Live trapping a raccoon relies heavily on selecting the right bait. Raccoons are opportunistic omnivores, eating both plant and animal matter, but they strongly prefer foods that are sweet, fatty, or have a powerful scent. An effective bait strategy exploits their keen sense of smell and natural curiosity, enticing the animal to enter the trap completely. The best bait is irresistible and encourages the raccoon to trigger the trap mechanism for a quick and humane capture.
High-Value Food Baits for Raccoons
Raccoons are drawn to items with high sugar or fat content, as these sources provide concentrated energy. Sweet baits are particularly effective, and small, soft foods like marshmallows are a top choice among trappers. They are inexpensive, easy to handle, and possess an appealing sugary aroma. The white, round shape of a marshmallow may also visually attract raccoons, potentially mimicking eggs they forage for in the wild.
Another successful category relies on a strong, pungent odor that travels well through the air. Canned fish, such as sardines or tuna packed in oil, are excellent due to their intense smell. Wet cat food, especially fish-flavored varieties, is also a practical and effective option. Sweet fruits like grapes, apples, or berries can also be used, appealing to the raccoon’s natural omnivorous diet.
Strategic Bait Placement Inside the Trap
Selecting the bait is only the first step; proper placement dictates whether the raccoon is captured or simply steals the food. The primary goal is to force the animal’s entire body onto the trigger plate before it can access the reward. The bulk of the bait should be placed at the very back of the trap, well beyond the pressure-sensitive trigger mechanism. This positioning ensures the raccoon must fully enter the enclosure, stepping on the plate, to reach the food.
A small amount of bait can create a subtle trail leading from the entrance to the center, acting as an olfactory guide. This trail encourages the animal to investigate the trap progressively rather than hesitating at the door. It is also important to secure the bait, perhaps by wiring a container to the trap floor or digging a shallow hole underneath the trap. Securing the bait prevents the raccoon from reaching in with its paws and pulling the food out without activating the trigger.
Utilizing Specialized Scent Lures
Beyond common food items, specialized commercial scent lures offer an additional level of attraction that can increase trapping success. These lures are concentrated pastes or liquids formulated with complex scent profiles, designed to carry well over distance and remain effective in various weather conditions. They often contain a blend of sweet odors, musks, and essential oils that mimic natural food sources or territorial markers.
Unlike food bait, these non-edible lures are typically placed outside the trap where the raccoon cannot consume them. A common method is to soak 10 to 20 drops of a liquid lure onto a cotton ball or similar scent dispenser. This scented material should be positioned where the raccoon must pass near the entrance to reach the strong aroma. These high-potency scents are useful for attracting wary, trap-shy raccoons that might ignore simple food baits.
Bait Selection to Avoid Non-Target Animals
A major challenge in urban trapping is selecting a bait that targets raccoons while minimizing the capture of non-target animals like domestic cats, opossums, or skunks. Baits with a strong, savory protein base, such as canned fish or meat scraps, are highly attractive to raccoons but also to a wide range of other scavengers, including neighborhood pets. To avoid catching these unwanted species, it is advised to lean heavily on sweet baits, as raccoons have a “sweet tooth,” whereas domestic felines are less interested in sugary foods.
Marshmallows, sugary cereals, or sweet fruits are better at selectively targeting raccoons over cats. Another technique is to modify the trap setup to deter non-climbing animals. Placing the trap on a secure, elevated platform about a foot off the ground can reduce the capture rate of skunks, which are poor climbers compared to raccoons. Furthermore, setting and retrieving the trap only during the nighttime hours aligns with the raccoon’s nocturnal activity, which naturally reduces the risk of catching non-target animals active during the day.