Unsolved Mystery Last Night on the Boat

Ok, Ill play....I only had a racoon problem once....

I have a small medical kit in the cockpit...Gauze, tape, gloves, etc....Nothing special. But, I did put an unopened trailmix pack that is fully sealed in a way that you have to tear the top and then you can reseal it with the ziplock seal. Anyway, I guess the critter was hungry because I found the bag unzipped and the trailmix out and partially eaten....I could see what caused it by the little prints left on the deck...So I cleaned it up and removed anything edible.

A few days later I'm in the salon and I hear a noise coming from the cockpit, so I go investigate. I used a flashlight I leave near the hatch to look around. Sure enough right over the engine hatch were two beady eyes looking back at me....Startled me at first...And, it looked a bit startled...Last thing I wanted to do was get between it and the exit.

But, unfortunately, it decided to slowly move under the seating on the Stdb side and disappear! I was like, "WTF"?!.... I didn't realize the way the boat was fabricated there is a pretty big opening under the seat that goes about the hull ...(I'm not exactly sure where it goes - but, likely behind the helm seat)

So, I could hear it slowly making its way around until it had settled into it's hiding place...I'm sure it was scared.

Anyway, I just let it be as there was nothing I could do except make sure there was an easy exit... The next day after I was pretty sure it had left, I put a pack of three lifejackets covering the hole and then placed something in front of them....Anyway, I did see it again, but not on my boat. It found a drainage ditch.

I think it was looking for a good place to have shelter and realized this wasn't a good place and moved on.

Very respectful 'coon that tore up nothing and was very slow in it's movements...Glad I didn't startle it too much and make it get defensive...I don't want to mess with them...
 
This same thing just happened to my 420 - damn thing came in the tansom door - wife left some rolled candies in a dish after a weekend party and my Nest Cam picked him up "after the fact" - chewed all the candy - LED stirp lights under consol and behind rear bench and then decided he liked the AC insulation - made a mess but nothing to bad....
hasnt been back since and i moved the cam location to better pick it up.
 
Be very carefull. I bought a s240 sorrento that had 2 raccoons living in it. I looked at boat after cutting a door in shrinkwrap. Picked it up several months later and these 2 f#@#%rs moved in and destroyed the inside. Called animinal control to come get them and they told mento just put a ladder up against boat and they will go on there own. Well they did after an hour. Brought boat home and started to scrub the poop and pee out of everthing aswell as cleaning all the hair. That night i felt like death and all my muscles hurt like i was an 80 year old man. Found out that their poop,pee and fur are toxic to humans. Wear gloves and a mask if you have to
 
Found out that their poop,pee and fur are toxic to humans. Wear gloves and a mask if you have to

Good point!
I think I remember the insurance adjuster telling me that stuff was toxic when he explained why the insurance company was going to spend the big bucks to have the attic insulation removed, attic sterilized and new insulation installed.
 
open season year round in Penna if you shoot or trap them, considered pests here
 
It's only against the law if you get caught.

The bigger problem for me wasn’t legal, it was survival.
My wife is an animal lover to the point of being insane about it.
After that nut job murdered me she’d probably start a “Racoon Lives Matter” movement.
 
So no sign of the raccoon ... My boat neighbor right beside me had his dog on board all weekend so that probably deterred any visit
My other dock neighbor said he hit a raccoon on the road out front of the marina Friday night... So that might be it as well..
The windshield wiper breaker was popped so that was an easy fix
So I am just left with this cover chewed up as a reminder ... I looked around a bit and didn't find one to replace it yet.... I am a week or two away from being pulled out for the winter so will worry about it then....

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The trapper our city recommended to live trap skunks under our shed was Fruit Loops.
It was so funny... this story of the raccoon went around the marina like wild fire and everyone had an opinion on bait... I was told:
Fruit Loops - just now
Peeps
Barbecue sauce
Peanut butter
Can of tuna - but he caught a lot of cats first and a skunk - hilarious story
Dog food
Fatty chicken
Crackers
Some biscuit thing
Bacon
Marshmallows
Reese's cups
I was thinking damn... these raccoons are getting one hell of a last meal or an awesome relocating snack :)

It was just funny listening to each person debunk what I was using for their own foolproof solution.
 
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The bigger problem for me wasn’t legal, it was survival.
My wife is an animal lover to the point of being insane about it.
After that nut job murdered me she’d probably start a “Racoon Lives Matter” movement.
My admiral is cut from the same cloth lol
 
Well the little bugger was back this morning at 7:00. I called the marina and they were able to go down there and confront him. It took them an hour to get him off. I have video but it's a little graphic ...I think PETA might loose their minds if I posted it. Again no real damage but the boat needs to be professionally cleaned ...a bit of blood, piss and poop.
... and he won't be back ......I am glad that's over.

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Not on the boat, but coincidentally, we've been dealing with raccoons for the past few weeks at our home. They come in through the kitty door and eat all the cat food (apparently they really like dry cat food). They will disappear for 3 or 4 nights and just when we let our guard down, they are back.

My theory is they have a route through the area and hit each place in rotation. Looking for a local trapper today.
 
Well the little bugger was back this morning at 7:00. I called the marina and they were able to go down there and confront him. It took them an hour to get him off.

Thrilled you didn’t incur any worse damage (whew!) but,

You do realize you enjoy response times at your marina that most of THE PLANET would give anything for, from whatever their version is, of public safety!!!!

(I retired from 30 years in LE so, that’s not a cheap shot, more of a reality; “911: when you only have seconds, we’re just 5-10 minutes away,” and all. #2A!!!!!!
 

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