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Moderated by Deepika, EleanorSews
Posted on: 7/14/10 12:54 PM ET
o.k. caught two raccoons so far and let them go farther out in the woods. They broke all my NEW hummingbird feeders (that had bee guards on them). So that is $100 down the tubes. Then they started making a mess of my Elderberry tree. My limbs are hanging almost to the ground. I harvested all of them last night.
They even stole some of the hummingbird feeders and took to the woods.
I want to feed my hummingbirds and the birds but how do I keep these beasts from even entering my yard! Woods are behind my house. Help please.
They even stole some of the hummingbird feeders and took to the woods.

I want to feed my hummingbirds and the birds but how do I keep these beasts from even entering my yard! Woods are behind my house. Help please.
Posted on: 7/14/10 1:18 PM ET
Trapping works but I think you need to take them a few miles away. They were probably back before you were.
I had red squirrels - either 10-20 or a couple of troublemakers who kept returning. (joke) I finally took them 10 miles away including across a freeway to keep them away.
-- Edited on 7/14/10 1:20 PM --
I had red squirrels - either 10-20 or a couple of troublemakers who kept returning. (joke) I finally took them 10 miles away including across a freeway to keep them away.

-- Edited on 7/14/10 1:20 PM --
Posted on: 7/14/10 1:21 PM ET
In reply to KathySews
Quote: KathySews
Trapping works but I think you need to take them a few miles away. They were probably back before you were.
Trapping works but I think you need to take them a few miles away. They were probably back before you were.
Umm.. the people who live wherever you are letting them go don't want them either...

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Tess
"I am a degenerate art supply junkie" - Jane Davenport
“I base most of my fashion taste on what doesn't itch." - Gilda Radner
"I am a degenerate art supply junkie" - Jane Davenport
“I base most of my fashion taste on what doesn't itch." - Gilda Radner
Posted on: 7/14/10 1:29 PM ET
In reply to TessKwiltz
oops, should have specified that we have large areas of state land
Posted on: 7/14/10 1:35 PM ET
All I can say is that a skunk digs wherever I've dug a hole in my awful soil and I find the plant uprooted the next day, or even missing, and a 2-gallon sized hole where it was. Chicken wire is now layed down and anchored all around my funny looking garden.
Probably easier dealing with skunks than raccoons, at least my hummingbird and oriole feeders are safe.
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Probably easier dealing with skunks than raccoons, at least my hummingbird and oriole feeders are safe.
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Surviving is important but thriving is elegant.
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou
Posted on: 7/14/10 2:18 PM ET
In reply to Valerie Jo
Raccoons are extremely smart as well as social, which means mothers can teach their young about new food sources--and then the female children tend to stay with the mom as they get older, so the tribe gets larger and smarter. Makes it very hard to get rid of them.
Here's a site with info about various kinds of approaches. Since you want to encourage your hummers, you will probably have to avail yourself of special fences, repellents, and so on to discourage the coons.
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Here's a site with info about various kinds of approaches. Since you want to encourage your hummers, you will probably have to avail yourself of special fences, repellents, and so on to discourage the coons.
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Elona
Posted on: 7/15/10 10:44 AM ET
Is it too obvious to suggest getting a medium to large sized dog or two? I didn't have any choice after my move (not that I don't like dogs) but with bobcats, coyotes and skunks, I needed to create a less than hospitable environment for our wildlife friends. I used to have a horrible skunk problem but one dog doesn't care how often they spray him which the skunks seem to have figured out.
I don't have any hummingbird feeders but I have tons of hummingbirds around, buzz buzz buzz all day long. My place seems to be a nesting area for the females. I can't put up a feeder (I have six cats) but I'm already planning for next year, to put up more of the kinds of plants and flowers they like, farther from the house where they like to hang out. I have the perfect place to put a bunch of trumpet vines in that the birds can get them but the vines can be easily managed -and cover the very ugly side of a metal building.
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I don't have any hummingbird feeders but I have tons of hummingbirds around, buzz buzz buzz all day long. My place seems to be a nesting area for the females. I can't put up a feeder (I have six cats) but I'm already planning for next year, to put up more of the kinds of plants and flowers they like, farther from the house where they like to hang out. I have the perfect place to put a bunch of trumpet vines in that the birds can get them but the vines can be easily managed -and cover the very ugly side of a metal building.
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http://fashion-incubator.com
Lessons from the sustainable sewing factory floor
Lessons from the sustainable sewing factory floor
Posted on: 7/15/10 11:33 AM ET
In reply to Kathleen Fasanella
Ok Kathleen - we can assume that the dog who doesn't mind getting sprayed also isn't allowed in the house 

