How to Trap Raccoons

Most people are familiar with raccoons. They are commonly seen living among people and typically do not create much of a problem. Raccoons are nocturnal and are usually out only after dark. However, they can sometimes become a nuisance, getting into trash cans or making their homes inside of your house. In these cases, it might be necessary to trap them with a live trap.

Things You'll Need

• Live animal trap
• Bait

Instructions

1. Check your state and local ordinances to make sure it is legal for you to trap raccoons. Also find out if you can release it after you trap it, and if you can where you are supposed to release it. In some states it is illegal to release a trapped raccoon, so if you trap it you must then humanely kill it.

2. Set a live trap, or a few traps in the raccoons normal path of travel. The traps should put someplace where you can easily monitor them.

3. Bait the trap. Raccoons will eat almost anything, so baiting them into a trap is not usually difficult to do. The easiest thing to use to bait a raccoon trap is dry cat food that contains seafood.

4. Wire the second door closed if your trap has two doors. Raccoons can be quick and can sometimes escape from a trap that uses a two open door method. It is best to use a one door trap or to wire the second door of your trap closed, turning it into a one door trap. This way the raccoon will have to go all the way to the back of the trap to eat the bait and you will have a better chance of catching him in the trap.

5. Check the traps first thing every morning. Raccoons are nocturnal so you will most likely catch them in the middle of the night.

6. Relocate or humanely kill the trapped raccoon, depending on your state and local ordinances.