Trapped the Garden Bandit, need help deciding it's fate…

[MacTech]

I finally trapped (large Havahart live trap) the critter that's been eating my developing butternut squash and eating the tomato plants, a young Racoon

I discovered it in the trap this morning as I was leaving for work, so I put it in a cool section of the old barn while I decide it's fate

I'm a live and let live kinda guy, and I'm leaning more towards driving it a few miles away and live-releasing it rather than killing it

When i moved the trap, it showed no signs of aggression, in fact, the poor thing looked terrified, thus my dillemma, it doesn't show any external signs of rabies, and indeed, it looked sad and guilty inside the trap

So, experienced hunters, what would you do, any risks to live releasing a juvenile raccoon a few miles away?

 

[NMBrian]

I have never been big on killing animals I dont eat, that being said, he was eating your garden, which makes him a pest.

ME personally, I would relocate the little feller, he was just after all, doing what nature intended him to do.

 

[JoeMal]

There's nothing wrong with taking him somewhere and releasing him. If he comes back, you may have to result to your other option.

The benefit to taking him away would tell you if there's more...which I'm guessing there is. Young racoons don't come from the stork....

 

[David E]

Just be ready to shoot him if he turns on you after being released.

He probably won't.........but he might.

 

[hso]

If you don't want to drop him in a wilderness area, contact your local extension agent or wildlife control folks and ask them to pick him up so they can relocate him.

Remember that a "few miles away" may still be inside his territory. Also, be prepared to capture his litter-mates as they're likely to be around.

 

[Grumulkin]

So, you're going to take a nuisance animal and release it where it will be someone else's problem? I say, execute it.

Raccoons around a farm are a BIG nuisance. If you plant ANYTHING in your garden or flower beds, they'll dig it up. Then they'll live under your porch and make all kinds of growls and racket. Besides rabies, their feces can transmit a rather dangerous tapeworm. They really aren't something you should want around your place.

I've already killed half a dozen at least this year; not using a Have-A-Hart trap but with hot lead.

 

[wombat13]

Releasing him a few miles away is just dumping your problem on somebody else. Just like my neighbor across the street who doesn't rake the leaves that fall from his trees. He just waits for them to blow into the adjacent yards. If he waits long enough he can reduce his raking work by at least 50%. His neighbors love him.

If you are going to relocate the pest, please take it to a large park or forest where there is at least a chance that it won't start eating someone else's garden.

 

[hso]

You may try using the motion sensor sprinklers that hose pests down when they molest your garden.

The little bandit may be cute, but he is a wild animal with a territory and as long has he has a ready source of food he can get without fear he and his kind will continue to feed at your open air buffet. Make it unpleasant for him and he'll find easier pickings.

 

[MacTech]

I live out in the country, the raccoon will not be released close to houses, it won't become the neighbor's problem

 

[CoRoMo]

Creating a problem for someone else, doesn't equal releasing it "close" to other houses (whatever that means). Animals are quite mobile, and property is more than buildings. They don't have to be where people live, to be a problem to a property owner.

There's nothing wrong with taking him somewhere and releasing him.

Except for this...

...release it where it will be someone else's problem?

When we have threads about shooting snakes, those who have no issues dispatching pests are questioned as to why they 'fear' the creature. It's just subtle enough of an insult that it has become a THR acceptable slight that is used quite widely.

I imagine that this thread should experience the same.

 

[blackDdefense]

I wouldn't want it released near my place. Had alot of these guys on the farm and the dog takes care of them in short order. Don't shoot it in the trap...the smell of blood will make the trap useless. Cattle tank always worked for me.

 

[CoRoMo]

That's was my first thought; trappers have always long preferred drowning the animal over anything else.

 

[Mike1234567]

My garden will be fully enclosed (including top) with chain link fence then covered with fine mesh. The fencing will be buried at least 12" all the way around. This will keep all above ground critters except bugs out. The raised beds will have mesh underneath to prevent burrowing critters out of the beds. There are just too many hungry animals around to trap and/or kill.

Me... I'd say release the 'coon where you know no other people live.

 

[Cosmoline]

You probably ought to kill it. It was trapped as a nuisance animal and will be a nuisance if you let it out again. Also it's very likely to remember where your squash is.

