Best Raccoon Traps and Cages
DID YOU KNOW?
Raccoons can cause major damage to your roofs and attic vents if they want to live in your attic. They will chew and break eave fascia boards, tear at roof shingles close to vents and even break attic vents.
To make sure this doesn’t happen to your home, take preventative steps against raccoons.
The Best Raccoon Traps/Cages
It’s understandable if you feel concerned about a raccoon in your home or yard. After all, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that they account for nearly 30 percent of rabid animals. Using live raccoon traps is a viable option to get rid of them. However, there are state laws that regulate them as game species and limit what you can do.
Continue reading to learn more about using traps for nuisance wildlife.
How We Found the Best Raccoon Traps/Cages
9 Reviewers
43 Products Considered
5 Products Reviewed
3 Top Picks
Raccoon Traps/Cages Problem?
Amagabeli Professional Humane Live Animal Trap
Pros
- Sturdy and durable
- Extra long handles protect your hands
- Captured animals can’t escape
- A sensitive trigger to prevent bait theft
- Dark color camouflages the trap
Cons
- Could hurt a captured animal because of the design of the bait hook
- May be difficult to set up for inexperienced users
OUR VERDICT
The Amagabeli Professional Humane Live Animal Trap is a sturdy cage with a sensitive trigger to catch raccoons successfully with minimal bait theft.
Our Review
The Amagabeli Professional Humane Live Animal Trap is a well-made cage that is sturdy to put up with the rough handling from an angry raccoon without damaging the trigger rod. The spacing of the metal gauge reinforces the design. The overall dimensions are 28 inches long by 12 inches wide by 12 inches wide. The height is adequate, but the length is too short for larger animals.
The cage has a sensitive trigger to prevent an animal from taking the bait. It uses a hook instead of a trigger pan that you’ll see in comparable products. While effective, the placement is questionable considering that it could injure the raccoon. The trap won’t rust. And you’ll receive a three-year warranty with your purchase.
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Havahart 1089 Collapsible One-Door Live Animal Cage
Pros
- Long enough to trap an adult raccoon
- Spring- loaded door prevents bait theft
- Small wire gauge to protect your hands and fingers
- Collapsible to store when not in use to save space
- Handles the elements well
Cons
- May be difficult to bait for inexperienced users
- Larger raccoons may damage the cage
OUR VERDICT
The well-designed Havahart 1089 Collapsible One-Door Live Animal Cage provides a reliable trapping solution that is weather-resistant.
Our Review
The Havahart 1089 Collapsible One-Door Live Animal Cage is a large trap measuring 32 inches long which is big enough to trap a full-size raccoon or other wildlife. The galvanized steel gauge is big enough to hold but small enough to keep the animal’s paws inside. The handle also protects you with its greater length from the main body of the cage.
Reinforcements throughout the construction provide added strength and durability to hold a trapped animal without risk of injury. You’ll find that it’s easy to set with a sensitive trigger and spring-loaded door. The single entrance and bait placement ensure that the raccoon will enter the cage completely to improve your catch rate.
Havahart 1045 Live Animal Two-Door Trap
Pros
- The small wire gauge protects your hands
- Better catch rate
- Rust-resistant to last
- Versatile to use with one or both doors
- Minimal bait theft
Cons
- The angle of the doors reduces room for trapped animal
OUR VERDICT
The Havahart 1045 Live Animal Two-Door Trap is a larger cage for catching nuisance wildlife with a better catch rate with its design.
Our Review
The Havahart 1045 Live Animal Two-Door Trap offers an effective way to trap raccoons with a design that will increase your catch rate. It is similar to the Havahart 1089 Collapsible One-Door Live Animal Cage with weather-resistant, stainless steel construction. With the trigger rod outside, it reduces the injury risk to wildlife while keeping them inside of it.
Havahart has a long history of manufacturing a complete line of pest control products for over 75 years. The company field tests their models to ensure their safe operation. This trap is 36 inches long and is big enough to catch an adult raccoon. You’ll also get a one-year warranty with your purchase.
