How far do I have to take a trapped raccoon away from my yard to make sure he won't come back??
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I found a website that seems pretty informative about raccoons. One thing I read on-line over and over was to be sure that relocating raccoons is legal where you are because it might require a permit.
Trapping Raccoons
Trapping and relocating a raccoon several miles away seems an appealing method of resolving a conflict because it is perceived as giving the “problem animal” a second chance in a new home. Unfortunately, the reality of the situation is quite different. Raccoons typically try to return to their original territories, often getting hit by a car or killed by a predator in the process. If they remain in the new area, they may get into fights (oftentimes to the death) with resident raccoons for limited food, shelter, or nesting sites. Raccoons may also transmit diseases to rural populations that they have picked up from urban pets. Finally, if a place “in the wild” or an urban green space is perfect for raccoons, raccoons are probably already there. It isn’t fair to the animals already living there to release another competitor into their home range.
Raccoons used to a particular food source, type of shelter, or human activity will seek out familiar situations and surroundings. People, organizations, or agencies that illegally move raccoons should be willing to assume liability for any damages or injuries caused by these animals. Precisely for these reasons, raccoons posing a threat to human and pet safety should not be relocated.
In many cases, moving raccoons will not solve the original problem because other raccoons will replace them and cause similar conflicts. Hence, it is more effective to make the site less attractive to raccoons than it is to routinely trap them.
Trapping also may not be legal in some urban areas; check with local authorities. Transporting animals without the proper permit is also unlawful in most cases (see "Legal Status"). See Trapping Wildlife for information on trapping raccoons.
I know that if you use traps for mice, the instructions say to let the mouse loose a minimum of 1 mile from your home. I would think for a racoon, it would be farther - but I can't say that I know that for sure. If it were me, I'd take it pretty darn far!
Good Luck - hope it turns out well.
Why don't we catch up tomorow
A raccoon can travel a 10 mile radius so more then likely anywhere within 5 miles you are just giving him a lift to where he was going any ways. Take him about twenty miles or farther away. 20 miles of you driving might only be a 10 walk in a straight line for him.
Death to ricky the raccoon is your best option.
Just remember; if you have one raccoon already, you probably have at least one or two more.
I wholeheartedly agree with the long post on trapping raccoons. I have been observing raccoons for the past year or so, and they are very territorial, and highly intelligent. They are more socially evolved and intelligent than dogs, which gives one pause when put in a position to consider the humane treatment of such an animal.
I cannot think of any good reason to move a raccoon. If you do not want to attract raccoons into your yard, then be sure you have left no food sources available to them. Tightly seal your garbage cans and keep pets and pet food indoors at night. Raccoons are primarily urban dwelling animals, and a raccoon relocated away from its home and primary food sources is likely to either be killed by competitors, or to starve from lack of available food.
Another thing to consider: if you remove one raccoon, another nearby raccoon will quickly move in to take its place. To give you an idea, I've had between 7 and 10 raccoons frequenting my yard at different times in the last year.
Finally, be very, very careful at this time of year. Most raccoons give birth in the early spring, and there's a good chance an active raccoon may be looking for food to feed her babies.
Best of luck ~*~
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