Raccoons can be a nuisance, but they are also fairly smart creatures. In order to catch them in a trap, you need to use some tricks that will lure them into your trap.
This guide will show you everything from how to prepare your trap area to how deep it needs to be buried and how long you should wait before checking on it again.
By following these steps, you’ll be able to successfully catch the raccoon that’s been wreaking havoc on your property!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Foot traps are an effective way to catch raccoons. |
| Only use foot traps that are designed for raccoons and follow all safety precautions. |
| Choose a suitable location for your trap, such as near a food source or along a known raccoon path. |
| Bait your trap with strong-smelling, high-protein food and check it frequently. |
| Once you’ve caught a raccoon, dispose of it properly or call a wildlife removal service. |
Prepare Your Trap Location
Once you have the trap and bait ready, it’s time to prepare your location. The best place to set traps is in areas that raccoons are likely to visit. For example, if you’ve seen them around your bird feeder or near garbage cans, then that would be a good place for a trap.
Some raccoon-trapping experts recommend setting up several traps in different locations at once because raccoons don’t necessarily stick to one area for their daily routine; they might come by on one day and then go somewhere else another day.
Your trap should be placed on flat ground so that when it gets caught in its jaw clamping mechanism (more on this below), it will stay put instead of rolling away from you as soon as the animal tries getting out of it.
You also want there to be nothing too close by where an escaping raccoon might run into danger: no trees or overhanging branches nearby, no cars parked within reachable distance of where he could escape onto an open road (or worse yet—into traffic).
And finally, make sure there isn’t any food sources nearby either—you definitely don’t want him going after those rather than the bait!
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Bait The Trap
Use a mixture of peanut butter and fish oil (1 part peanut butter to 3 parts fish oil) in your bait box. Too much bait will make it messy for you when you’re trying to set up your traps, and too little bait won’t attract the animal.
| Bait Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Peanut Butter | High protein, strong smell |
| Marshmallows | Sweet scent, easy to place |
| Cat Food | Strong odor, high protein |
| Sardines | Very strong smell |
| Canned Tuna | Strong scent, high protein |
| Honey | Sticky consistency, sweet smell |
| Bacon | High fat, strong scent |
These are some common bait types that can be used in raccoon traps. They are all high in protein or have strong scents that are attractive to raccoons. Choose a bait type that suits your trap and location.
Dig A Hole In The Earth
The first step to catching a raccoon is digging a hole. You need to dig a hole at least 12 inches deep, and it should be big enough for your trap to fit into. If you have soft earth that’s easy to dig, this should not be difficult work.
Set The Trap In The Hole
Once you’ve found a hole, set the trap in it. If you don’t have any wire cutters, try to find something sharp that will cut through the trap’s string and release it from its casing. You can use whatever works a knife or scissors work well here.
After releasing your raccoon trap from its packaging, place your foot over the hole and lower it down so that it rests on top of the ground or whatever else is under there (e.g., dirt).
The end of this step has two possibilities: if everything went according to plan and no one was harmed during this process; or if something went wrong during this process (i.e., someone was harmed by either their own hand or another person’s hand).
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Cover The Sides Of The Trap With Soil Or Grass
Cover the sides of the trap with soil or grass. This is to prevent raccoons from seeing that they are in a trap and not getting caught.
Make sure you place bait in the center of your trap pan. The bait should be able to move freely back and forth without getting trapped by any object such as wire mesh or metal rods.
Bury your traps at least 12 inches deep so that there is room for other animals not to step on it when digging at night time!
Make sure you have removed your hands from near where you will trigger off your set for safety reasons because if this happens during a setting process, it can cause serious injury!
Make Sure The Bait Is Free To Move In The Center Of The Pan.
Next, you’ll want to make sure that your bait is free to move in the center of the pan. While raccoons are omnivores and will eat almost anything, they tend to prefer meats that are high in fat content.
A good bait option might be bacon, chicken or fish scraps with a few drops of peanut butter on top. The key is making sure that your bait is fresh and appealing without being too far away from (or too close) to the edge of your trap pan.
