The raccoon is one of North America’s most widespread mammals. They can be found from coast-to-coast in all kinds of environments. No wonder so many have been in contact with these cute but sometimes ferocious bandits.
Raccoons are known for many things, but their looks is one of them.They are endearing because of their black mask and bushy tail, and they have incredibly dexterous and delicate paws. But, they also break into garbage cans and steal seed sacks.
You may not be bothered by this behavior or you could find yourself at your wits’ end. The ravages that raccoons can cause in a survival situation could be significant.
Raccoon Food Preferences
It is important to know what makes raccoons choose their food. This is an interesting subject, but it is not the focus of the article.
It is enough to say there are only two main considerations for baiting raccoons. Both of these revolve around exploitation of the eccentric behavior of raccoons.
First, raccoons prefer moist and fragrant food over all others in their environment. Or, to put it another way: the more moist and odorous the food the better.
When you are given a variety of baits to choose from, it is rare that you make a mistake by choosing the one with the strongest odor.
Raccoons also show surprising preferences for foods based on the food they are most likely to encounter in their own home territory. It is evident at both the individual and social levels, which are more complex than one might imagine.
The raccoons who live near humans show a strong preference for food scraps and items that they wouldn’t normally find in nature.
The raccoons who live deep in the forest eat a variety of invertebrates, insects and plants. They also eat berries and fruit.
The raccoons who live near the sea or on the coasts prefer to eat items that are easily accessible, like crustaceans or dead fish.
This information will help you choose the right bait for your location. You can use natural or human foods to get rid of raccoons in rural areas.
In a natural setting, raccoons will likely only be used to eating natural foods. However, opportunistic raptors may take to handouts.
Raccoons who live in urban or suburban environments are likely to show an overwhelming preference for humans.
It’s enough for the moment. A thorough knowledge of raccoon behavior, including their food preferences, isn’t necessary to successfully catch or eliminate them. Now let’s get to the list.
Ten Baits that Will Trap a Raccoon
1.
Raccoons are fond of all kinds of poultry including duck, chicken and turkey. Use whatever chicken you can find to lure a raccoon. If it’s roasted and warm, with gravy, even better.
Some people mistakenly believe that wild raccoons hunt avian species. This is not true. A raccoon is unlikely to chase a bird, let alone catch one, and yet they have been observed destroying bird nests.
You can make the chicken more appealing to raccoons by increasing the scent. You can warm it, put out more or moisten it with a little drippings.
You should also not hesitate to feed leftovers to the raccoons. They will gladly eat food you and I might consider unfit for human consumption.
2. Ham
Raccoons also love ham, and any type of pork cooked. A fatty, juicy, and fragrant pork steak or chop will make raccoons go wild.
Use any ham, including deli-sliced slices, for your sandwiches. Just make sure to warm it and increase its aroma before you burn it.
It is interesting to note that raccoons who are used to living in human-populated areas show a preference for soft, shredded pork, the type you’d typically find at barbecue joints.
You can shred leftover meat with two forks. Then, add some sauce or drippings and make it more appetizing. It is best to avoid letting your bait get too dry, since it will be less attractive to the animal.
3. Tuna
Oily tuna, which is also stinky, makes it one of the most effective raccoon lures. It could have been catnip or the equivalent for raccoons.
Make sure to be prepared for a raccoon invasion with a big bowl of saucy and smelly tuna. If you can find tuna in oil, that’s the best way to add a double-punch of fragrance.
Tuna can be used as an effective raccoon lure because raccoons in large water bodies will often eat any fish they find. In suburban areas, raccoons are likely to encounter tuna when they raid the garbage outside homes.
It is easy to find and cheap, making tuna a great bait for any situation.
4. Sardines
When it comes to raccoon lure, sardines have a similar flavor to tuna. They also smell stronger.
It’s up to you whether you consider sardines a treat or staple for your family. All we have to worry about is the fact that they are a great all-purpose lure that raccoons love, particularly if you feed them fish.
