How To Catch A Raccoon Without A Trap (Explained)

If you have a raccoon problem, it’s not fun. They can tear up your trash, dig up your yard and ruin your fruit trees.

You might be tempted to just trap them, but if you don’t know how to do this properly it can be dangerous for both you and the animal.

This is How I CATCH HUNDREDS of RACCOONS

Takeaways
Live trapping is a humane way to catch and relocate raccoons.
Understanding raccoon behavior and habits can help you make informed decisions about trapping and exclusion.
In some cases, seeking professional help may be the best option for raccoon removal.
Preventative measures such as securing garbage bins and clearing debris can help stop raccoons from coming back.
Using methods like deterrents and exclusion devices can also help discourage raccoons from invading your property.

Here are some tips on how to catch a raccoon without having to use a trap:

Dogs

Raccoons are usually too quick to catch with bait, so you’ll need to use another method. The best way to catch a raccoon is by using a dog.

A dog can track the raccoon and corner it in a location where you can trap or shoot it. It can also scare the raccoon out of its hiding place for you to see, or even set up your trap for you!

Are you tired of raccoons raiding your garbage bins? Our Simple Guide on How to Keep Raccoons Away illustrates effective techniques that help you defend your property from raccoon invasion.

Raccoon Lure

Raccoon lures are often made from a base of rotten eggs and ammonia, but you can also use dog food or other meats to attract the raccoon. The best bait for raccoons is one that has an odor that the animal can’t resist.

Raccoons will investigate any type of food source, including human trash left outside overnight. These animals are scavengers and will eat anything from nuts, berries and fruit to meat scraps from a butcher shop or restaurant kitchen waste bin.

One way to catch a raccoon without having it trapped is by placing out some smelly bait like fish guts or other types of meat scraps where they frequent your yard at night time when they come out looking for something good to eat!

Type of Raccoon Lure	Description
Marshmallows and watermelon	These foods are sweet, fragrant, and attractive to raccoons.
Apple cider vinegar	The strong odor of apple cider vinegar can help lure raccoons into a trap.
Canned fish	The strong smell of canned fish, such as sardines or cat food, can help attract raccoons to your trap.
Peanut butter	A spoonful of peanut butter can produce a strong odor that is hard for raccoons to resist.
Bacon grease	The strong scent of bacon grease can help lure raccoons to your trap.

Cage and Trap

Cage traps are generally larger than other types of traps and can be used to catch raccoons that are destructive or have become too comfortable around humans.

These traps can also be easier to set up than box traps because they don’t require any special bait for the raccoon to enter the trap.

However, cage traps will not catch a mother raccoon with young unless you put food inside the cage.

In addition, some states have regulations about using certain types of cages when it comes to keeping wild animals captive in order to protect their health and safety as well as yours!

Check Your Trap Regularly: If you’re using a live cage trap (as opposed to one that uses lethal force), check it at least once every day so that you don’t miss any opportunities for catching your target animal(s) when they’re ready for capture!

This will help ensure success when trying something else again later if this first attempt fails due

Dealing with raccoons on your property can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Our Few Tips on How to Get Rid of Racoons can help you manage the raccoon population, so you can enjoy your home without any unwanted guests.

Bird Feeder

If you’d like to catch raccoons without a trap, there are two options: bird feeder traps or bird feeder lures.

Bird Feeder Traps

These work by setting up a trap that looks like an ordinary bird feeder, but is actually loaded with bait and waiting for a raccoon to try and take it.

To set up your own, follow these steps:

Choose a good spot for your trap that’s close enough to water so that it will attract animals looking for an easy meal (raccoons love water).

Also choose an area where the trees are dense enough that they can’t see the ground very well—this will make them less likely to notice any threats nearby before taking the bait! Place the trap wherever this spot is located once you’ve chosen one.

Find something similar in size and shape as a regular seed dispensing tube; make sure it can hold enough food so as not reduced effectiveness (you don’t want hungry raccoons!).

You’ll also need some kind of container big enough for both types of bait used here–so something like Tupperware would work well because it’s airtight so smells don’t escape from inside easily!

If possible try not using glass containers since those aren’t ideal either; instead look online at local stores near where you live until finding what works best.”

Boxes and Box Traps

Box traps are the most common method of catching raccoons. They’re easy to make, and you can use them indoors or outdoors.

If you have used a trap before, you know that it’s easier for the raccoon to get into a trap than it is for us to get into a store without waiting in line.

Here’s how to use a box trap:

Find an appropriate-sized box (at least 2′ x 2′ x 1′) and make sure there is no food inside it that will attract the raccoon.

Place the box with its open end facing toward where you saw your target animal last time; this way, when he comes back again, he will enter the box by himself. Make sure there are no holes or vents in this area so that he cannot escape once inside!

If needed, drill small holes through which wires can be threaded onto screws so they won’t scratch anyone while being moved around throughout their lifetime use.

These types of basic DIY projects require only minimal skill levels; anyone who has watched YouTube videos could do them easily enough!

Raccoons can cause damage to your property and be a general nuisance. Our Simple Way to Keep Raccoons Out of Trash guide informs and educates on how to prevent raccoons from accessing and ravaging through your trash.”

Noises

To scare a raccoon away, you can use a loud radio or whistle. The sound will scare them off, but you should use extreme caution when using this method because it can also scare off other wildlife in the area and startle your pets.

If these methods don’t work for you, consider playing a recording of an animal that sounds similar to the raccoon (such as an owl), which could confuse it and send it on its way.