Introduction to the Raccoon
The best raccoon traps/cages are the ideal way to deal with a nuisance animal. Raccoons present a formidable challenge for the homeowner because of their intelligence and manual dexterity. Their five-toed front paws can open latches or take off garbage can lids with ease.
Raccoons are nocturnal. However, it is not unusual to see them during the day. They are opportunistic animals and will quickly learn the activity patterns of the humans in the areas they inhabit. That ability to adapt explains why they live throughout the United States with their numberings increasing especially on the East Coast.
Signs of a Raccoon Problem
There’s nothing subtle about a raccoon infestation. They are larger animals that can reach up to 38 inches long and 23 pounds. They are destructive and will leave telltale signs such as damage to your home, toppled garbage cans, and other visible clues. You may see scat or their distinctive paw prints in your garden. They are omnivores and will likely eat most anything you plant.
Raccoons are vocal. You may hear them hissing or sounds of them moving around inside your attic. They are bolder than other wildlife, so you may even see them walking around in your yard. Their longer back legs give them a hunched-over appearance. However, they can run up to 15 miles per hour and can swim and climb equally as well.
Getting Rid of a Raccoon
Taking care of a raccoon infestation is tricky on several fronts. First, you’re dealing with an intelligent animal that can get out of poorly constructed traps. Second, state game laws protect them which limit what you can do even if you are the homeowner. It’s imperative to check with your DNR or local extension service to find out what measures you can legally take.
The reason these laws exist is that most states consider them game animals. It means that there are hunting and trapping seasons with limits on takes. Some areas may require a license or permit too especially with products like the Duke DP Coon Trap. You may have some options in places that allow homeowners to handle nuisance wildlife.
Finally, some areas may regulate where you can release a trapped animal if you use a product like the Havahart 1089 Collapsible One-Door Live Animal Cage. After all, you don’t want that raccoon to return to your home to cause more trouble.
Using a Trap
You’ll find both single and double door cages such as the Havahart line. The advantage with the former is the raccoon has to get inside of the trap completely to get the bait with less risk that they’ll run off without triggering it. The latter will give you a better catch rate to take care of your problem quickly.
Place the trap where you’ve seen signs of damage. You’ll have better luck if you put along the side of an outbuilding or near some cover. That will give them a false sense of security and make it more likely that they’ll enter it. Raccoons have a sweet tooth when it comes to selecting the right bait. Choose foods like marshmallows for an irresistible treat they won’t neglect.
It’s essential to check the cage frequently. If you catch a raccoon, cover the trap with a blanket, making sure to leave the handles accessible. That can help calm the animal and make it safer for you to transport. Always wear heavy gloves when handling a trap. They carry other diseases and parasites such as roundworm and salmonella in addition to rabies.
It’s also a smart idea to put a tarp in the back of your vehicle on which to place the cage. You should release the raccoon at least five miles from your home in a suitable habitat such as forest or wetlands. Make sure it isn’t near other houses or farms.
Preventing a Raccoon Problem
Prevention is one of the best raccoon trapping tips you’ll find. The crucial thing is to avoid providing an accessible food source. Keep the garbage cans inside of your garage or shed. Use products with locking lids to deter these pests if you don’t have one. You should also rinse them out frequently to cut down on odors that may attract them.
Repair any holes or damage to outbuildings that could provide shelter for a raccoon. Periodically, walk the perimeter of your house and garage to look for any gaps that could give an animal access to your property. Finally, consider using a repellent to keep them from returning.
Summary
The best raccoon traps/cages offer a humane solution for dealing with nuisance wildlife to protect your family and your home. They are effective and easy to use whether you have an animal inside your house or outside in your yard. The ideal products are sturdy and large enough to hold an adult. It’s essential to act quickly if you’ve noticed the telltale signs because of the health risks raccoons pose.
Always check with your state and local governments about any laws or regulations about trapping and releasing these animals. Take the extra time and effort to play it safe by using gloves and minimizing your contact with a raccoon.