If you have raccoons in your attic, it is important to get rid of them as soon as possible. Raccoons can cause major damage to your house and make a lot of noise when they are in your attic.
It can be difficult to catch a raccoon on your own, but there are some simple steps that will help you catch these pests by yourself.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Trapping raccoons can be a safe and humane process with the right technique and tools. |
| Preventing raccoons from accessing food sources can help keep them away from your property. |
| Proper relocation of trapped raccoons is crucial to their survival and your safety. |
| Motion sensor lights and securing openings in your property can help prevent raccoons from entering. |
| It is important to research your state’s regulations on trapping and relocating wildlife. |
Find A Good Location
Finding a good location is the first step in catching a raccoon. You want to find a location that’s quiet and secluded, but also safe for both yourself and the animal. Ideally, it should be easy for you to access as well.
The best places to set traps are near where they live—at their den or their food source. Finding these areas can be tricky, so if there are no obvious signs of where they’ve been living, try setting up some bait outside your home (such as cat food) and see if any raccoons come around.
Preventing raccoons from coming onto your property is the best way to avoid having to catch them. Learn how to keep raccoons away from your home with our easy guide!”
Note The Best Traps
Raccoons are intelligent and resourceful animals. They can be very difficult to trap, so you need to use the right methods.
There are several traps available for catching raccoons. The most common are live traps, cage traps, snares, body grip traps and Conibears.
To find out which ones work best for your situation, take into account how many raccoons you want to catch at once (if any), where they’re coming from (a certain area or all over), how much time you want to spend on it and what kind of experience using these traps will be like for yourself
| Type of Trap | Description |
|---|---|
| Live Trap | Box-like traps that allow raccoons to enter but not exit |
| Body Grip | Traps that snap shut and kill the raccoon instantly |
| Multi-Catch | Traps that can catch multiple raccoons at once |
| DIY | Homemade traps made from items like a wooden barrel or plastic tub |
| Snare | A wire loop that tightens around the raccoon’s neck |
Get The Right Bait
The bait you use to lure a raccoon in is important. You have to be careful, because you don’t want the bait to be too similar to what they’re eating already. That way, they won’t be attracted to it as much. Here are some good options:
- Peanut butter or other types of nuts (you can also use peanut butter for the trap instead)
- Chicken or other types of meat
- Sweetcorn
- Dog food
Raccoons are notorious for getting into trash cans and making a mess. Keep them out of your trash using our simple method to deter raccoons and protect your property.
Make Sure There Is No Escape
It is important to ensure that the trap cannot be opened by the raccoon. You should use a strong chain and lock, or simply tie the trap down with rope or wire to prevent it from being moved.
If you are planning on trapping raccoons in an attic, make sure that there are no holes in your roof through which they could escape.
If you have a chimney or other structure that may be used as an escape route, block it off ahead of time so that when you set your trap, you won’t have to worry about what might happen next.
Raccoon traps are available online through many retailers such as Amazon and eBay at prices ranging from $20-$100 depending on size and type (i.e.: cage vs live cage).
Raccoon traps come in different sizes so choose one based on how much room you have available for storing them once caught if this is something which interests you!
Set Up More Than One Trap
You need to set up more than one trap. The number of traps you need depends on how many raccoons you want to catch and where they are in the area.
If there are raccoons living in your attic, for example, then you may only need one trap to capture them all because they will be living together in one place.
If there’s only one raccoon in an area and it doesn’t appear that any others are nearby, then setting up more than one trap could mean losing your chance at catching anything at all!
It’s best if you simply set up one trap in the area where this lone animal is known to live: perhaps behind your garage or at the back door near some plants where food scraps have been left out?
You should also consider setting up these traps at different times since raccoons tend not to migrate too far from their original habitat around dawn or dusk.
This helps ensure that any stray animals won’t see another person approaching with a cage full of meat or peanut butter before running away again; otherwise they might get scared off by what looks like danger coming from outside their territory instead of inside their home under cover from predators like cats.”
If you find yourself in a situation where you need to catch raccoons, we have a few tips to help you do so safely and humanely. Check out our guide on getting rid of raccoons for more information!
Have Patience
Once you’ve found a raccoon’s den, you’ll need to be patient. Raccoons are tricky, so you will have to be patient as well.
Raccoons are very smart and may try to outsmart you by hiding their babies in another location or moving them entirely.
You should stay alert and check on the den frequently because they might move their babies if they think that something is wrong or if they sense danger.
