26 Answers

Why do you want to kill a raccoon in the first place?

You don't.  Call your local animal shelter.

 I hate questions like this Why would you want to shoot this poor animal I have read the comments and as I dont live in the USA where they are from some people are describing thease poor animals as dangerouse Bears! they are extreamly intelegent animals if they a bother to you please call your animal wefare department at least they will capture them and place them back in the woods where they belong and dont leave your garbage full where they can access food

Another case of gung ho Americans, if it moves shoot it! -- i can't see why you can't try to trap it and take it to Local Animal Authorities

I wouldn't if I were you.I don't know for sure but I am pretty certain they would be protected.

YOU SHOULDN'T BE KILLING ANY ANIMALS.....ESPECIALLY MAMMALS, BECAUSE THEY'RE SO MUCH LIKE US. Animals don't deserve to die......especially by the hands of hunters who wound them , but don't kill them .Then, the animal runs off and suffers ! If you want meat. , go to the grocery store !

1st Why kill and not re-locate? 2nd some carry rabies so you do not want to interact with either live or dead ones.  It makes Doctor Doolittle sad when questions like this appear. Oh, and by the way, in my State using a shotgun in populated areas is illegal...calling animal control is not.

Here they die mostly by car. Racoons are dangerous. If you live in the sticks, your love for them will diminish rapidly. City folk see the cute pictures in national geaographic. They will kill your your three year old child in 30 seconds.

You need to call someone to trap the racoon. Its against the law to shoot them, just because you feel they are a nuisence

Racoons can carry rabbies, but so can other animals. You would see them mostly during the day. They are staggering and dragging theire hind legs and will go back to theire dens to die. They will bite, if attacked by a human or a dog, which is purely self defense.

Racoons are nocturnal, but you might see some during the day in spring. These are mother racoons looking for food for theire offspring.

I  am much more afraid of the "human animal" They kill and maime animals and people. We need to learn to live in harmoney with nature. Animal have the same right as people to live on this earth. Humans are in charge and we need to become more humane and value theire existence.

SHOTGUN ! There not protected, around here there a pain.... When a coon decided to attack my dog That was on a chain, I took his head off  with a 12 gauge, found out he had distemper. Few people hunt or trap anymore because there not worth anything anymore, so things like distemper, and rabies are on the rise once again.

raccoon`s like everything has a right to live and to say they are not worth anything is misguided at the very least.there is always another answer if you take the time to find it.there are a great number of animals that are carriers for rabies and the like,so are you going to kill them to?

By the way did anyone see the special on raccoons on PBS the other night!?  Quite interesting! Raccoons have evolved more in the past 100 years as in the previous 4000years! Amazing! Also the more you try to trick them( bungee cords  to keep them out of trash) The smarter they get! Also the way they are built , they can move or tip over things at least 4x their weight . Amazing little bandits,  huh?

Why isn't the Racoon protected, it's a native animal of Nth. America?

If you live in a town call animal control. Outside of town, just scare it away. Try a water hose. Its not worth killing. Years ago i use to legally hunt them for the hide and meat. Yes , they are good barbequed.  On a different matter , if its destroying things, or causing harm to you or property,  use a 22.cal. But not in town. around other people , places, or things. If you can , allow it to live and move on. If it looks sick call  local authorities immediately. Good luck.

WHY? They ant good eaten (just joking)

No bowlesy  lets let them all live Maybe then you'll understand that there not afraid of anything or anyone and there just pissed.. have you ever seen a rabid animal? Let you kid out to play and get attacked by one sounds like you'll have more compassion for the animal then your own child or spouse. Trust me if they see you they don't runaway they will attack you. If you want to kneel down and say aaww you poor thing you go right ahead, As for me if I don't have something in hand I'm running.....

luckily here in the u.k we dont have rabies, and i dont have more compassion for animals ,that was not my point.my point was you cant go around killing out of hand jdb.if an animal is rabid then it must be delt with to prevent spread ,you cant kill on the off-chance that they may get rabies or the planet would be devoid of life in no time.

We live in the country and believe me raccoons can be a problem.  If they inhabit your barns where feed for horses or cows is stored the raccoons feces is quite often infested  with a roundworm that can be fatal if ingested by the farm animals. Treatment is quite costly.  Have you ever seen a sweetcorn patch after a few coons had a party?  I drive past a nature preserve on the way to work, quite often I see people dropping off raccoons. Also live trapping a raccoon is fairly easy . Put a marshmallow in the trap. Raccoons love them. But remember that coon could be someones mother

God bless all people who are on side of, Justice for Animals. God put them on earth for  a reason.

Why want to kil a harmless animal. If you do you can with a knife or a gun.

Personally, I DON'T kill raccoons. BUT, they are pesky and annoying and destructive, and can be dangerous.  Traps don't sound like a good idea if you are in an area where cats, dogs, or other domestic animals might step into them. It's difficult to release an animal from a trap; generally you'd have to tranquilize it or shoot it.

God bless all people who are on side of, Justice for Animals. God put them on earth for  a reason.

we all have parental responsibility,ensuring the safety of your children against raccoon attack is one of them.

 You need a double barrelled racquet.

Raccoon's are omnivores. Sometimes they parrots. Who is on my side if a Raccoon is trapped in a bin you help it. Raccoon's can't help eating. What if someone wanted to kill you because you ate chicken.

If the Raccoon appears to be dangers' a bullet to the head is the most humane, if it can't be caught and relocated.