Type of Noise	Description
Radio or Music	Playing upbeat music or talk radio can create human-like noises and vibrations that scare raccoons away.
Ultrasonic Devices	Special devices that emit high-pitched noises, inaudible to the human ear, can help deter raccoons.
Whistles	Loud noises, such as loud whistles, can help frighten raccoons and drive them away.
Motion-activated sprinklers	Sprinklers activated by motion sensors can be an effective method of deterring raccoons.
Wind chimes	Noises created by hanging objects like wind chimes can be a helpful deterrent to raccoons.

Snares

Snares are a loop of wire or string. You can make them by cutting off a piece of wire, or you can just use string. They’re basically just what they sound like: small nooses that catch animals when they walk into them.

Shotgun and other Guns

A shotgun is a good choice for raccoon control if you have a large area to cover and want to kill several raccoons at once.

A rifle can also be used, but it’s not as effective because the bullets will go through the animal and may not hit another one behind it.

The best caliber for this type of hunting is .22-caliber or larger. It should also be noted that rifles are not legal in all areas, so check your local laws before using one on raccoons.

Handguns are useful when trying to kill a single raccoon or two that are hiding in trees or other tall places where they can’t easily be reached by other types of weapons such as slingshots or airsoft guns (which we’ll discuss later).

No one likes furry creatures nesting in their personal space, especially raccoons who can cause significant damage. Our informative guide on How to Get Raccoons Out of Your Attic provides practical steps in removing raccoons from your attic and keeping them out for good.

Food Bait

Now that you’re familiar with some of the raccoon’s main habits and behaviors, it’s time to start thinking about how to trap one.

The first step is to choose your bait carefully. You want something that will attract a raccoon but not go bad easily.

Some foods that work well are peanut butter, bacon grease, and dog food (though this last one might be hard for the animal to eat).

If you’re using something like peanut butter or bacon grease as your bait, try putting it on top of bread so it looks like an open sandwich or slice of pie.

Racoon food should be easy for them to consume without getting their hands dirty; otherwise they won’t be tempted by your trap!

And make sure whatever you use does not smell too strongly—a raccoon will steer clear if there’s any hint of danger in the air!

If possible pick items that are small enough for a raccoon’s mouth but big enough so he won’t choke on them when he tries eating them whole (think grapes instead of apples).

Finally don’t forget these critters aren’t known for being able chewers so if at all possible avoid feeding him anything hard like nuts because chances are good he’ll just spit those right back out again once they’re inside his mouth

Lights and Lamps

Use lights to attract raccoons. Raccoons are nocturnal animals, so they’re naturally drawn to light. If you have outdoor lights in your yard, this is a great way to attract them and then trap them with live traps or cages.

Use lamps to scare raccoons away. If you don’t want the raccoon problem around your house at night but still want them gone, scare lamps can be really effective at keeping them away from the area where you need it most—your home!

Use lights to trap raccoons in live traps or cages—but only if they’re close enough that they’ll walk right into it without hesitation!

If a raccoon won’t go near it unless there’s food inside (which will probably happen), then try using something else instead like branches or logs placed strategically around areas where these animals tend hang out most often like under houses/gardens etcetera).

Using practical techniques for raccoon management can prevent raccoons from spreading disease and gaining property access. Our Pro Tips on How to Deter Racoons offers valuable insights to keep raccoons at bay and your home pest-free.

Carcass, Dead Animal Bait

If you’re looking for a more humane option, try using a dead animal carcass as bait.

Place the carcass in a cage trap and put it somewhere the raccoon is likely to pass by. The best place for this trap is on top of your garbage can so that it sits at eye level with any raccoons that might be tempted by its smell.

You may also want to set up multiple cages with different types of meat inside them; if one type doesn’t work for you, another may!

If there are no other options available to use as bait, try mixing applesauce or peanut butter with cornmeal (or something similar).

This will make sure that if you do manage to catch a critter while trying out this method they won’t starve while they’re waiting around until someone comes along who knows what they need help catching.

Type of Bait	Description
Dead Fish or Meat	Using a fresh carcass of a dead animal, such as fish or meat, can lure raccoons to an area.
Mortadella or Peanut Butter	Apply a smear of peanut butter and grated mortadella to trap’s metal plate to attract raccoons.
Roadkill	Roadkill that is placed in a secluded area where raccoons are known to be active can be used as bait.
Chicken Heads or Liver	Using a full chicken head or liver as bait can be an effective way to trap raccoons.
Fish Oil	Smearing fish oil in and around the trap can lure raccoons inside to investigate.

Catchpole With A Snare

Use a catchpole with a snare. These tools can be purchased at your local hardware store, nursery or garden center.

The pole should be long enough to reach the raccoon from above, but not so long that it will get in the way of your hands or feet if you have to move quickly.

The snare should be strong enough to hold the animal without being too tight; else it could choke them and cause injury before they can be released back into their habitat.

Conclusion

If you think you can catch a raccoon without using traps, there are many options out there for you. Some of these methods may seem strange, but they all work.

We hope this article helped you learn about how to catch a raccoon without trapping it first!

FAQs

Can raccoons cause damage to property?

Yes, raccoons can cause extensive damage to property. They may tear through roof shingles, damage vents, chew on electrical wires, and more.

Are raccoons a health hazard?

Yes, raccoons can be a health hazard since they are known to carry diseases such as leptospirosis, salmonella, and raccoon roundworm.

How do I get raccoons out of my yard?

To get raccoons out of your yard, you can use repellents, remove their food and water sources, and install barriers.

Can I trap raccoons myself?

Yes, it is possible to trap raccoons yourself, but it is recommended to seek professional help to ensure that the trapping process is carried out humanely and effectively.

How do I prevent raccoons from coming back?

You can prevent raccoons from coming back by securing your garbage bins, clearing debris and brush from your yard, and blocking off any potential access points to your home or property.

Hellen James

Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!