Raccoon Question...

[DornCounty]

Do you think they eat sunflower seeds? I had something rip down a hopper style sunflower seed feeder off of a wooden fence post last night.

It also ripped a suet feed down. Didn't leave a trace or a bit of scraps.

[Louise Chambers]

That sounds like raccoons - they are strong and eat just about anything.

[Peggy Riley]

They sure do. I've seen them do it!!!

They really are a pain when they get too comfortable around your yard.

[ltwalsh]

Do you think they eat sunflower seeds? I had something rip down a hopper style sunflower seed feeder off of a wooden fence post last night.

It also ripped a suet feed down. Didn't leave a trace or a bit of scraps.

I agree. it sounds like Coons. They are very strong. Had one a few years ago ripping my suet cage off of a wooden post. I would bolt it back on there and he would rip it off again.

[Lewis]

Get a "Have A Heart" trap and use canned cat food for bait. dig a small hole big enough for the cat food can and place the trap over the can and you will catch a coon or opossum every time. Do not place bait in trap or they will spring the trap trying to reach the bait from outside the trap. I take them way out in the country and release them near a creek where they will have to work a little more for their food.

Lewis

[Peggy Riley]

Great idea Lewis about putting the food under the trap!! Thanks!

[DAVE]

Put a Predator Guard on your feeder post. I did and that stopped that.
Dave

[DornCounty]

I think this just proves coons can get anywhere. I am at least a mile from coon friendly habitat.

[Ted n Ms]

I have chickens and have to remove coons all the time. I use a dukes dog proof coon trap.It catches them around the wrist. Then i relocate them to coon haven. That way they are not a nuisance to someone else.

[tonyg]

Yes Andrew ..had it happen at my bird feeder 2 yrs ago..big raccoon!

[bluetick]

Coon are easy to catch. Marshmallows are as good as anything. They are not messy. Just put two or three of them in the back of the trap. You don't catch the neighborhood cat and make someone mad at you. Peanut butter is also good. I am a coon hunter and have caught a lot of coon in 52 years of coon hunting. They will sure kill and tear up. Dave

[DornCounty]

putting a trap out tonight as my feeder was raided again. To much risk to the birds to let him come in every night.

He will be relocated.

[bluetick]

I wouldn't put any bird feed in the bird feeder while sitting the Trap. Catch the coon and then put the bird feed back. Dave

[JL Murray]

I would still put a Predator Guard up regardless!

[jeffwilliams72]

Bluetick, "the neighborhood cat" is more destructive to songbirds, than coons are to feeders.
I wouldn't worry about making the neighbors mad for catching their unsupervised roaming bird killers.
They make me mad for thinking it's ok to let ANY cat roam free.

[bluetick]

I understand Jeff. I have to get after my dogs in the kennel for barking at them. They run free with no license's when a dog has a leash law. I feel the same as you about anything that messes with my birds..... Dave

[Siberman]

I use the rat-bait stations around my yard to keep the rodent / snake population low. I had a 'coon unlock one to get to the bait.

[bluetick]

Dorncounty,
What is the coon up date? Hope you have caught the rascal. Bluetick ( Dave )

[DornCounty]

well I set two traps yesterday. One got emptied without triggering. Very odd. All I can think is the coon reached in the trap as opposed to crawling in.

Tonight I will fence i the trap a little better so the only way to get to the goodies is to crawl in.

[bluetick]

Sometimes a small animal will go in and not trip the trigger. I have caught everything from a land turtle to a blue Jay. Even a young red fox once. Good Luck tonight.