Im sick of the racoons getting into my trashcan in middle of the night and spilling it all over the place. Now I just bought a mercury switch ($6) and a 100 feet wire from amazon ($9). Im going to hook these up to a LED flashlight so that when the racoon opens the garbage can lid, the mercury switch closes the circuit, and the led shines into my bedroom window. Then, I see if racoon can outrun pellet. (Yes I already caught everything a trap would catch and relocated, but still have some too smart for trap, and I dont want to use poison because I have pets. Also bought new can, straps, etc but they always get in or spend much of night trying which drives my dog nuts). I could have bought hunting motion detector, but it seems they are line of site and my bedroom is around the corner, and are prone to false alarms and battery drains. Comments?
racoon early warning system
- Thread starter stinkyonions
- Start date
I've read about some folks using what they call a "ding donger" with good success.
A "ding donger" is a driveway alarm from Harbor Freight.
Might give you more lead time.
A "ding donger" is a driveway alarm from Harbor Freight.
Might give you more lead time.
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What I do is bait them with catfood in my backyard. Then sit in my living room watch TV then every once in a while get up flick on the spot light and if there's a coon i walk into another room grab my gun slide open the window and pop! take the coon then just repeat the process until they stop coming. The best I've done is about 4 in one night. Good luck hope you get em!
Leo : )
Leo : )
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I've had much success with the ding dongers and the meow mix with the soft center. That stuff is like Crack for raccoons they just can't resist it. Your ideal sounds good but the ding dongers are simple and no need to reset just wait for next one. Goodluck post picks if you're successful.
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Okay. Now I ordered the "ding donger" from amazon. $15. Now will buy the soft center meow mix. I want a new hat by weeks end.
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One more thing, the sensor usually has a red light on it that comes on when activated. I put a piece of black electrical tape over the light to avoid any spooking. Goodluck.
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I use drive way sensors as well. My actual sensor window lights up green and does not seem to scare the critters one bit. I wish it did because they can't seem to resist the sunflower seeds I put in my bird feeders. Just keep in mind that on "some" driveway sensors the lights may not be able to be covered up. It just depends on the configuration. Good luck!
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This is what I use. Works really well. 4 AA batteries will last about 8 months in the summer but die quickly in cold weather. I use an electrical lamp timer on the Base unit so I don't get woken up at 2am. Range, on the sensitive setting, is about 20 feet with a 30 degree angle for small animals.
http://www.amazon.com/Chamberlain-CWA2000-Wireless-Motion-System/dp/B002ISVJL6/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1435721003&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=driveway+sensor+chamblain
http://www.amazon.com/Chamberlain-CWA2000-Wireless-Motion-System/dp/B002ISVJL6/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1435721003&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=driveway+sensor+chamblain
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I know it's not as much fun, but there are motion sensitive sprinklers that are supposed to put off raiding raccoons, dogs, cats, etc. A motion activated can of mace or bear spray would also work, and you wouldn't be popping up and down all night.
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Although the motion sprinklers sound like a good idea they are battery hogs. They run on 9V batteries that always seem to be dead after a day or two. Poorly made and expensive to run.
Red.
Red.
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Had a similar problem. I watched them roll through every night for about a week. Their timing was very similar each night. So I setup a shooting position where I was in cover but had a good clean kill shot, and waited for them. Once they arrived, I hit them with a flashlight (which didn't spook them at all), and then hit them with the Bobcat. Problem solved. 
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Well, got a skunk last nite anyway...after it sprayed my dog. She loved it tho. Usually a barking standoff, and this encounter had finality.
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