were able to manage on their own. I could write a book on the trials, tribulations and giggles that ensued from the 32 babies. One of the mommas was apparently overwhelmed by the antics of her five delinquents and each night would come to the riverbed rock patio area and strech out for a little nap under the patio lights. After about 15 minutes she would strech and shake herself awake and go collect her brood for dinner. Do the lights keep them away, no. They don't keep them awake either. Sandy

Well, it's unanimous; I can cross a motion-activated light off my list of possibilities.

And no one has responded concerning the use of carpet-nail boards, so that may or may not be a non-starter.

Unless I can figure out how to rig an electrical barrier that is both safe and invisible, I guess I'll just have to rely on the netting to do the job.

Bill

found this in the archives

cheap way of keeping racoons out is to buy those carpet nailing boards and put them around the pond. I've used them after they destroyed my pond and ate my fish. Never had a problem since. Bit of a pain to pick them up in the morning and place them around the pond at night.

Hook your motion sensor up to an alarm. Hardware stores have a little thing that you screw into a light socket that has an electrical plug in it so you can plug things in. You can plug in an alarm, a digital player with dogs barking, siren or whatever noise maker you want.
So what if it irritates the neighbors. It irritates the coons too.

I have problems with raccoons even tho we live in the city.After they trashed my pond..ate my fish...I put in a "Fido Fence". This electric fence is one thin wire that is strung around my pond held up by tent stakes about 6-8" of the ground. Its not very noticable...most people don't even realize its there till they get real close to the ponds edge. I have it pluged into a christmas tree light remote so I can easily turn it on and off. It works great!

I've tried motion lights, predator urine and ultra sonic noise makers. They did not work. Fido Shock fence does work.

My husband replaced the plastic posts with bamboo ones. Cheap from a local nusery. Then he replaced the wire with copper refrigerator tubing from Home Depot. The copper conducts electricity just like the wire does. It is wired to the transformer just like the wire would be. The copper and bamboo fence looks much nicer than the plastic and wire.

Rain does not bother it at all. It is meant to be outside.

For what its worth....I was at Harbor Frieght Store yesturday and saw a Solar Powered elctric fence kit....dont know much about it.....just thought I'd mention it.

Might be easier to install that a converntial kit.

here's the link to the solar powered fence unit.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47454

I have to laugh at Natteringninny's solution because I once managed a Radio Shack that sold a remarkable number of those devices to teenagers and also because I remember the cover that graced one issue of Organic Gardening during the too short leadership of Mike Mcgrath. Visualize all the various garden varmints in various stages of panic, when having tripped that motion sensor they are greeted by the dulcet tones of the voice of conservative radio, Rush Limbaugh, at full volume! LOL! That issue vanished more than once to be returned later to my mailbox. If Rush doesn't do it perhaps some polka music would do. Sandy

Personally, I wouldn't use a carpet board with nails. I also know I would step on it and I have a dog, so that wouldn't work. Our pond is right off our patio and electric fencing would be too unsightly. I don't understand your rationale for not trying a motion detection sprinkler, such as the "Scarecrow." It would add a minimal amount of chlorine to the pond which disspitates quickly. Costs about $70 or so and works well at keeping mammals away from the pond. Not so great with blue herons, but that's another story! It's at least worth a try.