Best kind of bait:
Bait actually doesn't matter a whole lot, but white bread, like in the above photo, works very well, and I'm really partial to marshmallows (so are the raccoons!)
Best kind of trap:
A large sturdy cage trap that is at least 30" long, like the Havahart model 1079
Raccoon trapping – how to catch raccoons with traps: There is nothing worse than creating a beautiful outdoor garden only for some crazy raccoon to come in and destroy it! Your flower gardens have been dug up, your garbage can has been emptied all across your yard and halfway down your street, your lawn areas have great potholes… it can seem as if utter devastation has hit your home, and what makes it worse it that it keeps happening, again and again! If you have a raccoon problem in your home or yard, it’s time to take action – let the battle begin!
There are a few methods that you will come across to prevent and get rid of raccoons but in all honesty, trapping, (or the help of a professional pest control person/company) is the only thing that is really going to work for the long term. Thankfully with the help of a good trap, you can effectively catch and release the animal back into the wild, without harming it in anyway.
The one thing that you will have to check is whether or not it is actually legal in your state of residence to catch and release the raccoon into the wild. If it is illegal, you will need to employ the assistance of a pest control professional, which isn’t always a bad thing as you can be sure that the animal has been captured and released properly, without any fear of it coming back and destroying your yard or home again.
Live raccoon traps are designed to catch the raccoon safely within an enclosure of the right size, without causing it any harm or discomfort. It will obviously be distressed by the fact that it has been trapped, but as for physical harm, this should be incredibly minimal. Usually they are offered in the form of a steel framework with mesh wire surroundings or walls. There is basically a door mechanism, that when the bait is touched, triggers the door to close behind the anima, leaving it safely within the confines of the trap. This mesh wiring is a great thing because you can easily spot if you have caught the animal you have intended – obviously if it is the family cat or dog, you are going to want to set it free!
The right trap for you and your raccoon problem is going to be one that is very easy to assemble. One that is too complicated is going to leave you wondering if you have made mistakes, and these mistakes can cause injury; something you are going to want to avoid at all costs. You will also want to look for a trap that meets your budget but it still durable. There is no point in trying to catch a raccoon in the garden with a trap that is not outdoor-friendly – it could rust or disintegrate, leaving you with a trapped animal and an unsafe environment for both you and the animal when it comes to moving it.
If you are ever in any doubt over how to catch and release an animal into the wild, or if it is even legal in your state, always seek professional advice to ensure safety for both you and the critter involved!
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