Raccoons won't leave my friends barn

Grady
by Grady
What should my friend do about the raccoons that live in his barn? His dog and cat get beaten up all the time and he can't get them out. Any ideas?
  8 answers
  • Carole Carole on Nov 19, 2014
    Do you have any wildlife services that will come out and remove the little pests? Perhaps they could be removed and taken to another area? Not something your friend should tackle alone though.
  • Grady Grady on Nov 19, 2014
    Yeah. But the problem is that they've tried wildlife services. He did ask me to bring my coonhounds over to take care of the problem but I haven't yet.
  • Erin Maloney Erin Maloney on Nov 20, 2014
    The only success I have ever had in getting rid of raccoons is to trap them in a have a heart trap and relocate them elsewhere. Took trapping 9 before I seemed to run them out of the area.
  • Brenda Albright Brenda Albright on Nov 20, 2014
    I have the same problem every year and have trapped many varmints and relocated them. You have to take them at least 20 miles from your location or they will find their way back. Also relocating them is not legal everywhere so be aware I did take one to animal control when I first started having issues but it was a horrible experience andnI haven't done it since. I try to feed my pets in the morning to keep from having food in the barn at night when the racoons are active. I have also heard that using coyote urine around the frequented area keeps them away but I have mot tried that for obvious reasons
  • Pazazz Pazazz on Nov 22, 2014
    Cougar spray was suggested to me. I am having to fill in below roof of garden shed where they are gathering - ugh! and I have to keep my pussycats inside to protect them.
  • Grady Grady on Dec 02, 2014
    My friend suggested that I bring my Bluetick Coonhound and my Redbone Coonhounds over there to take care of the problem. But the last time they tangled with a raccoon, they almost got there eyes ripped out.
  • Hi Grady, trapping is usually best. Also to aid in deterring future raccoons, you may want to install devices such as lights, metallic streamers, radios, pie pans, tin can lids, scarecrows and plastic windmills. They may help deter them somewhat albeit mostly only temporarily.
  • Good luck ♥ We've had raccoon visitors during the night in my back yard several times over the years. They would catch the koi in my pond. Now it would be different if they would eat them, but they would just play with them and leave them all over the yard. I've tried animal control in our area, they said they wouldn't help us, but to get a Havahart trap, then release them at least 100 miles away because they travel that and more. An exterminator was way too expensive. Had a trap, tried, could never catch them...tried sardines, marshmallows, tuna, canned cat food and more. I devoured the web for info on how to get them to go. Tried criss crossing fishing line throughout the back yard, raccoons didn't mind it, the dogs hated it. Tried "The Scarecrow" motion detector that hooks to the hose and sprays when it senses motion. Raccoons loved it, Dogs were scared of it and refused to go out during the day even when it was off. Tried coyote urine, didn't phase the coons one bit. Tried little red flashing lights around the perimeter of the yard, raccoons didn't notice them. Summer came and they stopped coming. We had no birdseed out for the wild birds, no dog food out, nothing. They came back the following winter and brought friends. Tried everything again to no avail. Got up one morning and they were still here! They were usually gone by then. One of my dogs slipped....pushed by me as I was trying to shoo them away. She was a Great Dane....they took her down. Now I love all animals, but don't come to my place and mess with mine. My sons stayed up the following night, shot 2 of them. They haven't been back since. It was horrid, the screams my poor dog let out as they were biting her. Please be careful. I wouldn't attempt to even catch it, You have to pick up that wire cage after all!. They are fierce and will bite. Be careful please.