Best Bait for Trapping Raccoons
Filed under: Ask Grant, Predators
Grant, I enjoyed your GrowingDeer.tv segment on raccoon trapping (GDTV 58). We have a real problem on our farm. Do you have a preferred bait for raccoons that the squirrels don’t prefer? We seem to have more squirrels springing our traps than coons! We currently use Havahart traps. Do you have a recommended size for coons, and do you prefer a 1-door or a 2-door model? Thanks so much for your advice! John
John,
I use inexpensive dog food with small kibble size. Raccoons, opossums, and even foxes are attracted to dog food. Yes, squirrels will sometimes consume the bait, but crows seem worse! I like to toss some bait across the road/trail where the trap is set to increase the attractiveness of the set. However, crows are bad to consume that bait before dark.
I like the single door traps and typically use live traps with a 8” x 8” or 9’ x 9” opening. I like the smaller traps as then I can haul more in a truck.
Growing Deer (and trapping) together,
Grant