You won’t need to worry because most sardines are packed with oil. However, you should still be careful that the tiny fillets of fish don’t get dried out as you wait for dinner guests to arrive. If they get too dry, a little olive oil or even fish oil can revive them.
The biggest issue with using sardines for bait is that you will need a lot to hold the raccoon in position and eat for any amount of time. One tin is easily consumed in a matter of seconds, with the remainder being taken home for later snacking.
5.
When we want to trap raccoons, Asian sauces that are pungent, umami and savory take on a new dimension.
The sauce can be used to enhance the aroma of bait food that doesn’t smell very good.
It can be used to enhance your bait, as long as it is done intelligently.
The fish sauce can be poured over the bait or scattered around it. You could even place a small saucer on the table to intensify the scent.
It also works when you pour it sparingly in the area around your trap to attract recalcitrant animals. You can get them to follow a path of increasing quantities leading up to the primary bait if you do this.
6. Fruit
Wild raccoons consume a variety of fruits on a regular basis depending on the fruit they can find. Raccoons living in suburbs, on the other hand, will happily gorge on any kitchen scraps that are thrown out or left over portions that go into your garbage or compost pile.
As we have learned, the juicier and more aromatic fruit, such as cantaloupe, watermelon and mangoes are best.
You should cut up any fruit with a hard exterior or skin to allow the raccoon to easily access the flesh.
If fresh fruit cannot be found, you can also use canned fruits. You can get the raccoon to come investigate by placing the fruit so that it is easily visible.
7. Candy
Candy is the sweetest treat that raccoons will ever find. Raccoons who live in the wilderness and have not been introduced to humans’ food will be able to quickly become addicted to candy once they get a chance to try it. The has a sweet tooth and loves sugar.Any kind of soft, chewy candy will do.
You can choose from taffies, caramels soft, chewy chocolates and other similar products. Just wet them a bit, or allow them to get wet during a rainstorm, for heightened aroma.
Raccoons love these treats even if they are a little soggy. So don’t be concerned if the candy doesn’t disappear. You might find your raccoons with their hands in the bowl of candy!
8.
The use of marshmallows as bait is a very innovative way to attract raccoons. It takes advantage of their sweet tooth, and also mimics them, acting like a decoy.
Raccoons raid other animals’ nests to find the nutritious and delicious eggs. What else could look like an egg for a hungry, raccoon? It’s a little marshmallow that is perfectly white.
Imagine how surprised the raccoon will be when it grabs what it thinks is a marshmallow, but it turns out it’s a fluffy marshmallow that tastes delicious. Raccoons will not turn down a marshmallow, whether they are surprised.
9. Peanut Butter
If you’re trying to capture a mammal, peanut butter is the best bait. It is loved by so many!
Peanut butter was the bait used by most of us when we first learned how to bait a trap. Peanut butter is a favorite of your dog and raccoons.This is because peanut butter suits the wild raccoons’ taste for seeds and nuts.
You can use peanut butter as bait to lure raccoons to your trap or to make them perform the desired behavior.
10.
Anyone who’s ever seen a pet raccoon eat out of the bowl knows that raccoons are fond of this food. Raccoons are attracted to both dry kibble as well as wet canned food. If you have a lot of extra pet food, you could use it to lure them.
You should move your pet’s usual bowl. Raccoons will likely ignore the new bait if it is not in its regular location. They are creatures of habits and they return to their favorite food sources.
Don’t be concerned about dry food. It would go against what we have learned so far. Raccoons will often dip their dry food into water nearby to make it softer. So, putting out a small dish of water should be enough to lure them in.
The conclusion of the article is:
When they’re not causing trouble, raccoons are charming. But their curious and food-obsessed nature can cause problems.Use the baits we’ve shared on this page to exploit their natural instinct for food.
You can easily get the little furry thief where you need him with a bit of creativity and persistence.