a raccoon in my trap

[davidpizzica]

I have a raccoon in my humane trap I set for Nikki. He is thoroughly irate and p-oed! Tomorrow I'll call a person who can deal with him. I don't dare touch him myself!

[Karen]

Yikes - maybe Animal Control has an after-hours number? Poor thing must be really mad!

[Hellow]

Oh heck, raccoons arent mean :b. I would just walk over there and unlock the trap.

[Freedom]

Youc an do it, David!

Stand over the trap, straddle it. Reach forward and open the front door. Raccoon is running AWAY from you and you are BOTH happy!

Wonder if it is the same one you caught last time? If so, no wonder he is mad! He fell for the bait AGAIN!

If you really don't want to do it, place a towel over the trap, it will help calm him down.

[lizbud]

Oh heck, raccoons arent mean :b. I would just walk over there and unlock the trap.

That's right. The raccoon is more afraid of you that you are leary of him.
It will just run off.

[Catty1]

Did you let your neighbours know to watch for Nikki???? The notes, like Phred suggested?

Hope she is back soon.

[KYS]

Did you let the raccoon go?

[sumbirdy]

Oh heck, raccoons arent mean :b. I would just walk over there and unlock the trap.

Well they are if they're cornered. I know this isn't a situation where it is cornered but still, with it being mad, I probably wouldn't dare open it myself either.

[jennielynn1970]

I second that one.

Raccoons can be really nasty if they are threatened or scared or mad. Full grown, they are not small animals, and they can do some major damage to animals.

I'd wait until animal control got there to release it. Be safe, rather than sorry. Rabies is a risk as well with raccoons.

[shais_mom]

I agree - they aren't mean but they are if its sick or cornered and pinned.
My dad was in a man lift with one once and it was really peeved when he got out!

But I also don't agree with leaving the poor thing in a trap over nite.
I hope you got it out before morning. It would be like you locked in the bathroom for 20 some hours.

[Emeraldgreen]

We used to feed dry dog food kibble to a whole bunch of raccoons living in a ravine in Toronto when I was a kid. They were fairly friendly but of course we had food for them on a regular basis so that's probably why.
I suppose if this raccoon is angry already it might be a problem but I would think if you could get behind the trap and open it he/she would be mainly focused on exiting the trap and getting the he** out of there.
Raccoons and cats have been known to get into nasty scraps. I wonder if Nikki has come across this raccoon. It might be the reason she is not coming out of hiding. She could be spooked or injured. Do you have a garage that you could leave slightly open that Nikki could sneak into when she feels up to it? Or maybe a basement window during the day? I know that you might end up with the raccoon again but it might be worth trying if it meant that Nikki might come back inside.

[Medusa]

I guess it would depend on when the raccoon went into the trap. I was taught that they're nocturnal, so if he went into the trap during the day, he may be sick and/or rabid, so steer clear from the poor, scared little guy until Animal Control can assess the situation.

[shais_mom]

did you get the raccoon out of the trap?
have you seen Nikki again?
an update would be appreciated.

[davidpizzica]

did you get the raccoon out of the trap?
have you seen Nikki again?
an update would be appreciated.

I'm sorry I didn't update this sooner, but with running around to various Drs. apppointments I didn't have the chance. No, I only saw her that once, but at least I know she's alive. I (with the help of a friend) was able to free the raccoon. We lifted the front of thhe trap up and tied it open with wire ties and we backed away and he walked out of the trap himself. He still snarled at us, but realized that he could leave and left.

[shais_mom]

that's good that the raccoon left AND left you alone.
I'm sure Nikki is just scared - and maybe she found a boyfriend.