Raccoons can prove to be a real problem on the farm. They are known to spread disease to pets and people, tear into barns and feed sheds, and even eat crops right out of the field.
“Our specialty crop producers really suffer from raccoon damage sometimes. And so, you know, the folks who are growing crops like watermelons and cantaloupes and pumpkins and squashes and vegetables like that, raccoons can do an incredible amount of damage. If a cantaloupe has one bite taken out of it, then that cantaloupe is no longer usable or marketable, and so that’s a big challenge for those specialty crop producers,” said Drew Ricketts.
While farmers may be tempted to take a raccoon problem into their own hands, Ricketts warns that is probably not the best idea.
“It’s really hard to put a poison that’s going to be, you know, appetizing enough to a raccoon for them to consume a lethal dose without also exposing pets, other wildlife, even people to that poison, and so folks need to be aware that that’s not legal.”
Instead, he suggests consulting with a professional wildlife control expert.
