what to feed a racoon in live trap

• Raccoons prefer sweet foods like marshmallows or watermelon.
• Properly positioning the bait is crucial to success. Be sure to place the bait so the raccoon must fully enter the trap to reach it - see image for details.
• Raccoons can knock over a trap in attempt to steal the bait. Secure your trap by placing a weight or brick on top of it.
• For more bait options and expert tips, read How To: Raccoon Baits »

Full Answer

What do raccoons eat in a trap?

Raccoons are opportunistic eaters known to dine on a variety of foods, but they favor those high in fat or sugar. Sugary foods are the best to use in a live raccoon trap, because they target raccoons without attracting other unwanted wildlife.

What is the best bait for a raccoon trap?

Sugary foods are the best to use in a live raccoon trap, because they target raccoons without attracting other unwanted wildlife. Favorite raccoon baits include: Selecting a raccoon bait is only the first step in catching a raccoon. Placing your bait is critical, and just as important as the type of bait you use. The best bait placement will:

How do I trap a raccoon?

To prevent raccoons from knocking over your trap, secure it by placing a brick or weight on top of the trap. Create a trail of bait from the outside that leads your raccoon into the trap.

Is it okay to feed raccoons?

If you are merely interested in feeding local raccoons, please, PLEASE do not feed the wildlife. It is a lot of fun and it feels good to do, but it WILL result in animal suffering - critters dependent upon people, increased spread of disease, unhealthy animals, and starvation when the food source is inconsistent or stops.

What's the best bait for raccoons in a live trap?

Sweet foods and fatty meats are some of the best baits to place in a live trap when you want to lure a raccoon inside.

What food is irresistible to raccoons?

If you want to increase the chances that your neighborhood raccoon will go for your bait of choice, whether it be marshmallows, cat food, or bacon, drizzle a little honey over it. Remember, raccoons love sweets, so the double-shot of yumminess might be just what you need to entice them into the trap.

What food do you put in racoon trap?

Raccoons prefer sweet foods like marshmallows or watermelon. Properly positioning the bait is crucial to success. Be sure to place the bait so the raccoon must fully enter the trap to reach it - see image for details.

How long can you leave a raccoon in a live trap?

24 hoursDo not keep an animal trapped in the cage for longer than 24 hours. Any non-target animals should be released immediately. Once you have captured a raccoon in your live trap, check your local authorities to make sure you are correctly relocating the animal.

Do raccoons like peanut butter?

They will eat anything that is not entirely toxic. To successfully bait and trap a raccoon, you must look for foods that are aromatic and easy to spot. Examples of this include meat, fish, peanut butter, and dog food. These foods are sure to attract racoons, especially the peanut butter (because of its smell).

How do you catch a trap smart raccoon?

1:073:23Tip to Catch Bait Stealing Raccoon | Raccoon Cage Trap Tip - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo he would put his paws just in front of the treadle. Which would be right about here and he wouldMoreSo he would put his paws just in front of the treadle. Which would be right about here and he would reach over to the bait in the back. And he would avoid setting the trap.

How do you bait a live trap?

1:093:36How to Bait Live Animal Traps: Live Trapping Tips - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo use marshmallows watermelon strawberries or apples. If you've examined your trash. And found thatMoreSo use marshmallows watermelon strawberries or apples. If you've examined your trash. And found that some meat was taken you can also bait with cooked meat or fish rabbits.

Is cheese good for raccoons?

Do not feed junk food, dairy products, or processed grains to a raccoon. -If a raccoon figures out that you're a food source and starts approaching you, ignore it and stop feeding it. Allowing the raccoon to become tame isn't fair to the animal and could lead to human injury and illness.

What to do after trapping a raccoon?

Because raccoons are a rabies vector, they cannot be trapped and relocated under any circumstances. All trapped raccoons must be euthanized or released on the property where they were captured.

How far do you have to take a raccoon so it won't come back?

It will have great difficulty thriving in a new territory, or established raccoons will outcompete it or drive it out. They will travel far to return to the original territory, so if you don't want to see it again, it's recommended to bring it a minimum of 5, or even 10 miles away from the capture site.

Do raccoons come back to the same place?

Raccoons have been known to have multiple dens sites in a residential area. They may leave temporarily but are sure to return, especially if one of their other den sites is disrupted or destroyed.

