Tips on getting rid of Live-trapped raccoons?

[Dre325]

Hey all,

I live in the suburbs and have a pretty big problem with raccoons and opossums in my yard. Traps that kill are illegal in my city, so I bought a live trap and have had some success with it so far. Transporting live animals and releasing them is also illegal here so my problem is how best to kill the animals I've trapped. Shooting air rifles is OK so I borrowed a spring loaded .177 pellet gun from a friend and even from point blank range, wasn't able to put down a possum with a shot to the head while it was in the trap (had to dump it out of the trap and hit it in the head, which I wouldn't want to do with an angry raccoon.)

My question is: what is my best solution? I figure a more powerful pellet gun would do the trick (I'd welcome any suggestions on something cheap...sub $100...that would work). Is there another trick? Someone told me to dump the whole trap in a big garbage can of water, but that doesn't seem very humane to me...

Thanks for any help and recommendations.

[squirrelkilla23]

A .22 short does a pretty good job, and isn't much louder than a pellet gun.

[Dre325]

Originally Posted by squirrelkilla23

A .22 short does a pretty good job, and isn't much louder than a pellet gun.

Shooting any kind of 22 powder actuated rifle in my area is not legal though and since I have neighbors on all sides I'd rather pursue the pellet gun approach. Any suggestions there on something cheap that would work?

[kyhunter93]

Garbage can and water. Your killing them either way..

[bowhunter1984]

Originally Posted by kyhunter93

Garbage can and water. Your killing them either way..

yep you do this or get you a co2 chamber you can make one plans online but just a FYI they die fast this way but do let out a big scream at the end

[ilyotehunter]

is it even legal to trap the animal in a live cage?

[nick_bleuer76]

Grenade???

[Sheridan]

Kyhunter's got it right.




Trappers make their living on tidal waters like that.



I know...............the truth hurts !

[sconnyhunter]

Get to know a local trapper, and give them to him to dispatch. Just make sure you get your traps back.

[kevin1]

Any spring piston air rifle generating 1000 FPS or greater should work, use 9 grain hollowpoint hunting pellets, not 4 grain target wadcutters.