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Bury The Trap At Least 12 Inches Deep
Bury the trap at least 12 inches deep. The deeper the trap is buried, the better. If you live in an area where raccoons are common, make sure to bury your foot-hold traps at least 12 inches deep so that animals can’t dig them out or reach the bait with their paws.
If you don’t burry your foot hold traps deep enough, animals will be able to find them and possibly steal your bait before it’s too late!
Foot hold traps usually come with instructions on how deep they should be buried; if they don’t tell you how deep exactly they need to go, just make sure they’re buried as far down as possible without disrupting any underground pipes or wires (which could cause serious injury if hit by one).
Get Your Hands Away From The Trigger Bar To Set It Off
Get your hands away from the trigger bar to set it off. The raccoon may attempt to release itself by pulling on the trigger bar, causing it to spring open and release its grip on you.
This can be avoided by simply keeping your hands clear of the trap until you’re ready for it to snap shut, at which point they should be safely outside of harm’s way.
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Place the trap on level ground | Ensures proper functioning |
| 2. Get a long stick or tool | To avoid getting fingers caught |
| 3. Set the trigger bar | Use the stick to hold it down |
| 4. Walk away from the trap | Keep clear of the trap |
| 5. Check the trap frequently | Don’t leave the trap unattended |
Cover The Entire Trap With Leaves And Other Natural Debris
Cover the entire trap with leaves and other natural debris. You can accomplish this by digging a small hole in the ground and burying it, or you can create a makeshift log cabin out of branches that you find in your yard.
Just be sure to cover up all four sides of your trap so that no light gets through and you don’t run into any issues when you come back later on.
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Wait For A Raccoon To Walk In On The Bait And Trigger Your Trap
Once you’ve set the trap, it’s time to wait for your raccoon to walk in. You may see raccoons checking out or investigating an empty trap, but that doesn’t mean they’ll enter.
Wait for a raccoon to walk into the trap and trigger the door shut behind him or her before moving on to the next step.
After you’ve got yourself a critter, make sure it’s not injured before releasing it back into its natural habitat by checking its paws and looking for any injuries.
If there are none, release the animal by removing all of the wires from around its body (you’ll probably have to cut them with wire cutters), then open up the door and let ’em go!
Raccoons are cute, but they can cause damage if they get into your property. Luckily, making a raccoon repellent is an easy task. Follow our simple guide to learn how to make a natural repellent to help keep raccoons away from your home.
Conclusion
We hope this guide has helped you understand how to trap a raccoon. We know it’s not easy and sometimes you may feel like giving up, but don’t give in!
If you follow our instructions closely, we promise that sooner or later you will have success with trapping these pests. Good luck!
Sure, here’s how the Further Reading and FAQs sections would look:
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources you may find helpful for learning more about trapping raccoons:
Hunter Ed: Raccoon Sets – This study guide provides an overview of different types of raccoon sets and how to use them effectively.
Predator Guard: Best Raccoon Bait for Traps: What to Use to Trap Raccoons – This blog post covers the best bait options for raccoon trapping, as well as tips for successful trapping.
WikiHow: How to Trap Raccoons – This comprehensive guide covers everything from identifying raccoon behavior patterns to setting up and using traps.
FAQs
What is the best bait for catching raccoons?
There are several bait options that are effective for trapping raccoons, including peanut butter, marshmallows, and cat food. Choose a bait that is strong-smelling and high in protein to attract the raccoons.
How can I tell if there are raccoons on my property?
Look for signs such as tracks, scratches or damage to your property, and the presence of food and trash scattered around. You may also hear raccoons making noise at night.
Is it legal to trap raccoons?
Laws regarding trapping raccoons vary from state to state, so it’s important to check with your local wildlife agency before setting traps. In addition, certain types of traps may be illegal or require special permits.
What should I do with a trapped raccoon?
Once you’ve trapped a raccoon, you can either release it at least 10 miles away from your property or contact a professional wildlife removal service to relocate it.
How can I prevent raccoons from returning to my property?
To prevent raccoons from returning, secure any food sources (such as trash cans) and seal off entrances to areas where raccoons may be getting in (such as attics or crawl spaces). You can also use deterrents such as motion-activated lights or sprinklers.
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!