But personally I couldn't drop the hammer on a smart animal in a trap. I'd have to get it to bite me or something, or let it have a fair run.

 

[BikerRN]

Fifty years ago we wouldn't even be asking this question.

My how the world has changed, and become more sensitive and in touch with itself. I don't necessarily view that as a good thing but then I'm sort of a stick in the mud that is behind the times. I have a chicken coop to supply me with eggs. When the hens stop laying eggs they get served for dinner.

Relocating the animal in question will do one of two things. It will create a problem for someone else or disturb the balance that nature has already obtained in another area. My vote is to throw the trap, with critter in it, into a stock pond to drown. That way the pelt is harmed the least.

Tie a rope to the trap before you throw it in the tank so the trap and pelt can be retreived.

BikerRN

 

[788Ham]

I think you're wanting everyone to side with you about letting it go. You bought the trap to get rid of animals tearing your garden up, you caught him, now get rid of him! Throw him in the stock tank, come back in 1/2 an hr. and then go dump the carcass out in the pasture someplace. If you don't want to get rid of the problems, then have a yard sale and get rid of the trap, just don't give your problem to someone else!

 

[CoRoMo]

When the hens stop laying eggs they get served for dinner.

LOL!! I love it. My little boy and I watched Babe last night, and your statement reminded me of the duck getting the axe.

To the OP, I dug up a thread that obviously created a 'lightbulb moment' for a few people who happened to read it. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=439100

Note the guys who've personally experienced drowning of themselves. It should provide an understanding of how humane it truly is.

 

[OH_Spartan]

Shoot it!

I say shoot it or drown it. Raccoon roundworm is a dangerous parasite, though it gets less attention than rabies. We thought my son might have been exposed when he was 2 because my PETA-neighbor saved a baby raccoon. The ordeal led to local wildlife officials, pediatrician and even CDC to get involved. Thank GOD! my son was not exposed to the parasite, but my wife and I still get ill to think about it. After the ordeal, my neighbor (who will not own a flyswatter) is OK with me shooting coons in my trap.


http://www.raccoonworld.com/raccoonroundworm.html

 

[MacTech]

First off, the trap is an old Havahart, I didn't buy it, it's been in the family since I was a kid, second, Dad has killed animals in the trap before (woodchucks mainly) after washing the blood out, it works fine, as evidenced by the current occupant, thirdly, drowning the animal seems far less humane than a humane kill shot to either head or boiler room

Since Dad never took me hunting or had me help him dispatch trapped vermin as a kid/teen, I have little knowledge of hunting, varminting and vermin disposal and am trying my best to learn how to be a humane and ethical hunter/varminter

I'm not trying to direct the poll in any way, I merely want to gather as much data and input as possible to make an informed decision, I won't deny wondering how my .17HMR would perform ballistically on the Racoon

 

[X-Rap]

If this is a young coon it probably has litter mates and you are just beginning to address your problem, drowning is as humane and simple as it gets and is prefered by trappers when it's possible.

 

[Craigman]

I voted shoot it...It'll likely come back if you dont. Maybe use it as practice for skinning.

 

[slicksleeve]

Give it to a coon hunter to train his dogs with.

 

[CoRoMo]

...drowning the animal seems far less humane than a humane kill shot...

I agree. It certainly SEEMS inhumane, but feelings aside, I don't believe it is less humane than putting a hole, or several holes as is often required, in the creature. If you don't hit him right, he's going to be suffering needlessly, and he's going to need a few more shots. Drowning IS quick. It is also painless as opposed to having a loud blast directed at your face and feeling a lead projectile tear its way through your flesh.

Wow, that was descriptive!

 

[Yarddog]

In FL You would have to shoot or dispatch him, Check your state laes about relocating ; )
Y/D

 

[ForumSurfer]

Really? It was tied 7 to 7 before my vote? No pressure....no pressure...

I have no issue with dispatching pests utilizing high speed lead.

However, if I caught him...it just lost all the sport. I'd have to shoot the darn thing with my kids watching. Maybe I'd let him loose and shoot him quick! But more than likely, I'd be forced to call my local agricultural extension office and ask for advice since I live in a very rural, farm oriented community. Then I'd remember to just shoot the dang thing next time!