Stormcrow's Hobby Farm

[fuzzi]

I've read and been told that raccoon love, freaking LOVE, marshmallows. I think I've caught one with them; I didn't have any on hand when I caught the rest of them. I might get a bag, next time I'm at the store. They aren't a good bait out in the rain, however.

I wish my trap were just a bit bigger. I put the dish of bait just past the trigger. I keep it as far away from the sides/end as I can. I've found un-sprung traps with the bait dish pulled to the side of the trap. The dang raccoon was able to reach in and snag the dish, pull it over, and grab the bait out of the dish. If the trap were a bit bigger, the bait would be out of reach.

I also put a cinder block (aka, CMU) on top of the trap to weigh it down. I've found them sprung, rolled over, both full and empty.

Marshmallows freeze well.

Can you cover the trap so the raccoons can't reach in?

 

[Sally PB]

Marshmallows freeze well.

La la la la la I can't hear you!

I don't need sweet stuff lurking in my freezer...

Oh! I just had a thought. Would a tablespoon of honey in the bottom of a can tempt a raccoon...? I think I'll have to find out.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I'm convinced, marshmallows are on the grocery list.

 

[Sally PB]

Good luck.

 

[Sally PB]

Any luck with the marshmallows?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Not so far.

I tried a couple, just to make sure they are good, you understand...

Seemed fresh still, so I reset the traps.

Next maybe I'll try toasted?

 

[Sally PB]

I forgot to get marshmallows last time I was at the store. So I tried peanut butter and honey on a bit of hotdog bun. No takers. I dumped the bait out and left it. It disappeared.

 

[NanaK]

Next maybe I'll try toasted?

I tried peanut butter and honey on a bit of hotdog bun. No takers.

They are waiting for you to serve the S'mores!
Chocolate my friends!

 

[Sally PB]

Even though it's the first time I've had the trap out and I handled it and the bait with gloved hands, nothing went in. The trap sat in the garden shed, untouched, since last November.

I did manage to catch a small raccoon with canned salmon. Not on the first night, but on the second. I think she/he was young and inexperienced in what box traps are.

What can I wash the trap with to clean off any "beware, this is a trap" scent?

I tried canned salmon on a smaller trap behind the house. Need to catch whatever is getting in the wall. Bigger than a mouse, smaller than a raccoon, so I'm guessing it's a possum...? Again, no takers when the bait was in the trap, but something ate it when it was on the ground.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Coming along