how do you keep raccoons from eating your corn?

[rainbowgardener]

The raccoon does NOT care if the corn is fully ripe and will definitely eat it before you do.

When I lived where I had land enough to grow corn, I tried it for a couple years. But a lot of our land was woods. We had deer, raccoons, possums, woodchucks, woodrats, squirrels, shrews, 40 kinds of birds, etc and every single one of those critters LOVED corn. I just gave up on being able to eat any myself and quit growing it.

Personally, I think electric fence is the best idea. You can easily find solar powered electric fence. You would need at least two strands all the way around your patch.

Depends on how much corn you have (and how many raccoons!) whether they can trash it all in one night, but they will give it their best shot. You will know they've been there, because they push the corn stalks over to get at the ears better.

[BP]

I have a friend in northern Michigan that has electric fence around her garden, but it's only good for bears and deer. The coons and crows still got in and ate corn. They now have a net and livetrap. I promise you that if you get a big enough livetrap, you will get the coons. My method (Grandpa's) is to get a small holed sack and fill it with meat scraps. Suspend it in the trap so the coon HAS to go in to get it. If you don't want to mess with driving it somewhere to shoot (it will be pissed and show it) just use a pellet gun. One or two shots to the head will do the trick and then you just have to dispose of it. From my experience and hearing from others, no fence will keep them out unless it has a roof like a cage. Livetrap and gun is WAY cheaper.

[rainbowgardener]

Well, that's why I said at least two strands. You need one just a couple inches off the ground, too low for them to get under and then you need one maybe 6" higher up. And then you just have to pray they haven't invented ladders in the meantime! I swear when we finish messing the planet up and wipe ourselves out, the raccoons will still be here to take over from us!

[BP]

She is out of town this weekend, but I could probably have her send a pic Monday. I'm pretty sure her husband has 2 or 3 strands similar to like you said. She has no idea how they got in. No holes under the fence either. I'm pretty sure raccoons are the smartest animal on earth

[sheeshshe]

UGH.


I don't have much corn, so yeah... they'd prob take it all in a night then. I hate it becuase I don't work for the animals and I don't pay $ for organic amendments for the animals either. it will bite big time if I lose it all. then there would be the waste of space that I could have used for other things as well.

[rainbowgardener]

Have you actually seen raccoons in your yard or are you just borrowing trouble?

[sheeshshe]

no they've been here. they dug up my garden. sometiems the skunks dig it u[p, but this wasn't like the skunks normally do. it was in june that they did it. and my neighbors saw the ones eating their chickens she's across the street. we haven't seen them in a month, but I figured they may remember the corn from the seeds they ate and be back. I've seen their little pawprints in the past.

[tedln]

I've got lots of raccoons around but they have never bothered my garden. It may be because when I built my garden fence, I built it kinda loose so if something tries to climb it, it shakes and is hard to hold on.

My dog did corner a big possum against my garden fence last night. Don't think possums will hurt my garden, but I don't know. He barked for an hour before I finally went outside to see what he was barking at. Don't let anyone tell you that possums play possum when in danger. Those things are nasty. They pull those lips back and flash those teeth and look like a giant rat about to eat you. They make hissing sounds like a really mad cat. My hundred pound dog was pretty smart to know he shouldn't do anything but bark.

Ted

[sheeshshe]

I heard opossums will eat chickens too! they can be real nasty.

Oh I just remembered... I also found raccoon poo in my chicken run when they were around that week. so yeah, I know they were here. they're currently gone, but will they be back is the question!

[rootsy]

I have earned my merit badge in raccoon elimination 101, in fact I may qualify for my doctorate.... I am at 28 coons this year and still counting. With the pollination of the field corn the pressure on the sweet corn has diminished... The coon won't care if it is field or sweet corn, they are attracted to the pollen scent.

Live trap (s) are easiest... I have half a dozen spaced out... Marshmallows are some of the best bait. Raccoon have a sweet tooth (ie sweet corn, berries, etc). You want the middle sized trap. The one that is about 20 inches long and 12 x 12... If you go to TSC (Tractor Supply Co.) they sell a 2 pack. One large with a smaller one inside. The small one is pretty worthless unless you want to trap a squirrel. Cost in Michigan is 32.99 + tax.

