How to Trap a Raccoon in the Wild
The raccoon is one of nature's most adaptable creatures. The northern raccoon can be found in every state in North America. Raccoons can be trapped during fur-bearing season or live-trapped for nuisance removal. The type of trap and technique used to trap coons depends on the objective of the trapper. Whether you are trapping for fur or live-trapping a raccoon, the techniques for capture are similar.
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Instructions
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Trapping Technique
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1
Check with your state's department of fish and game for regulations on trapping raccoons in your state. Each state has different laws and regulations in regards to fur-bearing season and live-trapping.
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2
Gather information about raccoons and their habits. Your department of fish and game and the library are good sources for information on raccoons. Observe the raccoon population in the area chosen for trapping and note where the animals travel for water and food. The more you know about the animal and its habitat, the more likely you are to succeed in trapping them.
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3
Remove as much human scent from your body and traps as possible, paying special attention to your hands and feet. Raccoons have an excellent sense of smell and raccoons in the wild are more likely to be sensitive to human scent than coons living in close proximity to humans. Scent block can be purchased from a sporting goods store.
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Place the trap in an area where raccoons are known to travel or near an abundant food source. Small game trails that lead to water are often good locations to place the trap.
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Set the trap according to the type of trap being used. Use caution when setting spring-loaded claw traps that could spring shut on a hand or finger.
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Bait the trap. Raccoons eat almost anything. Inexpensive cat food, an ear of corn, or marshmallows make excellent raccoon bait and are less messy than canned tuna or fresh meat. Place bait in the trap and the area leading up to the trap.
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Check traps at least once a day and immediately attend to the trapped animal in accordance with state laws and regulations.
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Tips & Warnings
Traps come in a variety of types and not all of them are legal to use. State laws vary in which type of traps are deemed legal and humane. Killing traps are designed to kill the animal upon capture. Leg-hold traps secure the animal by the leg without killing it. Most live traps are cages fashioned with a spring-loaded door and are designed to capture and contain the animal without injury.
If you have not successfully trapped the raccoon in the first couple of days, it might help to move the trap to a different location or try using a different type of bait.
If you're accidentally trapping a neighborhood cat, using bait the cat would not normally eat, like corn or marshmallows, should cut down on unintentional captures.
It is imperative to monitor and attend to traps often. Even live trapping can be inhumane if an animal is left in an unattended trap for too long. Pets and other animals not intended for capture can accidentally become trapped as well. Regardless of which trapping technique is used, legal and humane practices should always be a trapper's first priority.
References
- Photo Credit Waschbär image by Petra Kohlstädt from Fotolia.com
