HELP!! Raccoon in my trap, should I release it or kill it???

[mommyofthree]

We have a raccoon that's been getting into our garden so we set the live trap and caught it last night. Now I don't know what to do with it!! The plan was obviously to kill it, but I've read that when you kill a raccoon another will come in it's place. We've had our chickens since April and have not had a problem with the raccoons bothering them, so I am worried that if we kill this one another meaner one might come around that will go after the chickens. Our coop is really secure IMO, but once in awhile (after free-ranging) 1-2 of our chickens will stay out all night and so far they have always come back in the morning. On the other hand what if this raccoon would go after my chickens and just hasn't found them yet, if I release it it will probably know not to go in the trap again. I'm trying to justify letting it go because I hate the thought of killing anything, but when I think about the damage he's done to my garden shooting it sounds tempting.

 

[nzpouter]

never release a trapped predator.... all you do is teaching it to be trap shy and harder to catch next time.

 

[mommyofthree]

That's what I was thinking. Poor raccoon, good thing I'm married to a hunter because I could never shoot the thing myself. I feel bad when I kill a mouse with a mousetrap, lol. Should I keep setting the trap if more raccoons get into my garden, or should I only trap them if they go after my chickens?? The garden is less than 80 yards away from my chicken coop so I'm worried if they hang out around the garden too much they will find the chickens eventually.....

 

[Gold Griffin Chicken Mom]

Get an empty garbage can. Fill almost to top with water. Add raccoon-filled trap. (Don't forget to wear gloves when handling the trap!) Walk away for five minutes while you dig a raccoon-size hole.

That's a lot more mercy than your chickens would get if the raccoon attacked them.

This is a good time to make sure all fencing is secure and all openings to your coop are coverd with hardware cloth with holes too small for a raccoon's paw to reach in. Good luck.

 

[GAchick]

I just can't see drowning something on purpose. To me a quick, clean shot from a gun is a million times more humane than drowning.... UGH.... I have a morbid fear of drowning, myself. I'd much rather be shot than drowned..... I'm very afraid that I would give myself nightmares thinking about ANYTHING slowly sinking under the water, unable to escape, and forced to inhale water... The fear, the horror... And everything understands drowning.... Protect your stuff, by all means, but... don't torture... A bullet is quick, clean, humane, over within seconds. Drowning is torture for minutes, and I fully believe the animal is aware it's about to die painfully...

Sorry, I'm so freaked out at the thought of drowning that I cannot watch underwater scenes on television...

 

[welasharon]

Be humane if you are going to kill animals. They are only doing what they are supposed to. I am just going to try to keep my chickens as safe as possible but I just can't kill everything that may be after them.
sharon

 

[Gold Griffin Chicken Mom]

My dear, sweet Mother uses the trap in the garbage can method for dispatching squirrels. Many people are concerned about shooting into their trap. I, myself, need more practice with my gun, but even so, the .40 cal will probably blow a hole big enough for a squirrel to escape.

YMMV. (Your mileage may vary... do what you think is best for your situation.)

 

[mommyofthree]

GAchick, I also think drowning would be an awful way to go!! Even though it's just a raccoon I don't want it to suffer. I will wait until my hubby comes home for lunch and have him take care of it, a bullet will be quick and easy.

 

[ADozenGirlz]

It's better to dispatch the predator that you've trapped than to release it. In fact, where we live, it's illegal to relocate it. I'd rather trap predators BEFORE they have a chance to get our chickens. Unfortunately, one raccoon did in the beginning of July. Thinking we'd "get HIM", we set the trap and over a period of two weeks, we got FIVE HUGE raccoons (plus a skunk and two opossums, all chicken predators in their own right).

When I set the trap, I place a heavy rock or a cinder block on top of it. Then I drape the back half of the trap opposite the opening with a tarp. When the critter is in the trap. I pull the tarp all the way over the cage. Next, I take an old bed comforter and place that on top. I secure the sides of those coverings with nearby rocks.
I then hook up the tailpipe of my car with a drain pipe, secured at the tail pipe by aluminum foil and tuck the pipe under the tarps so the CO stays inside the tent. Twenty minutes or so later, the critters are sound asleep (permanently). That's how we dispatched all of the critters we caught. No mess, no drama. And I can do it without the help of my husband or a firearm, which I appreciate.

Rocky. Our first trap tenant. He was the SMALLEST (that trap is 42 inches long).

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
I shoot into my trap---------but I'm very careful. I use my chipmunk 22LR single shot bolt action; I find that a CB long is more then adequate for any animal with a brain shot----the bullet does not exit, your trap is not damaged, and the animal is dead like you flipped a light switch. For experienced hunters and butchers it's no big deal----but if you're nervous or shaky.......take a deep breath, stay calm, and place the end of the barrel into the cage and wait/maneuver until you're sure of a brain shot. It helps to visualize internal anatomy and the path of the bullet---don't pull the trigger until you are sure, otherwise you will be pulling the trigger a lot trying to end the mess.