Raccoons - Suggestions

[Aerkuld]

During our safety meeting today, along with some stunning advice about ladders which we obviously use all the time in a design office, we were told that we have a problem with raccoons running amock on our outdoor test area.
I was wondering how we can address this issue. Unfortunately we can't shoot them because we're not permitted to take firearms into work. Traps won't be any good because they might injure the people working out there, likewise poison wouldn't be allowed because it would be a hazardous substance. So we'll be forced to come up with some alternatives, all of which will be crap. I had a few suggestions, see what you think...

1. Put up some signs "No Raccoons Permitted". If the raccoons can't read then just a red circle around a picture of a raccoon with a diagonal red line through it.

2. Make the raccoons complete a form requesting access to the test site (which is what we have to do) and if they're found there without the paperwork get security to escort them off.

3. Leave some trash cans outside the fence to occupy them.

4. Get some wolves. They'd probably have to be friendly wolves so they don't eat the testers, but hungry enough to want to eat raccoons. We might have to send them up north in summer because it would be too hot here for them, or provide an air conditioned hut. This will be expensive.

5. Rather than chase them off, round them up and send them to work in HR. They'll probably work for peanuts.

6. Install my raccoon scaring device out there. I know it works because I've had it on my desk all afternoon and haven't seen a single raccoon.

I'm so full of great ideas I should get a job in government, but it's been one of those days.

Anyone got any good ideas? Seriously, how do you get rid of raccoons?

[RickM]

I would call the local animal control agency to see if they will address the problem. If they don't they'll likely advise you to hire a pest control business.

Other than that you can rent or but Havahart box traps to catch and release in a far off wooded area.

[pwd72s]

http://www.havahart.com/

No danger to humans with these traps....I've "relocated" more than one raccoon using these traps. (I've also popped a few...)

[ckissick]

Here you go.

http://www.raccoon-x.com/

They just got three of my chickens the other night, so I'm looking into this, too. The signage doesn't work. Ask me how I know.

[Dueller]

Simple:

1. Order a buncha parts from pelican that will be packed in a ton of styrofoam peanuts.

2. Have a fish fry and invite all your friends to help you install said parts.

3. Save fish fry grease (allow to cool) and styrofoam peanuts.

4. Place styrofoam peanuts in various piles around racoon problem areas.

5. Pour fish fry grease over said styrofoam peanuts.

6. Wait three-five days and pick up dead racoons.

[bell]

"Where's Eddie? He usually eats these damn things. "

[Aerkuld]

Originally Posted by Dueller

Simple:

1. Order a buncha parts from pelican that will be packed in a ton of styrofoam peanuts.

2. Have a fish fry and invite all your friends to help you install said parts.

3. Save fish fry grease (allow to cool) and styrofoam peanuts.

4. Place styrofoam peanuts in various piles around racoon problem areas.

5. Pour fish fry grease over said styrofoam peanuts.

6. Wait three-five days and pick up dead racoons.

Now that sounds like a win win situation.
I get parts, Wayne gets a donation to the 959 restoration fund, if I had any friends they'd get a fish fry, AND we'd eliminate the raccoon problem. Heck there might even be enough meat on them for a chilli and Davey Crocket hats for winter mornings!

[cool_chick]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

http://www.havahart.com/

No danger to humans with these traps....I've "relocated" more than one raccoon using these traps. (I've also popped a few...)

Awww, dude, why pop them?

[onewhippedpuppy]

I say go with the wolves. But install a video camera first.

[targa911S]

mix pepsi and anti freeze. put a bowl out for them. bye bye.

[sammyg2]

We have problems with racoons getting into the high voltage equipment where I work. last time it cost us about $15 million and caused the price of gas to go up about 5 cents locally. We now have humane traps set all over the place and catch about one coon a week.
When we do, we call the humane society and they come pick it up and release it into the wild where it won't do any harm.

[ckissick]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

We have problems with racoons getting into the high voltage equipment where I work. last time it cost us about $15 million and caused the price of gas to go up about 5 cents locally. We now have humane traps set all over the place and catch about one coon a week.
When we do, we call the humane society and they come pick it up and release it into the wild where it won't do any harm.

15 mil? Man, I'll never complain again when they eat my hens.

[sammyg2]

Yep, a racoon killed the power to one of our main feeders, the others dropped out in a cascade. It wasn't supposed to work like that, DWP said "sorry".
Do that to an oil refinery and it can take a week or two to get it back up and on spec.
With an average daily throughput of around 4.2 million gallons, that's a lot of change.
Fortunately for us (unfortunate for the consumer) that same racoon took out two other refineries in the same area but for a much shorter duration. By the time we were back up and running the lower supply had driven up the wholesale price of gas to the point where we eventually made up some of the money we lost.

[Aerkuld]

You know who those raccoons were working for don't you?

[rouxroux]

A few properly placed posters of Fess Parker should do the trick (although the "real" Dan'l did not wear a coonskin hat)

[Mule]

Originally Posted by Aerkuld

During our safety meeting today, along with some stunning advice about ladders which we obviously use all the time in a design office, we were told that we have a problem with raccoons running amock on our outdoor test area.
I was wondering how we can address this issue. Unfortunately we can't shoot them because we're not permitted to take firearms into work. Traps won't be any good because they might injure the people working out there, likewise poison wouldn't be allowed because it would be a hazardous substance. So we'll be forced to come up with some alternatives, all of which will be crap. I had a few suggestions, see what you think...

1. Put up some signs "No Raccoons Permitted". If the raccoons can't read then just a red circle around a picture of a raccoon with a diagonal red line through it.

2. Make the raccoons complete a form requesting access to the test site (which is what we have to do) and if they're found there without the paperwork get security to escort them off.

3. Leave some trash cans outside the fence to occupy them.

4. Get some wolves. They'd probably have to be friendly wolves so they don't eat the testers, but hungry enough to want to eat raccoons. We might have to send them up north in summer because it would be too hot here for them, or provide an air conditioned hut. This will be expensive.

5. Rather than chase them off, round them up and send them to work in HR. They'll probably work for peanuts.

6. Install my raccoon scaring device out there. I know it works because I've had it on my desk all afternoon and haven't seen a single raccoon.

I'm so full of great ideas I should get a job in government, but it's been one of those days.

Anyone got any good ideas? Seriously, how do you get rid of raccoons?

They already have people much better at this than you. Look at the Mexican border.

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by cool_chick

Awww, dude, why pop them?

They spread disease...like rabies, distemper, parvo, etc.

[NICKG]

you could hang a noose out side..i hear that scares coons away......

[targa911S]

Originally Posted by NICKG

you could hang a noose out side..i hear that scares coons away......

Bad Nick...now go to your room.

[craigster59]

Grant them amnesty, it's the moral thing to do...