Well, howdy again Okies! Today’s topic? Raccoons. Cute little furry creatures of the night, you say? Hogwash, these little trash can pandas are in large part responsible for the decimation of pheasant, quail, and turkey. Don’t believe me? I bet y’all don’t see near the numbers of birds as years past. Sure, they aren’t solely responsible, but I read a recent report that raccoons are responsible for about 70% of the decline in game birds (along with opossums).
I’m familiar with two different programs that will pay $10/tail for a raccoon in an effort to revive the game bird population. As an example, as to their numbers, I’ve personally caught 24 raccoons in a month on my own little measly twenty acres in which I live. While they also eat plants, they’ll consume eggs, small rodents, and insects.
Adults range anywhere from five pounds up to thirty-five pounds. I’m told a large male raccoon can squeeze itself into a hole in a tree that’s barely a few inches in diameter.
Breeding from January to March, females will give birth to up to seven cubs (or “kits”) later in the spring, although the average is generally three to four cubs. Most only live to be a couple years old, although some can last up to six years or so.
Ready for the raccoon trapping secret food? Captain Crunch cereal. I’m not kidding. Grab a Z-trap or a Duke trap (with a heavy, long anchor), put out some cereal, and voila, you’ll catch raccoons. Whether making a raccoon-skin cap or simply trying to help the bird population, raccoons need to be minimized in numbers.
