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Post by watershield on Aug 19, 2009 20:14:39 GMT 1
Every one in the neighborhood has had damage to their gardens.
At first we thought it was the deer but no tracks.
I decided to put out a live trap baited with grapes and peaches from our own trees and viens. Took three nights but I caught one of the culprutes.
A racoon. He wasn't very happy to see me in the morning I must say. We transported him about 40KM away, out in the forest and released him. Took all of 10 seconds to scramble up a tree and scold us from his new vantage point.
He should stay out of trouble there and live to a good old age. No dogs or poisons.
Still have the trap out, going for his sister
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Post by bluemoon on Sept 1, 2009 11:51:05 GMT 1
Do they dig up the lawns looking for bugs and grubs, Watershield? That role here in the UK is taken by foxes and badgers. I keep chickens and foxes are a real threat to them, but if I buy a North American book on chickens foxes don't even get a mention, it's all the raccoon, which must be a complete menace if foxes aren't even acknowledged as being a problem. From what I've heard they must be one of the most intelligent animals (from the perspective of problem solving abilities) around. I've heard of them taking 2 or three years figuring out how to get into a hen coop, before finally managing it in some spectacular way. Let's hope yours doesn't have a GPS unit stashed somewhere in that forest, he could already be on his way home!
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Post by watershield on Sept 1, 2009 23:19:40 GMT 1
Yes, they actually turn back the sod to get the grubs and worms. The young ones just rip it up though.
We don't have a lot of foxes over here, but they are around. More in Alberta and Saskatchewan than BC.
The mojority of foxes I've seen have all been on golf coarses. Darn things love to steal the balls off the greens (thats my story and I'm sticking to it)
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Post by bluemoon on Sept 12, 2009 21:30:18 GMT 1
We get the golf course problem here too. My plot, where the chickens live, is sandwiched between the golf-course, a nature reserve and a small park. Park visitors are 'served' by a small branch of a very large hamburger chain (I won't say which one, but you can see the golden arches from my shed roof). The whole area was almost designed for a fox infestation of nightmare proportions.
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Post by watershield on Sept 13, 2009 23:58:17 GMT 1
Well now I'm confused. Just got informed today by an SPCA officer that live trapping of the Racoons in illegle as is the relocation to the forest. They suggest if they are in the area when I call....they could come over and shoot them!  from the SPCA Five years ago, there where no racoons in this area and very few deer. Any that are here came in over the years from the far side of Victoria some 45 KM away. Now there population is on the verge of being out of control. This officer had the nerve to tell me that this is their native range? That's like saying Elk should be accepted in down town London and if their population grows to the point of causing accidents and human deaths....they were here first! |
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Post by bluemoon on Sept 14, 2009 9:08:06 GMT 1
There are similar laws here for certain animals considered vermin. Live trapping is allowed, but their release and relocation is illegal. Consequently if one if these animals is trapped then you have to kill it, which makes the whole humane trapping thing pointless. Rats and Grey Squirrels are among those animals which you cannot release. Someone who, for example, finds Grey Squirrels in their roof-space is technically breaking the law if they remove them then block up the points of re-entry.
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