How to Get rid of Raccoons | Top 10 Best Raccoon Traps & Buyer Guide

Raccoons are also known as ‘Ringtail’ and belong to the Procyon genus. They belong to seven species of nocturnal animals defined by their ringed tail with five to ten black bands, short legs, and black ‘mask’ around their eyes.

North American Raccoons are the most popular type of raccoon and vary from Northern – Canada to most of the United States southwards into South America.

Damage caused by Raccoons

Raccoons seem like cute creatures but they can create havoc in search of food, carry infectious diseases such as rabies and transmit them to you or other animals. Therefore, it is important to capture a raccoon as soon as they start creating problems.

How to get rid of Raccoons?

To catch a raccoon is a pesky task. But with patience and having the right knowledge of how to trap a raccoon, you can succeed in your mission with ease. There are various ways and traps available to catch raccoons but to catch them in a humane way is the best option.

The following some of the best Raccoon Traps available in the market

Top 10 Best Raccoon Traps

1. OxGord Live Animal Trap

This Raccoon trap provides efficient trapping with its simple baiting system and smooth edges. It’s made up of really durable material in the form of wire mesh so that the animal won’t escape.

The spring-loaded door and the easy trigger make the baiting and trapping super easy and efficient. The trap includes two doors and can be easily folded, making it suitable to trap raccoons, possum, stray feral cat, rabbit, and other rodents.

Dimensions: 32 inches * 12 inches * 12 inches

Pros:

Includes two spring-loaded doors
Durable as it is made of wire mesh material
Smooth edges don’t harm the trapped animal
Easy trigger
Effective against a variety of rodents

Cons:

Directions for use is not given

How to Use: The trap is preassembled and comes in a collapsed state. You just need to jerk it upwards, set the trap, and let the trap do the rest of the work.

Buy On Amazon

2. Havahart 1045 Live Animal Trap

This Havahart animal trap includes two spring-loaded doors to provide extra security to animals, along with various other features such as sensitive trigger, galvanized steel, wire mesh, handle guard, and smooth edges, to allow safe, easy, and quick catches.

Havahart 1045 Live Animal Trap is suitable for trapping raccoons, opossums, stray cats, groundhogs (woodchucks), and similar-size nuisance animals.

Pros:

A sensitive external trigger rod is located outside to protect the user
Galvanized steel prevents rust and corrosion
Increased trap rate with two doors that allow the animal to enter from either direction
Large handle guard offers protection during transportation
Smoothed internal edges protect and prevent injuries to animals and the user
Effective against a variety of rodents

Cons:

The doors don’t close properly allowing the animal to push out the trap on one side
You need to know your area’s trapping law before using this live trap

How to Use: You can use the Harvart humane trap by following the steps mentioned below:

Placing the bait: Place the bait at the end of the trap so that the raccoon has to enter inside the trap completely before striding on the trigger plate.
Setting up the trap: Set the trap near the area where you’ve caught a glimpse of a raccoon or any other animal for several days to make the animal comfortable and ensure an easy catch.

Checking the trap on a regular basis: Extreme hot or cold weather conditions can serve as an obstacle in trapping raccoons. So, make sure that you keep a regular check on the trap to assure humane treatment to the trapped animals.

Buy On Amazon

3. Redneck Convent Duke Animal Leg Trap

The Redneck animal leg trap includes foot-hold preventing device and coil springs for extra strength, as it is mainly used for poaching and trapping.

It is made up of steel and can trap a wide range of animals like raccoons, fox, marten, mink, nutria, etc. The trap has a completely enclosed design that ensures the safety of the person using the trap and the people around.

Pros:

Includes a foot-hold preventing device and spring coils
Durable as it is made of steel
Effective in catching various animals
Safe to use around children

Cons:

Spring is found broken many times

How to Use: You need to fix the stabilizer stake into the ground at an angle of 45° as the raccoon will get attracted to the cylinder in order to grab the food which will extend the lever inside and trap its leg.

Buy On Amazon

4. Havahart 1079 Humane Animal Trap

Harvart humane animal trap is designed for a successful trap of raccoons, leaving the almost negligible chance of escape.

The trap has one strong, metal door and smooth, internal edges that ensure that the trapped animal is not harmed. It is suitable for trapping raccoons, cats, groundhogs, and opossums.