Can raccoons escape traps?

Watch: Raccoon escapes homeowners by squeezing through trap Melanie Illich said that she has caught numerous little critters in her yard, but this one raccoon always escapes. In the video, she says she has been trying to catch the raccoon for three weeks, so she borrowed a trap with small wire squares.

What do wild raccoons like to eat?

Like their cousins, raccoons are true omnivores who eat a wide variety of foods, including nuts, seeds, fruits, eggs, insects, frogs, and crayfish. They will eat whatever is available, using their dexterous paws to pluck morsels from small hiding places.

What kind of fruit do raccoons like?

6. Fruit trees. Main Attraction: Raccoons are attracted to sweet foods, especially ripe fruit such as apples, peaches, and plums. They also feed on apricots, cherries, and mulberries.

Do raccoons like marshmallows?

Marshmallows This food always tops the list of foods that can successfully lure a raccoon. It is soft to chew and very appealing to raccoons. This wildlife is naturally attracted to the scent, size, and shape of marshmallows.

Do raccoons like popcorn?

Raccoons enjoy popcorn and it is safe as an occasional snack if the popcorn is not buttered or salted. Some raccoons may eat popcorn out of a bowl with their hands, while others may just dig in.

How to keep raccoons from knocking over traps?

To prevent raccoons from knocking over your trap, secure it by placing a brick or weight on top of the trap. Create a trail of bait from the outside that leads your raccoon into the trap. Always wear gloves when baiting your trap; raccoons may be wary of a human’s scent. Baiting is just one step in the trapping process.

Where to place bait in a 2 door trap?

For a 2-door trap, you have several options: you can place the bait just behind the trigger, bury it in the ground underneath the trigger plate/trap or hang it from the top of your trap.

What bait to use for raccoons?

However, there are several popular baits that have been very effective on raccoons. If cats are not a concern, sardines packed in oil is a good one. Another option is wet cat food—the kind that comes in the small can similar to a tuna can. Place some of the food behind the pan of the cage trap, and sprinkle some of the juice around ...

How to trap a raccoon in a cage?

Place some of the food behind the pan of the cage trap, and sprinkle some of the juice around so that it leads the raccoon to the trap. If cats are a problem, then use sweet baits such as molasses, marshmallows, or strawberry sugar wafers. Nontarget animals, such as opossums, may be attracted to the bait. Be sure to be ready in case you catch ...

What are racoons' favorite baits?

There is no best bait. Raccoons are omnivorous, eating both plant and animal foods. Plant foods include all types of fruits, berries, nuts, acorns, corn, and other types of grain. Animal foods are crayfish, clams, fish, frogs, snails, insects, turtles and their eggs, mice, rabbits, muskrats, and the eggs and young of ground-nesting birds ...

How to avoid skunks?

To avoid capturing skunks, place traps on a secure platform 12 inches off the ground. Most skunk species do not climb well. Make sure that the trap won’t tip over and hurt someone. Visit Releasing Skunks to learn how to release a skunk before you start trapping. For more information, visit Raccoons.

What do raccoons eat?

A wide variety of baits will tickle their palates. Most of the wildlife trappers I know use a variety of foods, from wet or dry cat food, to white bread, to special raccoon trapping pastes.

How much do racoons weigh?

Raccoons tend to weigh between 10-20 pounds as adults. They are mostly nocturnal, and are omnivores. Racoons average a lifespan of about 5 years in the wild, and have a litter of 3-6 young each spring. They are very strong, excellent climbers, very intelligent, and they are very skilled with their hands.

Do raccoons like marshmallows?

A colleague of mine caught raccoons with just white golf balls. And raccoons really have a sweet to oth, so marshmallows are great.

Do racoons live in cities?

Raccoons have learned to thrive in urban areas, and live in very high densities in cities, where they eat garbage and pet food. They commonly break into homes and attics, where they cause considerable damage, and they also destroy other property, and thus racoons are considered pest animals by many people.

Is it illegal to trap a raccoon?

Plus, trapping is illegal for non-licensed persons in most states. Click here for RACCOON TRAPPING TIPS, a guide on how to trap raccoons with many advice points. Click here for my HOW TO GET RID OF RACCOONS comprehensive guide on raccoon removal. The raccoon (Procyon lotor), is a unique animal native to North America.