raccoons

fballguy

fballguy

yum
Feb 27, 2006
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Everett, WA
www.freshwaterfanatics.com
I used to have a pond but it never worked out because raccoons always took out the filter, and pump and messed it all up. They also ate my plants and goldfish. I tried putting mesh over the pond but it looked bad, and the raccoons managed to get in anyway. I would like to get a pond going again, does anyone know a way to keep the raccoons out?
 
I have no idea what would keep raccoons out, as they can be very crafty. I would think some heavy duty material would suit your needs better. Maybe stainless steel meshing could be an option depending on what you want to spend. That could get very pricey hough, and you'll want to save your money for the pond equipment alone, and possibly some valuable fish if you are into show quality types. Do a search on "pond covers" or "protecting outdoor ponds", and you may find something useful. You could even protect the filter/equipment by building an outdoor housing unit for it, possibly using wood, or one of those durable thick plastic tubs to contain it and close up to prevent tampering. Hope my advice helped.~Angela
 
get a dog, im sure id be happy to do the job for you! other than that i dont think theres any way to keep em out, there might be some scents that work to keep them away, ive heard of using dog fur and urine for keeping woodchucks out of gardens so it may work for raccoons?
 
Do you live in the city or country?

If you live in the city, then some cities will actually trap and remove animals like raccoons. If you live in the country then you probably have a den close to your house. There are two ways to solve this problem.

1. Go out on a cold windless night and use a flashlight to shine the trees. When you see reflective eyes go to that spot and look for a hollow tree. Once you found the tree look for hole they are using for a den. Then dump a whole load of mothballs down the hole.

2. Do the same thing except when you find the tree with the raccoons. Shot the raccoons.(This is actually the best wat to get rid of them, but some people don't like it).
 
I live in the city, and I've tried trapping them with a trap animal control brought to my house. I kept catching my and my neighbors cats. If i didn't get a cat then the bait was somehow taken without springing the trap. So I set up a video camera and actually caught a raccoon in the act. It very carefully went in and grabbed the food without springing the trap. They are smart little buggers!

Thanks for the help I still don't know if I want a pond again or not but if I do I should be able to find something. I was thinking since I can weld maybe I'll build a steel box for the pump and weld it shut so theres no possible way for them to get it out. I still gotta find something to protect the plants and fish... I'll think of something.
 
I suggest that you make a formal raised pond. That way you could make a neater, sturdier cover than loose netting. A removeable steel mesh one likr riso suggested wouldnt look to bad on a rectangular pond and if youre handy with a welder shouldnt be too costly.
Or you could make it with smooth, sloping edging that a raccoon couldnt gain purchase on.
Or if its warm enough get an alligator :D
 
I had a cat who was an expert fisher he even jumped in the pond to get the fish hiding near the bottom. After he cleaned them all out I put one of these in the pond
anguilla_dieffenbachii_x.jpg

she wasnt quite that big but she did swallow whole sheep hearts.
suffice to say the cat didnt want to go fishing anymore.
 
The raccoons are probably living in the sewer. That is pretty common in cities.

If trapping isn't working try taking hot sauce and pouring it around the perimeter of the pond. I heard someone mention this once. But I don't know if it will work.
 
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