Pros:

Durable as it is made of steel

The single door makes sure that the trapped animal is not able to escape

Effective in catching various animals
Rust-resistant and hence lasts for a long time
12-gauge wire mesh ensures the security of trap from any damage-causing animals
Smooth edges make sure that the trapped animal does not get injured

Cons:

Some buyers found the trap broken with hard, internal edges which resulted in harming the trapped raccoon
Metal rods that hold the door might be bent out of shape

How to Use: You can use the Harvart humane trap by following the steps mentioned below:

Placing the bait: Place the bait at the end of the trap so that the raccoon has to enter inside the trap completely before striding on the trigger plate.
Setting up the trap: Set the trap near the area where you’ve caught a glimpse of a raccoon or any other animal for several days to make the animal comfortable and ensure an easy catch.

Buy On Amazon

5. Trap Large Collapsible Humane Live Animal Cage Trap

This raccoon trap is made of sturdy galvanized steel to provide superior resistance to rust and corrosion. It has a collapsible design and is very easy to fold flat, which immediately saves 70% of the space.

The sensitive trigger ensures the single door to snap shut in microseconds, eliminating the chance of a quick escape, a large handle guard gives protection during transportation and smoothed internal edges protect the trapped animal and you from injuries.

This raccoon trap is highly effective against animals such as raccoons, cats, opossums, rabbits, groundhogs, etc.

Dimensions: 32 inches * 11 inches * 13 inches

Pros:

Durable as it is made of galvanized steel
Collapsible design, making it easy to fold
Sensitive trigger and single door eliminate the chance of escape
Large handle guard offers protection during transportation
Smoothed internal edges protect and prevent injuries to animals and the user
Does not make use of any toxic substance
Effective against a variety of animals

Cons:

Some buyers found the instructions completely unclear and the product did not have to provide an application to match/translate instructions.

How to Use: You can use the Harvart humane trap by following the steps mentioned below:

Cut off the fixed cable ties
Take out the back-door lock
Unfold the cage
Fix the cage shape by squeezing the “U” support arm in to the fixing clip
Secure the back door with the rear door lock
Connect the trigger arm to the pedal and the “U” hook in the front door
Press the front door lock with your thumb and pick up the front door, then carefully hand the door on the trigger hook that connected to the trigger arm.

Buy On Amazon

6. Smartxchoices Large Live Animal Trap Cage

The preassembled trap is ideal for trapping raccoons, groundhogs, rats, weasels, rabbits, chipmunks, flying squirrels, mink, squirrels, muskrats, ferrets, skunks, possums, woodchucks, porcupines, stray cats, opossums, and other similar-sized undesired animals.

This is because the trap comes in a collapsible design and can be folded easily, making it portable. Smartxchoices Large Live Animal Trap Cage does not take much space when folded and hence, can be easily used outdoors and indoors with children around.

Dimensions: 32 inches * 12.5 inches * 12 inches

Dimensions when Folded: 32 inches * 12 inches * 3 inches

Pros:

Galvanized steel prevents rust and corrosion
Collapsible design, making it easy to fold
Can be used indoors as well as outdoors
Safe to use around children
Portable
Durable as it is made of rust-resistant wire mesh
Sturdy enough to carry large animals
Sensitive trigger and single door eliminate the chance of escape
Smoothed internal edges protect and prevent injuries to animals and the user
Effective against a variety of animals

Cons:

The bars get bent very easily and need to be reshaped after every use

How to Use: The trap comes in a pre-assembled form and you just need to place the bait. You need to lift the trap’s door upwards and place the trigger’s hook at the end of the trap because the trap has a sensitive trigger mechanism that auto-locks the door immediately as soon as the trigger is touched. During this process, the animal won’t get hurt as the trigger is positioned outside the trap.

Buy On Amazon

7. Gingbau Live Cat Trap Collapsible Humane Animal Cage Trap

This raccoon trap is made up of heavy-duty, galvanized steel so that creatures can’t chew through the mesh and escape.

Gingbau Live Cat Trap Collapsible Humane Animal Cage Trap is excellent for raccoons, stray cats, groundhogs, armadillos, possums, rabbits, large squirrels, and other similar-size animals.

Its collapsible design and easy to fold feature saves space, and the highly sensitive trigger assures that the single door shuts down instantly.

Dimensions: 32 inches * 11 inches * 13 inches

Folded Dimensions: 32 inches * 11 inches * 2 inches

Pros:

Galvanized steel prevents rust and corrosion
Collapsible design, making it easy to fold
Sensitive trigger and single door eliminate the chance of escape
Effective against a variety of animals
Includes an auto door lock system

Cons:

The back of the trap is not secure enough to hold a strong cat or raccoon for more than a minute.

