My unwanted thundering herd

[Bad Water Bill]

HELP HELP

There is a thundering herd of red eyed raccoons thundering thru my attic this mourning.

At 79 getting into the attic is now a problem and using a live trap is impossible.

Yes I live in the city so using any guns is illegal.

Can anyone suggest a way of driving it or them out of my house?

[starmac]

Lord lord, can't help, but I bet they are aggrevating, probably sounds like a herd of buffalo.

Working on a job down at Orange Texas one year, I had the 35 foot travel trailer parked on a lake, just 30 feet or so from the water. My wife kept complaining about a flock of geese trying to land on it. I probably worked a month before I had a day off and was still in bed when the sun was coming up, and a herd of buffalo ran the whole length of the roof. I jumped out of bed thinking something terrible was happening, and my wife said I told you, it is them dadnabbit geese, maybe not in those exact words. lol

[tryNto]

An Electronic Pest Repeller has worked very well for me with Mice, Squirrels and Bats.
This model has done well, I have 3 in use. > http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B...ilpage_o00_s00

[w5pv]

You may try moth balls or the flakes,it works for skunks trying to set up house keeping under my shed.

[Bad Water Bill]

Well they are back again this mourning playing socker up there so I guess I will get a couple boxes of moth balls and when it gets dark tonight dump them into the hole they have dug into my roof.

When I am sure they have moved on I will replace the destroyed wood and cover it with a 10" wide strip of steel role like we uuse for gas checks then replace the lost shingles.

Keep your fingers crossed that they take the hint they are NOT welcome in my home.

[Beagle333]

I'm guessing you got too many other yard critters to live trap em at the point of contact where they come down?

[Smoke4320]

Moth balls should work

[jcwit]

If worse comes to worse check out in your local area for an outfit called "Critter Control", they may be of help to you.

[fryboy]

a bee keeper's smoker ... they detest the smell of smoke - especially old wood and damp leaves , to get them to stay out however you're right have to block point of access and sadly roofing at o dark thirty is neither enjoyable nor neighbor approved , got a tree close to the house ? helps if there's no way for them to get to the roof

[Lance Boyle]

If they are actually coming in and out the hole, make yourself a one way door where they can push out of the attic, exit, but have difficulty opening the door from outside. That's what they use for bats. Bats aren't near as handy with their hands like raccoons though. Maybe fashion something on the door like a mouse trap spring for a bit a tension. Or maybe a bit of weight on a cable.

Alternatively a 180 or 220 conibear trap installed to guard the hole. You'll be making them dead one by one though. After the first one it might be more difficult to trap the rest.

http://www.cooks.com/recipe/898zr2n3...pot-roast.html

[mjwcaster]

We just used ammonia soaked rags to dissuade a coon at my folks house a few months ago.

Saw him leave one night, and shoved the soaked rags into the opening using a long handled pole.
Used the whole jug on a couple of towels, strong enough for my eyes to water and make breathing interesting.

Haven't seen him since.

I still need to get up there and fix the soffits where he was getting in, not going to be fun, very steep roof, small area due to multiple roof angles.
Last time I was up there was a blast, trying to hand on and push the soffit back into place, now I know I need to come up with a better fix.
And no good access to the eaves from in the attic.

[Charley]

Napthalene crystals (moth balls or moth flakes) will repel short term. Take a walk around the outside of the house, looking for entry points. Check your gables and pitch changes closely. Look for rub marks on surfaces...oil on their fur leaves marks when they brush against a surface repeatedly. Look for access to the roof. Hw are they getting up there in the first place? Trim trees as needed, make it harder to gain access to the roof in the first place. You are likely going to need a professional. Many PCO's do rodent/animal exclusions, most people either can't (sounds like your case) or won't do the work needed to block the animals from the roof and then the attic. Just a suggestion...don't call Terminex or Orkin, find somebody local. They will tend to be much more responsive to your needs, as well as less expensive.

[blackthorn]

Snare! Or low velocity .22 shorts. The LV shorts will only just penetrate a one inch pine board. Fired point blank (about 1 inch) you will find the slug laying on the ground under the board. They are quiet when fired indoors so unlikely to attract the attention of the neighbors. I use them in my cabin on packrats.

[ShooterAZ]

Consider a live trap outside on the ground nearby if that is a possibility. They will leave the attic on their nightly forays to find food. They come to my yard at night to dig up earthworms from the lawn, but they also dig up the flowerbeds. I have relocated dozens of them over the last several years. Leave a little trail of dry dog food leading into the trap, and you will be sure to catch them. It may take several sets, but you can do this or pay someone else to do it. Once they are established in your attic...they ain't gonna leave.

[Light attack]

Try calling the State Game Warden. They should have a critter control of some kind.

[Red River Rick]

HELP HELP..........Can anyone suggest a way of driving it or them out of my house?

Bill:

Throw a pair of your old dirty shorts up there.............that'll chase them out!

RRR

[Bad Water Bill]

Thanks for the idea but I think I will wear a pair of sox for about 3 days then carefully drop them in the crawl hole with a long string attached.

The string will help me retrieve the sox before they kill off some of the local birds.

[Bzcraig]

Is Girty ill? Can't she take care of em fer ya?

[Bad Water Bill]

Girty B fein.

She B on a speshl blak opz asinmint fer sum 1 startn polez.

[Bzcraig]

At least she's ok!