Once you catch em you have a couple of options. You can let it go right there and it'll be back to eat again that night.. Well educated about the trap. Or you can end it's life... A 22 is the easiest... Top of the melon is the most humane. If you live in a more populated area a 22 short isn't much louder than a fire cracker. Some people will throw the trap / coon in a barrel of water or a lake or river... I don't care for that. Drowning isn't humane to me. Lastly you could pay an animal control professional to dispose of the animal. In MOST states it is illegal for you to live trap and relocate an animal yourself. This can only be done by a licensed animal control professional or a State animal control officer / DNR representative.

I have found that electric fences are only marginally successful. First one 6 inches off of the ground and you want a large fencer... One that will burn the grass / weeds if they touch so that you don't short it to ground if the grass gets too tall. Place a second wire at 6 to 8 inches above that... This is a lot of work and cost can add up... If there is a way in the coons will find it and exploit it. Deer will step right over it...

There is another popular rural method which is extremely effective... you will have to research that on your own and decide for yourself if you want to go that route. You must have NO other animals around that you wish to end up dead.. (dogs, etc)...

[garden5]

Pretty much, the three surest ways to keep coons out of the garden are:

1. .22 rifle (not recommended in urban/suburban areas!!!!)

2. Live traps

3. Complete enclosure of the garden (yeah, that incudes over-head, as well)

Good luck with your coon-problem.

[joncro55]

Raccoons are never gone for good! They always come back and they are an absolutely pain to deal with, mainly because they are so sneaky, and can actually be very dangerous.

They were getting a lot of my crops from the garden recently until I put up a wire mesh fence. I made the fence myself using posts and rolls of wire mesh.

They are a really tough critter to keep away from something that they want, so I ended up putting this stuff over my crops in almost a box like shape and it has worked like a charm. The only was to get inside the box is to lift the entire thing and they haven't realized that....YET

[garden5]

Also, if you go the live-trap route, you don't have to kill them. You can take them out to a field and let them go. If you're in a suburban setting (finite number of raccoons) you may be able to drastically reduce their numbers after a season or two of trapping.

I know a man who does just this. However, one word of caution: be sure you are clean out of the way when you release the coons as they can be extremely vicious.

Also, their teeth are like razors and will take a finger off before you know it. "Caution" is the key word when working with wildlife.

[rootsy]

Also, if you go the live-trap route, you don't have to kill them. You can take them out to a field and let them go. If you're in a suburban setting (finite number of raccoons) you may be able to drastically reduce their numbers after a season or two of trapping.

I know a man who does just this. However, one word of caution: be sure you are clean out of the way when you release the coons as they can be extremely vicious.

Also, their teeth are like razors and will take a finger off before you know it. "Caution" is the key word when working with wildlife.

In many states (MI for example) it is illegal for an individual to live trap and relocate any wild animal.

[scrose]

do you really have to kill the raccoons? I heard you could just spray the area/garden with a certain kind of scent, and the raccoons wouldn't come near it.

old man told me to use fox scent (or was it urine?), but I haven't done that yet.

[rootsy]

do you really have to kill the raccoons? I heard you could just spray the area/garden with a certain kind of scent, and the raccoons wouldn't come near it.

old man told me to use fox scent (or was it urine?), but I haven't done that yet.

Nope... doesn't work...

[rainbowgardener]

I don't believe in killing the wildlife (they were here first! ) so I do cage my veggies in. At least the ones the raccoons like... The raccoons for example never bother the bed that has peppers and basil in it. And they seem to be real big on leafy greens. I can leave the swiss chard unprotected, but I have to protect lettuce and spinach cabbage, broccoli etc from the ground hog.

After awhile you learn who likes what.

[Susan W]

[img]https://lh5.ggpht.com/_TLd5mTZkIn8/TGladvQpXnI/AAAAAAAABBY/tTvvzeM7gss/s288/P1000423.JPG[/img]

Don't have corn, but have these critters. This was a couple of summers ago, I trapped out 2 siblings. I use cheap canned kitty food as bait, tie can down! My son put cage in back of truck, brought to industrial park/wooded bottom land area by the river. Actually an island in the Mississippi, connected by causeway. Vamoose!

