Disclaimer: I am not a nuisance guy and don't pretend to be.

I am on a list the FWP keeps of trappers willing to help with problem animals. I mostly only try to take beaver jobs since that is what I have experience with. Anyway, I got a call today from a guy that said he had a raccoon problem. It was only a few blocks away so I figure I would take a look at it. The house has multiple rooflines with overhanging eaves for the various rooflines. One of these eaves makes long taper creating a very small wedge between the eave and the intersecting roof line. Like this:



The raccoon is wide awake and has been hanging out there all morning. Reportedly it has three kits. The homeowner said that they had flashed up the opening as best they could at the narrow point in the eave but because it is so tight he didn't know how well that had actually worked. The possibility exists that the raccoon manipulated the flashing and the kits are in the attic or just hanging out behind the mother. It is an old house and getting to that portion of the attic is not an easy task.

Is it common for raccoons to be that exposed in the daylight for extended periods of time?

I am wondering if she somewhow got wedged against the flashing and is stuck there?. I found a tree that is the logical way for her to get onto the roof. I could set some cages there but I am thinking about just using a ketch all to get a hold of her if she is somehow imobilized. Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.

As far as stuck if their head (skull) fits they can get the body through. Did they maybe flash or seal her out and young in? Happens, though most would agree she would tear a new hole if at all possible to gain access.

Justin

Thanks, the flashing was done a long time ago.

Justin, I have to disagree again. ( And it was not that long ago that I would have agreed with you 100% on this topic. ) Then I had a customer who had a lactating female raccoon go completely through a vent, well, except for her hind quarters. By the time I got there she was dead.

At least I learned a valuable lesson. Every time I think I know everything there is to know about a subject, Someone always has the final say. I guess that's His job!

If the homeowner "flashed up" the corner, it's not coon proof. If a contractor did it.... it's not coon proof. If a roofer did it.... it's not coon proof.

If a person who builds cages for bears did it.... it MIGHT be coon proof.

Take a catch pole, go up on the roof and see if she is alive or dead. You are going to have to get up there to find out if there is a hole and what you have to work with.

Paul I guess those fat Wisconsin raccoon might be an exception!



I remember some massive MI board that dissapeared thru tiny hole in a barn when released!

I agree go with the pile and see.

Not common. Maybe, just a secure spot with a comfortable temp and a good defensive position of young.

Based on your picture (nice, BTW), does not appear stuck as it only gets better going forward.

Curious to see read what happened as you approached her on the roof.

If the trap by the tree doesn't get her (passive), some wire to block eave and a double door trap with good mechanism at end of eave will get her exiting. That'll work well for young too if the attic is too hard to access.

I drove by the site this evening on my way home and she was gone. I am going to go back with a ladder to see what kind of a hole I am working with. I do wonder if there is no hole whether she just had the babies backed into the corner and she was guarding the opening until she felt it was a better time to move them.

Thanks for all the help. When I get more info I may have more questions

I got a call from the local PD that a guy had a animal problem. I just took these out of a guys house in his daughters bed room from under the bed. Mama and five little ones. She was not happy with me.
Dave

She was not happy with me.
Dave


[/quote] Who wasn't happy - the daughter or Mama coon?

MAMA coon, She did not like me messing with her kids!!!

Dave