animal nesting problem

 It seems that a rather large animal (maybe a racoon?) has created a
winter home in an enclosed storage area next to my basement. I recently
installed a door to this storage area to prevent this sort of thing
from happening, but it seems that the critter made it in before I was
able to get the door fully functional. Now that the door is functional,
I think he is trapped inside. This animal is tearing up insullation and
causing general trouble inside this area. Does anyone have any
suggestions about how to take care of this problem? Thanks!

  On 26 Feb 2006 15:39:27 -0800, "Charles"


An appropriate sized live catch trap set inside the storage area
might might be an option.  If so, think about what you want to do with
the captured critter and how to handle a critter inhabited cage
without getting injured.

Can you describe the storage area more completely?

BEH

 Blue Event Horizon wrote:

tearing up insullation and causing general trouble inside this area. Does anyone
have any suggestions about how to take care of this problem? Thanks!

We have numerous coons around here.  Live traps are worth a try but did
not work for me.  We caught a different cat for every night the trap
was out there but we did not catch any racoons.  So give it a try but
if the live trap doesn't work for you then you may have to prepare to
do battle with the racoon!

The time I went after my coon I wore a thick leather jacket and goggles
to protect the eyes.  I also went armed with a 2x4 in one hand and a
garden sprayer in the other.  Anyway, when I went up there there was no
racoon and so no violence was necessary. I think it is a good idea to
be extremely wary of a wild animal who may be sick or injured and
prepared to fight for it's life.  I have never seen a coon in a fight
but I'm guessing they can put up a fearsome display like any animal
will if cornered.

So confront the coon if you must but wear protective clothing
especially eye protection.  A motorcyle helment and baseball bat might
give you some confidence.  If you put one of those sprayers on the end
of a garden hose it can make an effective water cannon.  You might be
able to direct the critter towards an open door with it from a safe
distance.  If the thing is trapped in there with no way to get out then
you may need to be prepared to kill it.   I think it is legal to kill a
coon anytime. A pest extermination service might be a good idea.  They
probably do this all the time.  Good luck.

 

Call a pest-control service?  I've had problems with squirrels chewing
their way into my attic, and no way do I want to be up on a
3-story-high ladder myself to deal with it.  They put a one-way door
over the hole to allow the critters to exit on their own, and after
about a week come back to seal up the hole permanently.  Raccoons are
nasty enough that it's something I'd leave to a pro, too.  Even if you
trap the thing yourself, what are you going to do with it?

-Sandra

 On 26 Feb 2006 15:39:27 -0800, someone wrote:


Open the door and let him out?

In addition to opening the door, put a bright light and a loud radio
in there so he won't want to stay.


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