Racoon Infestation in neighborhood

[David.travis]

As was mentioned in the annual meeting there is at least one property that has raccoons living in the attic. My understanding is that the individual who lives in this house is not always around, and he has mental health issues. I do not know this person, but our house sits diagonal from his house (the corners of our backyard touch).

I have seen the raccoons walking across our fence and occasionally occupying one of the trees in our backyard. Our neighbors, two doors down see them much more regularly and I believe that this house is not the only house in the neighborhood with this problem, as our neighbor across the street also has had problems with raccoons in their back yard and wont let their German Shepard in the backyard because of the raccoons. I propose that we organize a small group to research what we can do to rectify this issue, and I would like to volunteer to head the group.

I want to find a way to humanely deal with the situation and because in my past I worked professionally with many different species of animals, including 3 different species of monkeys, as well as many different domesticated large and small animals, as well as many species of rodents and farm animals. I believe I am uniquely qualified to lead the discussions and research into how best to approach the problem.

To summarize, I propose forming a small group to study the issue of humanely solving the problem of raccoon infestation, and I am volunteering to lead the group. All interested, please reply to this thread.

David Travis
600 La Veta Dr NE

[Donovan-Marquez]

Hi David,

Let’s get to trapping and relocating!

I’m happy to brainstorm a plan on how we can get this issue resolved!

Robert

[David.travis]

Have to check the regulations and find out where we can take them to release them. Also, need to find where to get suitable traps. We probably need to check with the state and the feds to get all the wildlife regulations and where to take them once we trap them. I can start to look into that. If you want to talk about it on the phone, my # is 575.758.8467, I'm retired so my schedule is pretty open.

[Artemmis]

David and All,

I'm just seeing your initial post and have just signed on to this site. I live on the 700 block of Cardenas, and we have a significant raccoon problem here, as well. I have seen as many as 5 raccoons (a family, I'm guessing) strolling across the the top of my backyard concrete block fence, enroute to my cherry tree. . .or to the next door neighbors' pecan tree. Ample food sources around here, and no natural predators. It's a problem, for sure.

Thanks for your willingness to head up this committee/group. I purchased a trap a couple of years ago, but have some back/hip problems that prevent me from using it. There's no way I could lift a 30lb angry raccoon in a trap by myself. However, I'd be happy to let others in the neighborhood make use of the trap. I purchased it at True Value, by the way. When I checked with NM Game and Fish, they told me that I'd have to take a course in trapping, and pay fees for both the course and for a license to trap. Since then, the trap has just been sitting in my garage. They also told me that raccoons are a protected, fur-bearing species, and that they are prohibited by law from trapping/removing them. I'm sure that you know more about this, but it sounds like it's up to us to address the problem.

So, please let me know how you'd like to proceed. I can be available to meet most late afternoons or evenings, with sufficient notice.

Thanks again for volunteering to head up this group. I'm glad to see some neighborhood interest in trying to tackle this issue, as it's only going to get worse. Having the Fair Grounds so close by (ample sources of food there, too) only contributes to the problem.

Emily

[David.travis]

Sorry, all for the delayed response. I have gotten to retirement age, which means I now have time to work on this stuff. However, I was a computer professional, and part of being retired is unplugging from the internet to a certain degree. Unfortunately, I haven't yet found the correct balance between unplugging from email and checking for messages on forums, but I will try to improve.

That being said, I have talked in person with another member and he also was expressing some sentiment that we get on with it "quietly", I can't emphasize that this is a really BAD IDEA. this is. These animals are protected by the Feds, and the Feds take it super seriously if you get caught, and believe me, you will get caught. This isn't the old New Mexico, you could just cowboy. But in an urban area, with a large Federal workforce, that would be immensely not a good idea.

With that in mind, it is possible to do something about it.

You could obey all the laws and take all the classes, maybe even have to have someone like me who has actually worked with wild animals, purchase all the required equipment. If you obtain all the necessary licenses and certifications you could start a business doing that, in fact, you better start a business doing that as that is the only way this works out in our favor. I for one am enjoying my retirement, I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to spend one minute of it in jail.
Call a professional to do it, good idea but expensive.
Since the feds have all these rules, why not try to get them to do it? There has to be some way to make them take care of it since they make it impossible for an ordinary person to do it without significant penalty.

Here is a PDF what the New Mexico Game and Fish Dept. says:

https://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/downlo ... -areas.pdf



Basically, it says to call them, so we aren’t dead in the water and may not have to start a business to deal with them, some good news. So if it's that easy, I guess I will check with them and see what they say.

Stay tuned, and I will try to check my mail more often.

[Artemmis]

Hi, David,

Just seeing your reply posted yesterday. I like your idea about trying to encourage NM Game and Fish, or whichever government agency you think most appropriate, to get involved with us in addressing this problem. Although it seemed to me that they weren’t at all interested, and didn’t perceive any responsibility, despite the fact that these animals can be quite aggressive, can carry rabies and are thus a public health issue/hazard, I support you in taking another crack at it. (Maybe the state Dept. of Health’s Environmental Health Dept. would take some interest, given the rabies aspect?)

Again, I’m willing to work with you in somehow trying to address this problem. The numbers of raccoons living and reproducing in this neighborhood are steadily increasing, with no natural predators. Maybe we need to try to get our state legislator involved. . . she might(?) have a little more clout with the Feds than just a neighborhood association? At least her support and involvement couldn’t hurt.

Let me know how I might help,

Emily

[marcinmin]

Hi David. I have 2-3 raccoons that come in my backyard almost every night. Let me know whatever you plan. Thanks


Marcia Badowski
813 Madeira Dr NE

[Tommyt Rapisardi]

yes! hello everyone, Tommy T, here..i been living on Cagua DR. for over 25 years and yeah..these
Raccoons are a constant nuisance and love to come by my place because i have turtle and koi ponds..
i bring the turtles in every night now since they raccoons attacked them a few years back..
tried so many different things, had a professional come over..told me it was expensive to rent the traps
and that they probably wouldn't bother with them because of the several food and pond sources...
They are definitely a problem and i usualy see 3-5 at a time.dancing in my smaller ponds and thinking
i am gonna give them food...i don't wanna kill them but what do we do?
thanks and have a good day..happy to finally be here...
----tommy t