racoon problems...how can i keep them out?

[bloospirit]

Hi everyone,
I just moved to Sebastopol and am worried about keeping my cat safe and racoons away...Any advice....I'd like to leave a door open for her while I'm at work (I get home sometimes as late as 9pm) but am worried that the racoons will come in my house while I'm away....I'm planning on locking the door at night but I've seen racoons around my house as early as 7pm....ANy advice? How do I keep them away????????? I appreciate all suggestions and advice....
Cheers, Angela

[DCDarling]

You cannot leave your doors open.
Raccoons will waltz right in and start dismantling your kitchen, terrorizing your cats, and they will come back with their friends.
In the Spring they come back with HUGE ATTITUDE because they have babies to feed.
Close your doors anytime you are not actually in the house, awake.
Make a cat flap that only a cat can get to.
Never leave food outside, especially cat or dog food.
Remove all sources of water, if you can.
If you can deny them water, leave out an open face peanut butter sandwich. They'll have to split to find water.

D

[tezor]

We had the same problem, we bought a cat door with a magnet that goes on the cats collar. The door won't open to allow any but the cat with the collar inside, I believe it cost about $65. Hope this helps. ]

[saskia]

angela and others..this from west marin BB, great lady, she is devoted to answer questions re: human plus pet/wildlife interface.. (https://groups.yahoo.com/group/sgvcommunity/message/1517;_ylc=X3oDMTJybGV0ZDRsBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzE1MjQwNTU5BGdycHNwSWQDMTYwMDA0NDAwNARtc2dJZAMxNTE3BHNlYwNkbXNnBHNsawN2bXNnBHN0aW1lAzExNTk5NTkzMzI-)




Relocating Wildlife is Ineffective and Illegal (https://groups.yahoo.com/group/sgvcommunity/message/1517;_ylc=X3oDMTJybGV0ZDRsBF9TAzk3MzU5NzE1BGdycElkAzE1MjQwNTU5BGdycHNwSWQDMTYwMDA0NDAwNARtc2dJZAMxNTE3BHNlYwNkbXNnBHNsawN2bXNnBHN0aW1lAzExNTk5NTkzMzI-)

Posted by: "meganisadore" [email protected] ([email protected]?Subject=Re:+Relocating%20Wildlife%20is%20Ineffective%20and%20Illegal) meganisadore (https://profiles.yahoo.com/meganisadore)

Tue Oct 3, 2006 2:23 pm (PST)

Hello, Valley Neighbors,

I've recently received phone calls from folks disturbed at seeing trapped wildlife being
removed from properties and relocated, most often to Samuel P. Taylor Park. The
following are the reasons why trapping and relocating wildlife will NOT solve your wildlife
problems, as well as a link to the ROMP (Rescued Orphan Mammal Program) website,
where you can find a plethora of information about how to solve wildlife issues humanely,
effectively and inexpensively. You can also call or email me directly with wildlife issues.

The common idea that removing a few animals will resolve a wildlife issue is a myth.
Removing one particular animal that is causing you a problem simply makes room for
another animal to continue the behavior. It's far more effective to remove or make it
impossible for the animal to get at whatever is attracting it to that spot. Pet food, pet
doors, new grass or sod, potted plants, open windows, loose boards or shingles, all invite
wildlife to come on in and share the wealth! There is hope, however. SF ROMP has been
solving wildlife issues without trapping or poisons for 6 years. Check out our website,
www.SFROMP.org (https://www.sfromp.org/) for written information on wildlife issues, and feel free to call or email
me directly if your questions are not answered on the website. Phone and email
consultations are free.

Did you know that in California, it is illegal to relocate trapped wildlife?
California Fish and Game Code (CCR 679) states that trapped wildlife may not be
relocated. Trapped wildlife must be immediately killed or released in the immediate area -
defined in CDFG policy as the property on which the animal was trapped (not your
neighbor's property, a nearby park or the next village).

Moving wildlife from one location to another is not as humane as you might think it is.
Much of our local wildlife lives in family groups for a large part of the year, and has
dependent juveniles later in the year than one might think. For example, there are many
young raccoons around who are not yet ready to leave their mothers, and while there are
few still nursing, there are plenty out there still dependent upon mama to help them find
food. ROMP has taken in 9 new juvenile raccoons in the past 3 weeks, 7 as a result of
their mothers being trapped and relocated. This is an unnecessary and expensive
proposition for us, and a great hardship on both babies and mothers.

It can be fatal to remove a wild animal from its territory into another. Wildlife is very
jealous of the resources in their territories, and do not welcome new members. At ROMP,
we care for numerous animals injured in territorial battles, particularly raccoons. In their
home territories, most animals have enough knowledge of the area and of the other
animals in it to avoid difficult situations if they want to. Not so in an entirely new territory.

Please, do not trap and relocate wildlife!

Megan Isadore
Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator
488-1957

Hi everyone,
I just moved to Sebastopol and am worried about keeping my cat safe and racoons away...Any advice....I'd like to leave a door open for her while I'm at work (I get home sometimes as late as 9pm) but am worried that the racoons will come in my house while I'm away....I'm planning on locking the door at night but I've seen racoons around my house as early as 7pm....ANy advice? How do I keep them away????????? I appreciate all suggestions and advice....
Cheers, Angela

[Looksgood]

I had a problem with a possum that kept coming in my house; same deal, had to leave a door open for my cat. The best advice I got (which worked for the ant problem I had too) was that non-domestic creatures will generally only come in your house if there is food available for them. In my case the solution (possum) was to put the cat food up on a counter (possums don't jump) and for the ants, keep my kitchen cleaner. Do you leave food out for the cat all the time? You need to find a location where the cat can get it but the racoon can't, which may be harder than with a possum, as raccoons are very clever creatures. Otherwise only put food out when the door is closed.

Hope this helps

Patrick


Hi everyone,
I just moved to Sebastopol and am worried about keeping my cat safe and racoons away...Any advice....I'd like to leave a door open for her while I'm at work (I get home sometimes as late as 9pm) but am worried that the racoons will come in my house while I'm away....I'm planning on locking the door at night but I've seen racoons around my house as early as 7pm....ANy advice? How do I keep them away????????? I appreciate all suggestions and advice....
Cheers, Angela

[gypsey]

Dear Angela: it sounds to me like there is a very simple solution to your problem. Simply install a magnetized cat door. This is what many rural people do. Your cat will wear a small magnet on her collar (I guess it works like a gargage door opener) and this will enable only her, and not other animals including wildlife, to enter your home. Second, be sure you are not leaving anything around your property such as garbage, exposed composting pile etc that will attract racoons as they are opportunistic by nature. Last but not least, please do not buy into the myth that Sebastopol is crime-free. Leaving your door open is high risk even here in the country. Good luck, Gypsey.