raccoon in my garage rafters

[maplesky7]

Ok,
So now what?

Bearing in mind...I don't have a trap, I don't have a gun (well, my husband does but I think he's all out of shells and I never shot the gun in the first place AND he's in Iraq.), and it's nearly 4 am in the morning in Il.

I took my 2 outdoor cats---one who is very very old and deaf into the front porch just because. There isn't any food outside and it's raining.

I checked on my chickens...everyones locked up and quiet and perched happily.

My toddler cries so I get up to change her pants, then my dog wants out, when I hear one dog growl bark.

I know this is not normal so I go check.

Is there a chance this coon is homing himself in my garage or was he just passing through and my dog scared him into the garage and to hide out in the rafters?

Should I leave the garage door open a crack like it always is for the outside cats and hope it wonders off?

Or do you think I have a problem raccoon?

I have an old farmer friend, I know maybe I could borrow one of his traps and then maybe he could take it back to his house and finish the deed.

My bro-in-law who's a cop in MN. when we were just talking about this this weekend said he wasn't sure about where I live--I'm zoned ag. but I have a subdivision behind me--so he said I should check with the laws and such about how far from a dwelling I have to be to use a firearm...

Because I was interested in learning how to shoot for this very thing.

So leave the door open--wander away?

Shut door, borrow trap, farmer finish it?

coon going to keep coming back and try to live in my garage?

me,
g

 

[maplesky7]

and do I need to worry about this coon and my outside cats? one being very old and deaf?

the younger female is already crying to be outside. She's never been an inside cat and can't stand it.

But when I got out there with my flashlight...she was standing outside all wet.
Not wanting to go into the garage.

me,
g

 

[bluey]

When we had raccoons visiting our house I went out to shoot one night and observed the strangest thing. Our cat, Luna and her boyfriend were in the yard with the raccoon and they actually were less than 10 yards away from each other and ignoring the fact that the other existed.

I would have thought my cat (who is undersized) would have run for the hills (considering the size of our raccoons), but they seemed to coexist as if the other wasn't there. I sat and watched in amazement for almost 5 minutes before I dispatched of the coon.

I'd put a radio in the garage and try to annoy it away. Maybe also leave the dog in there a night or two to dissuade it from taking up residence. That should scare it away and in the meantime get youself a trap and some gun training Mrs. Oakley.....

 

[maplesky7]

My dog would be very sad and scratch the garage doors if I kept him out all night.

He's too human.


and no bluey...he doesn't eat out of a crystal bowl...it's a plastic bowl and it's chewed on.


me,
g

 

[bluey]

Get that mutt on dog duty doing the Lord's work...

I swear we treat our dogs better than our kids these days. We give our kids chores and the dog gets a free ride living the life of Riley....

...put that freeloader to work!....

 

[maplesky7]

He's guarding me and the kids in the house.

from bad guys.

hubby's gone to Iraq...member? gotta have the dog in the house.


me,
g

 

[bluey]

So, bad guy comes in with a steak...

what does your dog do?

fetch the keys to the liquor cabinet and point to where the silverware (and the twisty straws) are kept?

 

[maplesky7]

1 beer, 1 bottle of wine.

only plastic ware in my cabinets...no silver...

wasn't I supposed to get that for a wedding gift?

no, pot holders and a soup turine and a betty crocker cookbook and a naughty nightie....

what'd that leave me?

barefoot and pregnant...with soup.


me,
g

and bad guy with steak? um...fire up the grill? dog waits for the t-bone?

OOOOR

dog doesn't give a flying poop about anything other than strange man in house and bites his....

 

[d.k]

* This is bad. Rafter racoon + no weapon lessons= garage skylight. . . And p.o.'d racoon, probably.

Umm, let's see-- Can you lock up the other critters temporarily and lure it into a kennel/cage with a can of tuna??? I trapped myself a possum using a laundry hamper as a cage OUAT. . . .

 

[antlers]

BB gun and an open door will encourage him to leave quickly. Anythign else risks hole in the roof. Only other option is animal control with a cable noose on a steel pole. Once out of the garage, then you worry about trapping him. Where in Minnesota? Lots of us hunters in minnesota and maybe a neighbor will help.. Leave door open for now. He will LIKELY leave as sun comes up but not for sure.