Trapping Raccoons

Where I live is a very woody area. I have a 25 lb. terrier mix dog. He can smell possums and other wild animals that come into the yard.
He barks and this is quite disturbing at 1am when he barks.
I feed the birds daily. Besides bird seed I'll throw out old bread.
I have a security camera and watched 5 🦝 raccoons wandering about in the front yard eating whatever leftovers they could find. Then they went to the neighbors house and got into his trash.
I bought a Havahart trap. I found a guy who feeds the raccoons and would welcome more.
He taught me how to use a trap as I'd never trapped anything before. They love PB&J sandwiches.
We have caught 8 raccoons. I thought that was it. Well, we caught 7 and my little dog killed a young one. Yikes!
Lo and behold another 4 show up on camera.
Now someone kept eating the bait but no one was in the trap. I read online that a bigger raccoon may eat the bait then back out of the trap and to set a brick on the end of the trap door so that when it shuts it slams (for lack of a better word) and the raccoon can't back out. That worked on 1 raccoon.
But now something strange is going on. They will NOT take the bait. They don't even come back every night. I might see them on camera every 3 nights. The bread hasn't been eaten as before they would eat it all up.
Can anyone tell me what's going on? I washed the trap with soap and water. I just can't figure out why they don't come every night as they use to.
BTW, I don't hate raccoons or wildlife. But they do carry disease and the vet said if one poops in your yard and the dog steps in it he'll probably get sick. Plus, I'd like to be able to sleep all night with no barking.
Any thoughts are appreciated.

 

Raccoon are very intelligent. You need to mix up what you are doing. At this point they have probably recognized the trap as something to be avoided. You'll have to try different trapping methods, bats, season...

When hog hunting I've often seen the lead boar will allow the females and young ones run ahead. Only when the others have insured that the coast is clear will the old wise one emerge.

 

I think you're right. I thought about putting some brush or tree limbs over the Trap. I might do that. Thanks.

 

You should vary the bait offered. Raccoons are omnivores; they eat almost anything. Options include marshmallows, other sweets, fish, chicken, other meats, dog or cat food, fruits and berries, even sweet soda and drinks. Consider using table scraps.

 

Marshmallows are good bait for raccoons, don't know why. I know a guy who traps them and has good luck with them. Camouflage the trap well, move it around.

 

We started out putting chicken pieces in the Trap. But then I kept catching too many cats. So I switched it to marshmallows and then cherries and I found out they really love peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
I moved the Trap and I put a couple of shrubs that I'd just torn out and stuff over it to kind of camouflage it and I'll set it again tonight.

 

Marshmallows and strawberry daiquiri mix leading to the trap.

 

Are you serious? You are creating the problem to begin with and then trying to stop the problem with a trap. You will not stop the problem until you stop feeding in the area, period. Once you stop putting out foods your problems will move on to another area. Trust me, the birds and other critters won't starve if you stop feeding them in your yard.

 

I still haven't caught any more raccoons. I camouflage the Trap and they're going in there and getting the bait and leaving. Or else they just don't come around some nights. My neighbor suggested to leave trap open so that they can't shut it and put food in there and maybe they'll get used to going in and out without getting trapped then after a week or so I'll set the Trap so that it catches them...?
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Guess my comments went over your head. Oh well, good luck with trying to solve a problem you continue to create.

 

They could be trap shy. Is it possible that they were trapped somewhere else and relocated near you?

Leaving the traps unset but baited is a legit technique. Pest control operators trapping rats will often times bait unset rat snap traps as rats are "neophobic", meaning fear of new things. Oddly, mice aren't neophobic.

Another thought, leave one door closed and put the bait nearest the closed door so that they can't stand in the doorway and reach for the bait, but actually have to enter fully.

Yet another thought, how stiff or firm is the tension? Maybe bending a rod slightly or lubricating contact points with baby oil will make it release easier.

 

Quit feeding the birds for a while. Once they figure out there is no food they will quit coming around. There is no reason to feed birds in the summer time. Mother Nature provides.

 

Some nights 4 or 5 will run about. Then for a few nights none come. I had some old avocados and found out they love them. I threw 3 around the trap and one inside. I caught a young adult.
11 raccoons so far.
I take the caught ones over to a guys house that loves raccoons. He has built them a tree house, feeds and waters them and they will come take food from his hand.
I really don't understand why some people think relocating them is a bad thing.
Oh well, Just an update.

 

Sounds like you're onto them now, good job figuring it out. Be conscious that it may not be legal to relocate certain animals in your state. It might be a good idea to find out before you say too much, too often, especially in this day and age of social media.

 

I did call animal control before I started relocating the raccoons. She said they can legally be relocated anywhere you want.
I believe it is illegal to keep a raccoon as a pet. But the gentleman that is feeding these raccoons and providing them shelter isn't making pets out of them.

 

I'll chime with CW and Ron. You're complaining about a self made problem and you continue to prolong the problem. If you continue to feed them and continue to use the bird seed you will continue to have the problem. Nothing will solve it until you change your course of action. Surprised the others have not stated the obvious. I suppose answering the question and solving the problem are two different things.