how to trap a raccoon

How to Trap a Raccoon

Raccoons are stocky animals that have a distinct black mask and ringed tail. Their body color is salt paper gray and black. The adult raccoon is about two to three feet in length and can weigh up to 30 pounds. In urban human dwellings, raccoons have been known to grow well over 35 pounds. 

Raccoons will invade your property and reign havoc. They will destroy your attic, chimney, and roof. They will clear out your garden, harass your pets and make a mess out of your trash cans. Raccoons are relentless bandits and the best probably means for raccoon removal Markham

How to trap raccoons in your attic

If you notice a raccoon in your attic, the best action to take is to call your local pest control service such as Raccoon Control. However, if you are determined to get rid of a raccoon in your attic on your own, you could use a trap. It’s important to note that if there is a raccoon in your attic, its almost always a mother raccoon and her litter. 

  • The best trap to use in this scenario is a humane trap. Remember, raccoons are very smart animals, in case you set a trap they manage to get out without getting trapped, they will remember the experience, and you will have to change tactics. Also, ensure the trap is of a good size and will secure the raccoon.
  • Raccoons love human food, and while meat will make excellent bait, you could end up capturing your pets or stray cats in your attic. The best bait to use in this case is marshmallows or peanut butter. 
  • When it is finally time to set your trap in the attic. Look for fresh tracks where the critters frequent. Place the trap next to the trail. Make sure that the trap is away from anything the raccoon might use to grab once it has been captured and is inside the trap. 
  • Place the trap on a flat surface in your attic. Remember, the raccoon will not get into the trap if it’s wobbly. You could line the trap with leaves or dirt to make it more enticing. 
  • It’s important that you set the trap at night to avoid capturing pets and other animals. Once set, check the trap twice a day. If you set the trap on a trail outside your house, ensure its not out in the sun. Like any other animal, they will get dehydrated inside the trap and die a very painful death. 
  • If possible, disguise the trap and place the bait on the trail leading to the trip-pan. Ensure that your bait makes a trail leading to the back of the trap cage. Now, wait patiently. Once the raccoon has been captured, thoroughly search for babies inside your attic. It’snot an easy task locating them since the mother often does a good job hiding them. If possible, you will need to listen to any noise they make to locate them. 

Raccoons in the attic always have babies, if you are using a trap, make sure you remove the babies too and by hand. Also, don’t handle the baby raccoons with your bare hands, wear protective clothing and a mask. Raccoon dens in your attic are often contaminated with parasites from their droppings that can easily be transferred to humans. Due to these complications, it’s best to hire an experienced and qualified pest removal expert to perform this task for you. 

How to trap a raccoon in winter

No one likes to be up and about during the winter, and especially if you are out chasing after raccoons. Winter time is family time, and all we want to do is sit down and enjoy a hot cup of chocolate. Do raccoons hibernate? The answer is no. Raccoon nuisance continues all through the winter. Raccoons will still be active through the coldest weeks in winter.

However, it’s still important to note that raccoons are affected by cold temperatures, and more so because of lack of food, and this limits their movement during this period. During extreme temperatures, raccoons will stay in their dens for days without stepping out.

Much of the movement of these critters is normally related to the availability of food sources during winter and the year. Raccoons just like any other animal that toughs it out during harsh winter seasons self-regulate their calories in and out. If they have too much activity during the winter without food, it could get ugly. 

The key to trapping raccoons in the winter is patience. This is because raccoons are not as active during the winter as warmer times in the year.

  • First, you need to identify if the raccoon in your attic, chimney or shed is nursing babies. If so, you might need to use a mix of techniques. In such scenarios, trapping will only get you the mother, leaving the babies to starve. It’stherefore advisable to check for signs of baby raccoons. You could check if the mother raccoons’ nipples are sticking out of her fur, this is an indication that she is nursing her young. You could also listen to hear any baby chatter or noise from the den. 
  • Depending on the trap you decide to use, set it next to the trail the raccoon uses to move out of the den. The raccoon will regularly go out in search of food even during the winter. However, the frequency will reduce, reason why you need to be patient. 
  • Set the bait next to the trail leading to the trap. Ensure your bait is placed right to the back of the trap. If the raccoon is trapped midway, it could cause a great deal of harm to the animal, and it could die. Use marshmallows, grapes, prunes or nuts. Patiently wait and check your trap at least twice a day. Depending on the availability of food during winter, your raccoons might get out of their den more frequently or not. 

