How to Catch a Raccoon with a Snare Pole

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If you have a raccoon infestation in your attic, you can use a professional snare pole to directly catch a raccoon with it (not really recommended), or you can use the snare pole to scare the raccoon into going in a cage trap that you previously set outside the entry hole used by the raccoon to get in and out of the attic. Don’t forget, if a raccoon is denning in your attic, it’s most likely a female raccoon that has a litter. So, if you catch the mother raccoon by using a snare pole, make sure you also find the baby raccoons and remove them by hand. Also, it’s important that you don’t forget your protective gear when engaging in such activities, from facemask, to gloves, to headlamp, and so on.



The direct method. This tactic should be your second choice, in case the raccoon doesn’t run directly into the trap. If the raccoon stands its ground and doesn’t try to escape the attic, you can try and physically capture it with a professional snare pole. As you can imagine, this is no easy task, and you could also end up hurting the raccoon. Or, worst case scenario, the raccoon might end up hurting you. Although we cannot longer call our city raccoons ‘wild animals’, they’re certainly not domesticized, and can become quite dangerous when feeling threatened, even more so if they sense their young are in danger. If you do manage to catch the raccoon with the snare pole, make sure you have a solid-wall box trap at hand or some other sort of solid container where you can put the raccoon in. If you’re successful in this endeavor, don’t leave the attic without thoroughly looking for baby raccoons, and capturing them by hand once you’ve found them.

The indirect method. This would be the preferred tactic when you’re trying to capture a raccoon with a snare pole. Find the entry hole used by the raccoon (there may be more than one). Install a trap onto the entry hole, then go in the attic. Use the snare pole to scare the raccoon into fleeing the attic. If it works, the animal will run directly in the trap. Again, don’t just assume that your job is done once the raccoon is trapped. Search every soffit and corner of your attic for baby raccoons, and remove them by hand once you’ve found them.

You safety is of the upper most importance when dealing with capturing raccoons, so tread carefully when trying to catch a raccoon yourself. The danger consists not only of bodily harm, as the raccoon can bite and scratch you, but also of health risk, as you can contact a disease just by inhaling dust particles in a place where raccoons make their living.

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