Raccoons are prominent in suburban areas, and throughout the countryside. These masked bandits are smart, agile, and have excellent dexterity. The can open cabinets and drawers, lift lids, and some can even learn to open latches. If you are troubled by raccoons terrorizing your yard and rummaging through trash and pet food, you might want to try a DIY trap. We have several traps that have prevent to be effective (some are even fun). Just remember, if you trap it, you have a live ‘coon to deal with! Here are our top 3 designs: 1)

The super simple trash can trap
- you need; a garbage can, 2 cinder blocks an outside table the same height as the can, a board, bait. Stand the trash can near the table. Put one block in the can place the other block at the base of the can, opposite the table. Place bait in the can. Balance the board carefully off the table to the can. PREMISE- the raccoon smells the bait climbs table, walk the plank, the plank tips. The raccoon falls in, and the blocks keep him from tipping it over to escape. 2)

The “monkey trap” style
- You need: a piece of PVC 4” diameter, about 6” long, an end cap to fit pipe, a batch of brad nails or short screws, a chain or post to secure the pipe to, bait. Take PVC and put screws or brad nails in all around it. You want the points inside the pipe. Secure the pipe in place (using either the chain or post) in an area known for raccoon activity. Place bat in the end cap and place the end cap on the pipe.
PREMISE-the raccoon reaches in to grab the bait. The screws or brads make it impossible to pull out. Sometimes they will put both hands in. The raccoon is trapped until you free it. 3)

The exclusion funnel
- Use this trap if you need to get raccoons out of a building. * for this trap to work, you must know the location of all raccoon holes* You will need- a 3-5’ square of hardware cloth, 6 fasteners to hold the cloth closed, screws to affix the funnel to your building , wire cage (optional). Seal all raccoon holes except one. Roll the hardware cloth in to a funnel with a “small” hole just large enough for the raccoon to exit. Use the fasteners to make this shape permanent. Attach the funnel to the remaining hole. If using a cage, the small end of the funnel should empty in to it.
PREMISE- the raccoon leaves its nest by exiting the large end of the funnel. It is unable to return through the small end, and so is “excluded” from its nest and will have to go elsewhere. If a cage is attached, it will be trapped in the cage.



If these sound like too much hassle to you, consider contacting an animal removal service in your area for help.

Read the How to get rid of raccoons page for helpful information and to learn more about How to make a raccoon trap

How to make a raccoon trap