Raccoons in the attic

[reliquary]

The house next door, after having been on the market (vacant) for a couple of years, has sold.  As the new owners were moving in, they discovered they have coon(s?) in the attic. 
 
So far, it has/they have evaded the two versions of live traps we've put out.  By that I mean they get the bait without getting caught...yes, the traps are set correctly.  I've used them before in my yard.
 
The pest control people in this area don't do the "critter-catchin' " stunts they show on the TV, and all they've done is put some vials of coyote urine in the attic, hoping the predator smell will drive them out.  It's been two days, and no results with that, yet.
 
Suggestions?
 
 
 
 

[streak]

Here is a trick!
Get you some good hardmetal rock music and some good speakers and set it up to where the sound is  loud, I mean loud!! Start in the early morning and be sure it is where alot of the sound is going into the attic and let it play loud all day long . Do this for two or three days and presto! No more raccoons. As the raccoons are nocturnal animals, if they are not allowed to sleep during the daylight hours they will leave to find quieter  sleeping quarters somewhere else!
Asked me how I know!!

[Bogmaster]

# questions.#1--what bait are you using? #2 What brand  of cage trap? #3 How are you placing the bait ,that coons can take it without firing the trap??--sounds like mice may be getting it.
 Tom

[RdFx]

Ditto what Tom said, with properly set box traps  and bait that coons like and cant steal(reaching over pedal) and stealing bait  should equal coons in cage especially if not box or cage trap wise.   Setting a body grip in attic where pets cant access in a baited  box should work... if not use  DP outside.... near where coons access house...  good luck

[reliquary]

I'm not sure what DP is.
 
The cages I'm using are the Hav-a-heart style pedal-trigger.  One is open only on one end, one is open on both.  Both are made of wire mesh, with about 1" diameter holes.  I've figured out that the critter knows how to trip the dropdoors by either shaking the cage or hitting the outside lever-gizmo or the doors.  Then he reaches through the mesh and gets the bait.  I've screwed the cages to the flooring to immobilize them.
 
I'm using doggie bones and stink bait like sardine or chicken legs.  On the single-door cage, I wrapped the bait end in hardware cloth wire mesh; last night it was tripped but the bait wasn't disturbed because he couldn't reach it.  There was a little hair on some of the wire.
 
On the doubledoor, I wired a chickenleg to the pedal.  Last night, he tripped the doors and then reached through the wire to get the leg and ate it by the cage; this morning I found greasemarks and debris on flooring by the cage and hair on the mesh.
 
I know it's a coon.  There are coon fecal piles around the attic; no rat pellets. The first day I went up in the attic for the neighbors, I caught a glimpse of one disappearing around a corner and haven't been able to find him since, or the hole by which he's gaining access.  There are piles of coon feces in places on the shingles on the roof, as well.
 
I'm resigned to a foot-by-foot attic search if need be.   

[Bogmaster]

 It sounds like your cages may be to small. Also never place bait on the pedal.attach it at the back of the trap, so the coon must cross the padal to get to the bait.By placing the bait on the pedal,the door is closing on the back of the coon---they are not entering all the way into the trap.
 You can cover the back of the trap so they can not reach through to get it.
 A DP is a dog proof trap. I carry those made by LIL grizz and Duke. As lee said, those are best used outside.
 Tom

[jiminpa]

try some marshmellows  and setting the trap on top of them,so he has to go in the trap and reach down threw the mesh to get it.is these traps at least 10x10x30? any less will probable be too small for coon,might need a bigger trap.

[streak]

Tried the hardmetal music yet?
Alot faster and efficient, especially if more than one raccoon!!

[Bugflipper]

I usually use coon cuffs. They are one type of dp trap these fellows are talking about. They reach their hand in to get the food out and it gets trapped. An angry coon in the attic would have to be dispatched though I would imagine. Also second the marshmallows that is what I found best for my area, second to honey buns.


If your box traps are big enough and he's figured them out. I would wire them open where he couldn't trip them. Put a few marshmallows outside and a few in and under the back. Let him get used to being in the trap digging for the ones underneath. Then just set the trap back after a few days. If you screwed them down just put some of that marshmallow in a jar on the back side bottom. And with the one that has the pan in the center, just put one open end near a wall. And bait that side so he will have to walk over the pan in the middle of it.

[reliquary]

 
As I said before, early on I had figured out that she was reaching through the wire mesh to get the bait.  So I had enclosed one end of the trap with hardware cloth to force her go into the trap.  After a couple of days of that,  she got careless and got caught.
 
I've spread baby powder on all the flooring in the attic, left the trap open & baited, and for several days now there have been no tracks and no action around the trap. Didn't have to resort to the heavy metal trick.
 
There were four entry/exit holes in roof ventilators which I secured with the heavy wire mesh left from redoing the trap.   Apparently they had been climbing the outside of the gutter downspouts and playing around on the roof (feces all over the roof) and tore the (really flimsy) wire covering on the undersides...just windowscreen stuff...of the ventilators to get in. 
 
Thanks to everyone for your suggestions.

[RdFx]

congrats!