We have a service here called Critter Connection who trap and relocate animals including raccoons. There is probably a company like that in your area.


We have a service here called Critter Connection who trap and relocate animals including raccoons. There is probably a company like that in your area.
Posted on: 7/15/10 12:51 PM ET
Well, I have two dogs. I have Kasey who is greyhound/lab/doberman mix who wants to kill the raccoons when we do trap one and I have Nickie a border collie/lab mix. He likes to chase but I don't think he would kill.
One year a rabbit had babies in our yard and he was across the yard laying on his stomach and memorized by something. I went over to him (because if he is not in my face then something is wrong) to see that he had taken 6 babies out of their hole, very gently (babies scream real loud and they hadn't), and was watching them. Their eyes weren't open yet. I yelled "leave it" and went to get my gloves and put them back in the hole. They did leave (bolted) later on that year so I know they survived.
Kasey, on the other hand, digs up moles and kills them. The first time she happily brought one to me (thinking I would just love the gift) and I screamed. Now she just kills them and leaves them in the yard.
However, they are not outside during the wee-hours of the raccoon dance. They are sleeping in the bed or on their bed or wherever inside.
I will check and see if we have a critter connection here. I'm just mad I lost so many hummingbird feeders.
One year a rabbit had babies in our yard and he was across the yard laying on his stomach and memorized by something. I went over to him (because if he is not in my face then something is wrong) to see that he had taken 6 babies out of their hole, very gently (babies scream real loud and they hadn't), and was watching them. Their eyes weren't open yet. I yelled "leave it" and went to get my gloves and put them back in the hole. They did leave (bolted) later on that year so I know they survived.
Kasey, on the other hand, digs up moles and kills them. The first time she happily brought one to me (thinking I would just love the gift) and I screamed. Now she just kills them and leaves them in the yard.
However, they are not outside during the wee-hours of the raccoon dance. They are sleeping in the bed or on their bed or wherever inside.
I will check and see if we have a critter connection here. I'm just mad I lost so many hummingbird feeders.
Posted on: 7/15/10 1:05 PM ET
In reply to Kathleen Fasanella
Quote: Kathleen Fasanella
I can't put up a feeder (I have six cats) but I'm already planning for next year, to put up more of the kinds of plants and flowers they like, farther from the house where they like to hang out. I have the perfect place to put a bunch of trumpet vines in that the birds can get them but the vines can be easily managed -and cover the very ugly side of a metal building.
I can't put up a feeder (I have six cats) but I'm already planning for next year, to put up more of the kinds of plants and flowers they like, farther from the house where they like to hang out. I have the perfect place to put a bunch of trumpet vines in that the birds can get them but the vines can be easily managed -and cover the very ugly side of a metal building.
We have hummingbird bushes (also knows as firecracker bushes) which draw them like crazy, so you might try that. Our 3 cats have given up on ever catching them, but it was pretty funny to watch them try for awhile. Those little birds are much too quick.
Sorry I am not much help with the raccoons, the road by our house is much too busy for them to make it long.
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http://beccabeckstuff.blogspot.com/
Damn the muslin, full speed ahead!
Damn the muslin, full speed ahead!
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