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Tips on Building a Raccoon Trap

Raccoons are protected in many states, but it is legal to trap them in cases where they become overly destructive. Raccoons often forage for food in suburban areas close to human homes, and when they do this they can do serious damage to private property. Raccoons aren't that difficult to catch, but they are difficult to hold. Raccoons can be difficult pests to eliminate, but there are some trapping methods that work very well much of the time.

Use Live Traps Whenever Possible
- Trapping live animals is almost always preferable to fatal traps. Pets and unintended animals are frequent victims of traps, and it is always unfortunate when another animal is killed by one. Many fatal traps work by clamping down on an animal's body or one of its legs, and for obvious reasons these can be dangerous for the trapper as well as the animal. Since raccoons are protected in many states, fatal traps could cause lots of problems that can be avoided with live traps. Bait your trap with nonmeat items. Raccoons are omnivores, so you will not need meat to catch one. Meat may attract a stray cat instead.
Box Traps
- The most effective way to catch a live raccoon is with a box trap. These can be made from either metal or wood, but they all work according to the same principle. The idea is to lure the raccoon into a box that is at least 10 by 12 by 32 inches and close the box with some kind of mechanism triggered by the raccoon taking the bait. It should be made out of heavy materials, since you do not want the raccoon to escape before you release it. Plywood usually works well for an easily-constructed trap, but the door that slams shut should be made out of sheet metal. Raccoon traps of this kind are often spring-loaded, something that can be achieved with a homemade trap using a mousetrap. When the mousetrap goes off, it hits a nail that releases the door to the trap.
Be Patient
- Some raccoons can be caught fairly easily. They quickly enter a trap in the first encounter, making the process of catching them an easy one-night endeavor. Raccoons can be tricky, however. They sometimes will observe a trap for a few days before deciding if it is safe. For these occasions, it is often a good idea to surround the trap with bait or leave a trail of bait leading into the box. Bait the trap, but do not set it to go off just yet. A box trap can be disabled by placing a twist tie on the closing mechanism, thereby keeping the door from slamming shut. Once the raccoon thinks the trap is safe, it's time to arm it.
Know Your State's Laws
- It's always important to know what to do with a raccoon when you catch it. The animal can usually be relocated. If you do this, make sure that you take it at least 10 miles away. No matter what you do, make sure you take a look at what the state laws are regarding catching and releasing wild animals.

Animals & Science