Critter visitor

[Bakersdozen]

I have a critter getting into things right after dark.  Are raccoons attracted to sugar syrup?  A month ago, I spilled some sugar syrup on the ground.  I notice something had clawed the ground at the sight of the spill.  By chance, I left a feeder bucket out and someone managed to get the lid off!  The critter hasn't made an attempt to mess with a hive yet.  I heard something at the kitchen door the other night but I scared it off before I could see what it was.  If it was a skunk, I am sure we would smell him.  No smell.   

[Wandering Man]

Coons are scavengers.  They are attracted to anything edible.

Coons are also very smart and good with their hands. 

You might set a live trap to see what you catch.  Dog food, cat food, or peanut butter will attract the critter.  We had several families of coons using the storm sewers as highways when we lived in Aransas Pass.  I caught a coon or possum every night over a period of six months when we lived there.  I usually had two cups in the cage, one with bait, and one with water, just in case it was a few hours before I got to them.  We'd travel at least five miles out of town to release them.  And even then, I'm not sure if they found their way back.

[Some Day]

Yes, raccoons like sugar syrup.  Once they figure out what is in your buckets they will be back with friends and family every night.

They also like taking rides in live cages and depending upon how far away you take them they may be one or two nights away from returning to your syrup buckets.

If you have small dogs or cats around they will go into the live cages if you use cat food, peanut butter or meat products for bait. This provides the raccoon with some entertainment while he/she is eating your syrup and watching the pet in the cage.

Using marshmallows for bait will be more specific to catching only raccoons.  I would also suggest a more permanent end to Rocky Raccoons ride in the live cage, but that is up to you.

[Jen]

Providing entertainment while he/she is eating your syrup... That's funny Some Day 

And then Baker, it could be a skunk too. If it doesn't feel threatened by anything in particular it has no reason to stink up the neighborhood. Either way, if coon or skunk is pregnant.... coons 1-6 babies, skunks 4-7 babies in just one litter. That would definitely put your hives at risk 

[apisbees]

http://www.spark-away.com/
I contacted Dick Nichols in regards to our convention last month in Kelowna and he could not attend the conference on his own but did send us a unit to display on his behalf and business cards and information sheets. There was good interest in it, and in the end bid up to what it would cost to have it shipped into Canada with duties, taxes, and exchange.
Could be a solution to scaring the little buggers away.

[neillsayers]

B12,

 I've had quite a bit of experience with coons, skunks and opossums. All three are omnivores and once they learn of a food source they will not give up until the food is gone or they are eliminated. I've live trapped many skunks and had them walk up to me in the woods, they have no discernible smell unless they feel attacked then they turn around, raise their tail and let loose. A friend of mine tried to convince me that I can catch them with my bare hands as long as I hold their tail down so they won't spray. I never took him up on it, though I have caught many coons, possums and armadillos with bare hands.
 As for live trapping, Cheap sardines or jack mackerel makes a great bait but will also trap every cat in the neighborhood. If that is an issue, grape jelly makes an excellent vegan bait.

Good Luck!

[LazyBkpr]

I have caught quite a lot of skunks in live traps. Walk up with a sheet, slowly, and lower it over the cage, then you can pick it up, sheet and all and transport it wherever you wish.
   I once pulled a live unharmed coon out of a rotting log by the tail, and held him up for my buddies to see...  Unfortunately the hounds all saw it too...   That turned into a train wreck... I was the one who got hit by the train.

[Some Day]

As far as holding down a skunk's tail to prevent spraying, we tried it once as kids.  My younger brother and I caught a skunk in a foot hold trap.  I had my brother hold down the tail while I distracted the skunk from the front end.  Apparently my brother was slow in holding down the tail or not skillful in the proper angle that a skunk's tail must be held down.  Any way, he received a dose in the face from the skunk.

We have always believed that this is what adversely effected my brother's brain.  He was the only one of eight children to graduate from college and then go on to earn a Masters Degree in Mathematics.

[Bakersdozen]

 
You guys are too funny!
I am hoping the situation takes care of itself.  I am pushing the calendar in regards to feeding sugar syrup.  The buckets need to come off and I need to close up the hives for the winter. 
The critter coming to the kitchen door is concerning.  It isn't afraid of us.  I had just been by the kitchen door.  My scent or presence should have deterred him.  Right?
Also, there are a few cats in the neighborhood I would like to relocate.  They think my yard is their litter box and the birds here are lunch.

[neillsayers]

Some Day,

That's what little brothers are for!

[Bakersdozen]

Well it was Thanksgiving feast for all yesterday!  The raccoon was seen yesterday, by our kids, out by the parked cars.  It came back after dark to eat an apple pie that was left over.  Due to lack of refrigerator room, I had the pie on the back deck in a metal cake carrier.  It got into the carrier and ate the pie!

A raccoon that is out and about during the day concerns me. 

[Some Day]

I would make a concentrated effort to eliminate the raccoon or raccoons.  Eating an apple pie would mean war at my place.

The main worry I would have about a fearless raccoon would be that it has rabies or canine distemper.  The distemper would not infect humans, only your canines.  Rabies will infect any one or any animal bittern by the raccoon.  Secondary worries would be roundworms from their feces.  Even if it is not sick it will become an annoying pest, as I think you are starting to see.

I have had problems with them discovering that chickens are stupid and tasty.  In a one week period of time I had them kill eight chickens out of my coop.  An equal number of raccoons were eliminated in that time period, but I ran out of chickens before I ran out of raccoons.

[neillsayers]

Sounds like apples would make a good bait. If you do trap it, please don't release it anywhere within miles of other homes. That just passes the problem along.