racoon
ianna
18 years ago
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triple_b
18 years agoJanice Kelly
18 years agoRelated Discussions
Racoon(s) poaching
Comments (12)The problem with an electric fence in my situation is the size of my water feature. I estimate that it would take about 60 yards of fencing (times however many strands were required) to enclose the feature. It would cross a path twice, posing a tripping hazard. I would have to have more power run to that area of the yard, since all of the outlets are in use. On the positive side, the electric fence would always be on. Pepper spray can work and it is not as bad as some have suggested. I live in Colorado. Here, every officer who attends the Colorado Police Academy is sprayed directly in the face (including the eyes) with mace. It is very unpleasant, but there is never any permanent damage. However, for pepper spray to work, you have to be there to use it. Raccoons are mainly nocturnal, so not a perfect solution. The same could be said for any other "weapons" (slingshots, BB gun, etc.). Apparently, as described in this article from Alaska (http://www.adn.com/outdoors/craig_medred/story/9153851p-9070218c.html) pepper spray can leave a long lasting residue. Perhaps some of that sprayed near the water might be something of a deterrent. Of course, there is something to be said for the balance of nature. Raccoons will help to control the snail population. I've been told to eventually expect visits from mountain lions (they do live nearby) that will be drawn to the water. If true, they might discourage by the raccoons directly or indirectly. For now, I am going to just take a wait and see approach....See MoreKilling Racoons
Comments (56)Good question, but it's a moral one rather than gardening. Surely you're not the first Buddhist to encounter a pest animal, you should pose the question to a trusted Buddhist teacher. Oh indeed, this is a dilemma that has hit practically every Buddhist at one time or another, to be sure. And I'll be honest, the answers are varied... Realistically, each must decide for themselves, because each person is uniquely and totally responsible for themselves. I choose for example to kill flies, mosquitoes and ticks, because the consequences of not doing so, carry more immediate potentially perilous outcomes. But the mouse was 'humanely' transferred. I researched what to do, and did as one site suggested, and relocated it over a 5-day period...(It took that long, but could have taken more. Or less, even.) I put the cage where it was highly unlikely to be disturbed by anyone. I covered it with small twigs, branches and leaves, and placed food and water and nesting material within the cage. Then, on day 2, I propped the door open, just enough to let the occupant in and out, and still fed/watered the mouse. For 2 more days, it didn't leave the cage. Then, on day 4, it ventured forth, because there was bedding, faeces and food OUTSIDE the cage - but the mouse was still there. I placed some food outside the cage, that evening. The next day, the bedding was all outside the cage. There was some food and faeces there, but no sign of the mouse. I sat down and waited for what must have been a half-hour, and I was about to give up and go home, when Junior appeared, grabbed three peanuts, and ate them. Then scurried off again. I took the cage, placed a bit more food on the ground and left. Junior was alive, and well, and on his own. Practically speaking, you can live with the infestation, or make the area unappealing(scents, remove food sources, etc). You are of course, absolutely right. It's important to create the type of environment that discourages any unwelcome visitors. And that's a precaution we all have to take. If you avoid the problem, you can therefore avoid having to make such decisions.... Make no mistake though, dropping a confused animal into an foreign environment is not a humane action. Regardless of your geographical local, almost all animals maintain and defend a home territory. Also there are a number of diseases you could be spreading by moving wildlife. Yes, I fully appreciate the sense of what you are saying. History is littered with incidents of human beings altering the balance of the local ecology, by introducing animals that shouldn't be there in the first place. I realise it's inadvisable and unwise. I can only hope I didn't tip the balance. And I am being serious. I'm not taking what you say, in either a light or facetious manner. Don't feel bad though, you're obviously a kind soul who approached the situation in a caring way. Thank you. But I'm aware and conscious that 'caring' doesn't mean 'Right'. I just did what I thought was right at the time... I'm a lover of all creatures and once thought relocation was the best way, but then I really thought about what awaits the transplant I changed my opinion. For what is worth, I'd rather a guillotine over a desert banishment, but the occasional killing of a pest doesn't conflict with my own moral code. My own personal moral code hinges on what I consider to be 'sentient'... I don't think insects are sentient. I think creatures in higher orders are.... And I'm not trying to move the goal-posts here... I know of a Buddhist Monastery in the USA once a school, (housed in a relatively old building) that had been turned into a temple and a place of retreat for visitors and 'followers'. Unfortunately, it encountered an infestation of cockroaches which the monks at first tried to live with and 'embrace' (in the sense of little visitors who had come to stay). But unfortunately, the number of cockroaches increased dramatically, and the number of guests, pilgrims and travellers began dwindling. Something had to be done, so the Lama sent off for advice to the Mother Monastery in Nepal. The decision to call in the exterminators was reached after much thought and consideration. It was, for them, a heart-wrenching decision, because they truly felt that killing on such a scale was completely contrary to their ethical and moral rectitude. But they were obliged and forced by circumstances (hygiene, cleanliness, the need to continue functioning as a viable premise) to do what they had to do.......See MoreThe racoons keep cleaning out my traps
Comments (4)The bait could have been stolen by a smaller animal such as chipmunk. They are so light and may not trigger the trap. Some people put the bait under the trap (I am talking about Havaheart kind of trap)....See MoreRocksy the Racoon
Comments (14)It has always been my intention to return the raccoon to the wild.....which is just outside my door, since I live on a bayou in the woods......however.....the raccoon isn't "my" raccoon....having been raised by my dog. I cannot pick it up....although it will climb on my lap and let me scratch her ears. She still lives with us. In fact, she has taken over my closet...and I moved my stuff down the hall and she sleeps on the top shelf in there. I thought she would want to go on her own, but so far she shows no interest. It is like people who have a grown "kid" that won't go out on their own and live in their basement and plays video games all day. She doesn't play video games, but she sleeps all day. She gets up about 4 a.m. and wrestles with the dog and then goes back to sleep around daylight. The last raccoon I raised started going out when he was 5 mo. old, and within a couple of months he was fully on his own. Another couple that I raised, went on their own and although they are now very elderly....at 15 years old....they still live here, but not in the house.....they come up every night. So I have kept waiting for this one to show an interest in leaving....but she hasn't. I am thinking about getting her in a crate and taking her outside. I think once she is out, she will like it. Either that or she will want to come back inside. Since she hasn't been spayed, there is no reason for her to not want to be with other raccoons. I didn't even name this raccoon.....I call her "coon"....and I did name the others and they knew their names. I haven't forced her out because I know they live with their families the first year....but it is going on 18 mo. She is very good about using a litter box and she doesn't eat very much....but she is very big and fat. Every day my dogs get a wienie as a treat. She expects one too....gets half a wienie handed up to her on her shelf. I am sure you realize by now that I am not like a "normal" person and having the raccoon live with me hasn't been something I wanted, but I am not troubled by it like a regular person probably would be....See Moremora
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