Keeping racoons out of garden fountain

[Tony H]

We recently installed a small garden fountain. I suspected it might be used by racoons as they are around here and I even see them during the day sometimes. In a few days they discovered it and now they mess it up pretty bad to the point I need to change the water and clean it every day. Has anyone used a solution that worked? It's by the bedroom so something that makes noise would not be a solution. I cannot keep them out of the property with fences, etc-it's a rural setting.

[speednjay]

I’d try to put some electric fence wires around the base and parts where they use to climb up. Try spicing up the water with chili pepper

..spikes at the bottom water basin

[sloride]

Originally Posted by Tony H

We recently installed a small garden fountain. I suspected it might be used by racoons as they are around here and I even see them during the day sometimes. In a few days they discovered it and now they mess it up pretty bad to the point I need to change the water and clean it every day. Has anyone used a solution that worked? It's by the bedroom so something that makes noise would not be a solution. I cannot keep them out of the property with fences, etc-it's a rural setting.

If you see them during the day they are suffering from something, rabies, parvo, starvation. a 225 or 308 get the job done.

[t walgamuth]

drain out the water.

[INSIDIOUS]

In my experience coon are adverse to both high velocity lead and electrical currents. Apply liberally

[INSIDIOUS]

They are also suckers for chocolate chip cookies in hav-a-heart traps if you care to drive them off to a new life. But plan on driving long distances to far a way place preferentially with considerable geographical feature that would frustrate them. I have painted released critters you would be amazed how quickly they find their way back even across rivers

[Tony H]

I trapped a racoon once and it was the scariest moment of my life when I picked up the trap. I thought it was going to kill me right through the trap. Daytime racoons are pretty common here. Trapping them would be like trapping mice-it would never end. Anyway I came up with an idea to make some expanded metal covers I can place over the pools and then take them off when I want. Seems like the easiest solution. I can even run the pump with the covers on and still hear the water.

[barry12345]

There are probably many harmless additives to add to the water. Yet obnoxious enough to discourage them.

[sloride]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS

They are also suckers for chocolate chip cookies in hav-a-heart traps if you care to drive them off to a new life. But plan on driving long distances to far a way place preferentially with considerable geographical feature that would frustrate them. I have painted released critters you would be amazed how quickly they find their way back even across rivers

A neighbors relative asked if they could trap on my property in season for raccoon. A half of a doughnut in a bucket with a snare is what he would have used. I guess he didn't want to use a whole one.

[Tony H]

Maybe some donut holes? I got lucky-they did not trash it last night. Birds use it as a birdbath so I don't want to put something in the water. I have to buy some expanded metal for some shelves I'm building so I will have some scraps for the covers.

Originally Posted by sloride

A neighbors relative asked if they could trap on my property in season for raccoon. A half of a doughnut in a bucket with a snare is what he would have used. I guess he didn't want to use a whole one.

[t walgamuth]

Originally Posted by INSIDIOUS

They are also suckers for chocolate chip cookies in hav-a-heart traps if you care to drive them off to a new life. But plan on driving long distances to far a way place preferentially with considerable geographical feature that would frustrate them. I have painted released critters you would be amazed how quickly they find their way back even across rivers

At my house they check in (the trap) but they don't check out!

[Tony H]

Yea animal trapping is not something I want to get involved with. There is a never ending supply of all kind of wildlife. I need to deal with it some other way. BTW my neighbors' foundation vents rusted out letting in mice and they trashed the PEX plumbing pretty bad. She said she kept hearing running water but did not know what it was. Our homes are only 10-15 years old but things rust here (hopefully not my 3.5 coupe)

[muller]

Raccoons are cool creatures. There is one in my yard that comes to me for some conversations. We share cookies and whatever cat food I might have on me.

[sloride]

Originally Posted by Tony H

Yea animal trapping is not something I want to get involved with. There is a never ending supply of all kind of wildlife. I need to deal with it some other way. BTW my neighbors' foundation vents rusted out letting in mice and they trashed the PEX plumbing pretty bad. She said she kept hearing running water but did not know what it was. Our homes are only 10-15 years old but things rust here (hopefully not my 3.5 coupe)

Have a heart trap, and take it for a ride. Maybe contact your county about the best/humane way to deal. I had a swarm of bees at a tree, called the county and they had a beekeeper come and remove them, no cost. He collected them and took them away.

[Tony H]

It might be Crows also. They make all kinds of messes and tear things up. I trapped a racoon once, they are not happy in a trap I can assure you. Once I caught a skunk by mistake. I released it no problem.