How to Make a Homemade Trap for a Raccoon

Live traps are relatively simple to make and are useful for a wide variety of small animals in addition to raccoons because, when they are triggered, they have a reliability of nearly 100%. Using a homemade live trap to catch a raccoon is a significantly more humane option because it allows for the raccoon to be relocated rather than harmed or killed.

Things You'll Need

• 4 separate 120cm x 55cm pieces of 1" welded steel mesh
• 2 separate pieces of 55cm x 55cm 1" welded steel mesh
• 10 separate pieces of 55cm 3mm x 25mm angle steel
• 2 separate pieces of 52.5cm long 3mm x 25mm angle steel
• 4 separate pieces of 120cm long 3mm x 25mm angle steel
• 2 separate pieces of 8mm steel rod cut to 25"
• 1 piece of 8mm steel rod cut to 20"
• 2 Hinges
• Tie wire

Instructions

1. Construct the basic shape of the cage by using tie wire or cable ties to join the four large steel mesh pieces together. Tie on one of the ends with cable ties, making sure that the entire frame is rigid enough to keep its shape.

2. Take the two pieces of square tube steel cut to 14" and the two pieces cut to 13" and bracket these tubes together in order to create a perfect square. Repeat this same step using the other pieces of square tube so that you have created two different identical squares. One of these will be attached to the inside of the cage opening and the other will be used to reinforce the door's edge by attaching the mesh to one of the square's sides.

3. Hinge the door to the opening of the cage with any small hinges of your choice. These can be found at any standard hardware store and are quite inexpensive.

4. Create the locking rod that will slide into place and lock the box whenever the trap has been triggered. Two guide rods are responsible for holding a locking rod into position. When the trap becomes triggered by a raccoon, the locking rod will slide down through the guide rods, and the trap will be locked behind the animal so that it cannot escape.

5. Finish the basic box off by tying or welding the wire mesh together. You are going to want to make sure that there are no gaps if you are using the tie wire to secure the pieces together. Because raccoons tend to become upset when trapped, you want to make sure that the trap is strongly constructed and will not come apart after trapping the raccoon.

Tips & Warnings

• The one disadvantage associated with this trap design is that some wild or feral animals are hesitant when it comes to walking into a cage.