Post by tmc on Dec 30, 2013 19:21:04 GMT -5
I know there's been a bit of discussion about DP's for raccoon and how they're self-limiting when other furbearers come around, but today I had an experience with one, at least, that I'm grateful for.
As of now I only have 16 dp's out working on the farm, none here at the orchard. I expected that I would have had at least a couple of raccoon, but not one. However, a fisher happened upon one baited with Plum Loco and took the homemade PVC cover after unsuccessfully trying to get caught, lol! He (I presume from the size of the tracks that it was a big male) really worked the dp over, and it looked like he took the cover/cap after not being able to get his paw in the cookie jar. That dp was the only one on the northerly property line.
I'm grateful I didn't have a fisher catch that I would have had to release.
On the other hand, for the first time in many months a large pack/family unit of coyotes (best estimate between 9 and 11) rolled through the farm, literally tracking all over and following my trail everywhere EXCEPT the northern edge of the property. They ignored the canine sets that I had out even when they walked within a yard or so of them, but they hit EVERY one of the remaining 15 dp's! They chewed on those traps worse than any raccoon ever did. I only have two covers left, lol, but I think I've found Plum Loco to be just as appealing to canines, fisher and deer as it is to raccoons. And I've got plenty of conduit for making new covers.
So, if I'd had other traps at those locations along with the dp's, I can't help but wonder what today's trap check would have looked like instead; a fisher to release, but maybe a few coyotes. ??
All dp's were set on raccoon sign.
As of now I only have 16 dp's out working on the farm, none here at the orchard. I expected that I would have had at least a couple of raccoon, but not one. However, a fisher happened upon one baited with Plum Loco and took the homemade PVC cover after unsuccessfully trying to get caught, lol! He (I presume from the size of the tracks that it was a big male) really worked the dp over, and it looked like he took the cover/cap after not being able to get his paw in the cookie jar. That dp was the only one on the northerly property line.
I'm grateful I didn't have a fisher catch that I would have had to release.
On the other hand, for the first time in many months a large pack/family unit of coyotes (best estimate between 9 and 11) rolled through the farm, literally tracking all over and following my trail everywhere EXCEPT the northern edge of the property. They ignored the canine sets that I had out even when they walked within a yard or so of them, but they hit EVERY one of the remaining 15 dp's! They chewed on those traps worse than any raccoon ever did. I only have two covers left, lol, but I think I've found Plum Loco to be just as appealing to canines, fisher and deer as it is to raccoons. And I've got plenty of conduit for making new covers.
So, if I'd had other traps at those locations along with the dp's, I can't help but wonder what today's trap check would have looked like instead; a fisher to release, but maybe a few coyotes. ??
All dp's were set on raccoon sign.