Since raccoons are nocturnal animals, it’s best to set up traps at night when they’re most active so that they can’t see what type of trap you’re setting up (raccoon eyesight is poor).
| Tip | Description |
|---|---|
| Observe | Take note of when and where raccoons are most active on your property. |
| Bait Placement | Place bait in and around the trap, but not directly on the trigger plate. |
| Frequent Checks | Check traps frequently to prevent a trapped raccoon from dying in the trap. |
| Relocation | Relocate trapped raccoons at least five miles away from your home. |
| Weather | Check the weather forecast and avoid trapping in extreme temperatures or severe weather. |
Watch From A Distance
You can capture a raccoon by using a net. If you are wearing gloves, this might be the easiest way to catch a raccoon.
If you aren’t wearing gloves and don’t have access to a net, it can still be done but may take longer than if you were holding something that allowed you to use both hands.
To catch the raccoon using just your bare hands, first make sure that there is nothing around or above them (such as branches) where they could jump into and escape from your grasp.
Once they are in an open area with no obstacles nearby, slowly approach them while keeping eye contact at all times so they know what your intentions are without feeling threatened enough to run away from their original location before being trapped inside of something with more force than their own arms could use against themselves when trying not-so-hard enough not so much at all!
Bird feeders can attract all kinds of critters, including raccoons. Keep your bird feeders safe from raccoons with our easy guide on keeping raccoons out of your feeders!
Watch Out For Your Fingers
When you are trying to catch a raccoon, it’s important to remember that they can be very dangerous. While they may look like fuzzy little teddy bears, they have sharp claws and teeth that can cause serious injuries.
If you get too close to one of these animals and it feels threatened, it could attack you right there on the spot—so always wear heavy gloves when dealing with raccoons and keep your distance from them at all times!
If this does happen and your hand ends up getting bitten or injured in some way by a raccoon, do not panic!
Most injuries from these animals are not fatal; however, if medical attention is needed then go ahead and seek help immediately by calling 911 or going straight to an emergency room once you get home (or both).
Take Raccoon To An Animal Sanctuary
If you don’t want to keep raccoons, the best thing to do is take them to a wildlife sanctuary. When wild animals are kept as pets, they often end up living in bad conditions and are subjected to cruel treatment by their owners.
If you have rescued a raccoon from a terrible situation, it is best that you return it back into its natural habitat as soon as possible.
There are many sanctuaries around the world that will take in injured or orphaned animals from farms and domestic situations.
If you find yourself in this position, make sure that your raccoon is taken directly to such an organization so he or she can be returned safely into the wild where he or she belongs!
Raccoons can be a nuisance in your backyard, but there are ways to get rid of them. Check out our guide on how to get rid of raccoons in backyard for tips on keeping them away and removing them safely.
Call The Local Animal Rescue Center For Help
If you’re not able to catch the raccoon on your own, consider contacting an animal rescue center. You can find a local one by searching online or calling local animal control offices.
If there doesn’t seem to be any nearby, contact the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) at 1-877-741-2669 or visit their website at humanesociety.org/animalshelters
| Reasons to Call | Description |
|---|---|
| Inexperience | If you have never trapped a raccoon before, it is best to seek guidance from a professional. |
| Infestation | If you have a raccoon infestation or multiple raccoons on your property, consider seeking professional help. |
| Injured Raccoon | If you trap an injured raccoon, contact a wildlife rehabilitation center for assistance. |
| Legal Issues | If you are unsure about the legality of trapping raccoons in your area, contact your local animal control department. |
| Trap Failures | If your trapping attempts continue to fail, contact a wildlife control company for more advanced trapping methods. |
Note: Trapping raccoons can be challenging, so do not hesitate to seek professional help if you encounter any issues in trapping or relocating raccoons on your property.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has helped you understand a bit more about raccoons. The most important thing to remember is that they are not dangerous, but they can be quite destructive if you don’t know how to deal with them.
You should always make sure that you have the right trap for catching the raccoon, and try to find out what type of bait works best for your situation.
It’s also important not to underestimate these creatures because they can get smarter over time by learning from past experiences!
Further Reading
Kness: Tips For Raccoon Trapping and Prevention: Learn tips and tricks for raccoon trapping and preventing them from getting into your home.
Havahart: How to Trap Raccoons: A comprehensive guide on trapping raccoons with live traps and relocating them safely.
Wikihow: How to Trap Raccoons: Detailed instructions on different raccoon traps and how to use them.
FAQs
Can you catch raccoons with a live trap?
Yes, live traps are the best way to catch raccoons safely and humanely.
What kind of bait should I use to trap raccoons?
Raccoons have a sweet tooth, so sweet foods like marshmallows or sweet corn can be effective baits.
What should I do if I catch a raccoon in a trap?
If you catch a raccoon, you should cover the trap with a tarp and relocate it at least 5 miles away from your home.
Is it legal to trap a raccoon?
In most states, it is legal to trap raccoons as long as it is done humanely and the proper permits are obtained.
How can I prevent raccoons from entering my property?
There are several ways to prevent raccoons from entering your property, including securing food sources, using motion sensor lights, and covering openings in your home or property.
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!