Trapping raccoons during winter is very tricky, after capturing them, releasing them back into the wild can be very difficult since they have a very slim chance of survival. Wildlife removal experts have experience with such situation and will not only capture the raccoons during the winter but will also ensure they are safely released back in the wild and have a chance at survival. 

How to Trap a Raccoon in your House

Raccoons are naturally curious and inquisitive animals and are quite bold when it comes to exploring their surroundings. Due to their inquisitive nature. Raccoons have been able to successfully adapt and thrive in the human environment. If you are a property owner, then you know one of the most unfortunate moments is when a raccoon finds its way into your home. There are several things you can do to get rid of raccoons in your home, but one of the most important things is to ensure that you and your family are safe. In case you are not sure if the animal is rabid or sick, call your local pest removal service. 

Just like any other wild animal, raccoons will not actively seek out confrontation, unless of course, they feel threatened. For instance, if you get a raccoon cornered in your home, avoid going directly into the room. 

Raccoons are likely to move on from your home if there don’t find sufficient food. However, if they continue coming around, or if you just found out they might be nesting in your crawl space, attic or basement, you might need to trap them. Using a trap cage is a very effective method of getting rid of raccoons. However, for 100% success, you will need to pair this technique with a preventive measure to get rid of the raccoons for good. 

Using a Raccoon Trap

  • Before you start looking for a trap to purchase, check your local laws or specific area regulations regarding trapping of wildlife and specifically raccoons. Depending on where you are located you might need to get a permit, or there might be a specific way you will be allowed to trap, release or get rid of the captured pest. 
  • Check out the instructions that come with the trap make sure you understand them. Most raccoon traps in the market come with one-way doors, but a few will have mechanical springs that are dangerous if you aren’t sure of how to use it properly. 
  • Set the trap in the area in your house where you have seen the raccoon feeding frequently. You could also place it next to its nest if you can identify it within your home.
  • Raccoons will eat just about anything. Therefore baiting shouldn’t be an issue. However, it’s advisable not to use anything that might attract your pets like meat, fish or pet food. Instead use nuts, marshmallows or prunes. 
  • Set the trap according to the instructions and leave it overnight.
  • Check the trap twice a day, in the morning and late afternoon to see if you have caught a raccoon. In case you forget about the trap, the raccoon might injure itself trying to get out or get dehydrated and die. 
  • After you have captured the raccoon, relocate it by your local regulations. A good rule of thumb is to leave the raccoon about ten miles from your home in a forest or woodland area. Before you relocate the raccoon, it’s also important to check if it was a nursing mother.

 If it was living in your attic chances are it has babies. Relocating the mother without the babies is not a good idea since they will starve and die. If you are unsure how to trap a raccoon in your house, contact your local pest control service. 

How to trap a raccoon in my backyard

Raccoons are a serious problem in many urban areas of Canada. These critters are a nuisance to property owners, and if they are not tipping-over your garbage, they are messing up your attic insulation and roof structure. A bulk of the emails we receive from our clients are on “how to trap a raccoon.”

If you have raccoons in your backyard then you know you will be dealing with more than cleaning after their garbage mess. Raccoons in your backyard will dig holes into your manicured lawn. If you have a garden, they will feast on grub on your produce damaging the plants. The only way to stop this menace is to trap or kill the grubs and beetles they are after.

Trapping a raccoon

  • First, itis highly recommended that you hire a professional animal removal expert to get rid of the raccoons in your backyard. Success in trapping a raccoon in your backyard involves having the right equipment for the job and some free time. 
  • Before you set off to buy a trap, makes sure it is the right size, getting a small cage could injure the raccoon as it goes for the bait. Also, get the correct bait. Avoid using meat or fish; you might end up trapping a stray cat or small dog. 
  • Check for trails the raccoons use to your yard. If they have built a nest in your property, set the trap close to it or near the trail. Set the bait along the trail leading to the back of the trap. It is advisable to set the trap at night since raccoons are nocturnal animals. 
  • Once you have captured the raccoon, check your property for nests in case it was nursing babies. Relocate the raccoons about 10 miles from your property in a forest or woodland area. After relocation, consider getting an exclusion service from your local pest control company. Prevention is the best way of getting rid of raccoons. Contact Raccoon Control for a quote. 

Raccoons just like most wild animals are dangerous. A cornered raccoon will bite or scratch. It is therefore important to wear protective clothing during this operation. Raccoons are also a health risk; their droppings often have parasites that can be transmitted to humans causing diseases.