[Gary350]

When I lived at the other house 20 years ago there was a forest 1/2 block from my house. Something kept eating my garden so I put up an electric fence wire 3" off the ground. That stopped the critters from eating my garden but the electric fence killed all the squirrels and birds. I found sometimes 1 to 3 dead squirrels and 8 to 14 dead birds every day when I got home from work. I don't like killing the wild life so I took the electric fence away. I had plenty of land so I planted a larger garden so I could share with the animals.

[sheeshshe]

well so far so good. I picked 6 corn yesterday and so far no raccoons. WOO!

[jmoore]

Racoon eradication is always a hot topic on hunting forums. In TX we are allowed to put out deer feeders. It is mandatory to put varmint cages around the motor, otherwise the coons will sit there all night pulling corn out of your funnel.

Lots of guys also put out "on demand" protein feeders for the deer. The coons LOVE those because it's like a stinking buffet for them. And you can't enclose them because then the deer can't get to them.

There are many DIY remedies and all are marginally successful. The only truly successful remedy is acute lead poisioning.

[harleymitebe]

I put a battery operated radio on a talk radio station when I see signs of coon damage so far the last three years it seems to work I turn it on at dusk and off at daylight

[harleymitebe]

The people who live trap and move need to understand that usually they will be moved into another coons territory and if are small and weaker it just a slower and more painful death than just putting it out of its miseries. not allowed food getting attacked by other families of coons until they eventually die.

[Kisal]

In some states ... OR and NY, for two I know of offhand ... raccoons are protected by law. They are listed as Furbearers, and can only be taken legally during trapping season. DFW commonly requires that one have a permit in order to trap a raccoon, or any other Furbearer. Also, the law may specify that only certain types of traps be used.

Oregon gets around this by providing free "out of season" permits to people who need to trap nuisance raccoons. All you have to do is go to the nearest DFW office and fill out a short application form. They'll even rent a trap to you, if they have one available, and return the rental fee when you return the undamaged trap. As I recall, the permit allows you to trap only animals that are on your own property.

IMO, it's important to remember that whenever one animal is removed from an area, another animal will soon notice the vacancy and move in.

[rootsy]

In some states ... OR and NY, for two I know of offhand ... raccoons are protected by law. They are listed as Furbearers, and can only be taken legally during trapping season. DFW commonly requires that one have a permit in order to trap a raccoon, or any other Furbearer. Also, the law may specify that only certain types of traps be used.

Oregon gets around this by providing free "out of season" permits to people who need to trap nuisance raccoons. All you have to do is go to the nearest DFW office and fill out a short application form. They'll even rent a trap to you, if they have one available, and return the rental fee when you return the undamaged trap. As I recall, the permit allows you to trap only animals that are on your own property.

IMO, it's important to remember that whenever one animal is removed from an area, another animal will soon notice the vacancy and move in.

Each state is different with regard to trap & release or elimination of nuisance animals. One must verse themselves in the law of their location.

[Kisal]

Each state is different with regard to trap & release or elimination of nuisance animals. One must verse themselves in the law of their location.

Absolutely! That's why I noted that only "some" states regulated control of raccoons.

[Lady Bug]

It's a losing battle. Plant enough for you and the critters.

[rainbowgardener]

It's a losing battle. Plant enough for you and the critters.

That's a losing battle too! I don't have enough land, because they will eat all that is provided. If I provided more the bounty would just make them prosper and thrive and have more babies!

When I first started feeding birds, I discovered this the hard way. I was amazed at how quickly the feeders were emptied, so I kept putting out more and more food. I got more and more birds all right, but the new ones were starlings and grackles and morning doves that got attracted to the feast. It got to be a big nuisance as well as going through 50 # bags of birdseed very fast. Eventually I figured out to put out a lot less, tailored much more specifically to what the birds I want around like, with tailored delivery systems (like upside down feeders, etc) and focus more on planting natural food for them. No more nuisance birds.

Moral of the story, you can't fill them up by providing more and more, just attract more...

Cage in what you don't want them to eat.

[garden5]

I put a battery operated radio on a talk radio station when I see signs of coon damage so far the last three years it seems to work I turn it on at dusk and off at daylight

That's a clever idea . How loud do you have it? Are you in the country or the suburbs?