How to Use: The trap comes in a pre-assembled form and you just need to place the bait. Place the trap towards the end of the trap to ensure that the animal gets trapped completely.

Buy On Amazon

8. VIVOHOME Collapsible Double Doors Live Animal Cage Trap

This raccoon trap is made up of high-quality galvanized wire mesh to prevent it from rust and corrosion, making it suitable for use in any weather condition.

This trap is suitable for humanely trapping raccoons, stray cats, groundhogs, or other animals as the two spring-loaded doors with elastic gravity have sensitive triggers and ensure a trap every time.

VIVOHOME Collapsible Double Doors Live Animal Cage Trap has the smallest mesh grid which prevents the bait from being stolen and animal escaping. It also includes a handle and metal protection at the top of the cage to protect the trapped animal from any injury.

Dimensions: 36 inches * 10 inches * 12 inches

Pros:

Galvanized steel prevents rust and corrosion
Durable as it is made of rust-resistant wire mesh
Multiple doors increase the trapping chances
Sensitive trigger eliminates the chance of escape
Smoothed internal edges protect and prevent injuries to animals and the user
Effective against a variety of animals
Can withstand rough weather conditions
Large handle guard offers protection during transportation

Cons:

Doors plunge down with great alarming force
It’s too easy for the animal to lift the doors and escape.

How to Use: VIVOHOME Collapsible Double Doors Live Animal Cage Trap can be placed anywhere as it doesn’t consume much space. You just have to position the bait on the pressure pad in a way that comes in contact with the animal easily. As soon as the animal will touch the pad, the gravity action door would close automatically.

The trap comes with a protective covering on the handle so you don’t need to worry about getting yourself harm by the animal.

Buy On Amazon

9. Home garden Humane Live Animal Cage Trap

This raccoon trap is made up of metal and weighs 9.3 pounds, making it suitable to trap raccoons, groundhogs, squirrels, rabbits, possums, moles, gophers, skunks, chipmunks, and other nuisance rodents.

Home garden Humane Live Animal Cage Trap comes pre-assembled and can be used safely around children and other pets as the sensitive triggers and small mesh opening does not allow the trapped animal to escape.

It also includes a large handle to provide you protection while transporting the animal, and a back door for quickly releasing the animal, making it suitable for homes and farms.

Dimensions: 32 inches * 12.5 inches * 12 inches

Pros:

Easy to set-up as it comes pre-assembled
Durable as it is made of rust-resistant wire mesh
Special back door for releasing the animal
Sensitive trigger eliminates the chance of escape
Safe for use around children
Can be used in homes and farms
Effective against a variety of animals
Large handle guard offers protection during transportation

Cons:

Many times, the trip plate does not release the trap door allowing the animal to eat the bait and escape

How to Use: You need to set the release switch for the door very lightly and ensure that the hook is not angled to the side. Keep the hook straight and as centered as possible. Since the trap has a sensitive trigger and a short trigger rod, as soon as the pedal touches the rod, it would shut the door immediately and trap the animal.

Buy On Amazon

10. Twinkle Star Live Animal Cage

This raccoon trap is constructed with great quality, extra thick wire mesh, rust-resistant, heavy-duty steel to humanely trap raccoons, stray feral cats, armadillos, rabbits, opossums, groundhogs, and similar-size nuisance animals.

Its collapsible design, easy to fold and store function makes it excellent to use around shed, garage apartment, garden, flower beds, backyard, patio, lawn, fences, and front door.

Twinkle Star Live Animal Cage utilizes a sensitive trigger to shut the door in micro-seconds and trap the animals. It also has wire mesh, steady inner edges, and a handle to provide protection to both, the animal and the user.

Dimensions: 32 inches * 12.5 inches * 11 inches

Pros:

Sensitive trigger eliminates the chance of escape
Large handle guard offers protection during transportation
Smoothed internal edges protect and prevent injuries to animals and the user
Effective against a variety of animals
Collapsible design, making it easy to fold
Can be used outdoors
The trigger switch is located outside the trap so that the animal can’t damage it

Cons:

Some people found the trapping mechanism of the trap very weak

Buy On Amazon

Buyer Guide to select the best Raccoon Trap

Before buying any trap to get rid of raccoons, you should consider the following points and check if the product is suitable for you:

Size: Make sure that the size of the trap is large enough to trap the raccoons without harming them.

Safety: Usually, these traps are well-designed to avoid the chances of any injury as they include a safety handle for protection. But you should double-check its strength and durability before buying it so that the trapped animal is not able to escape and cause any harm to others.

Price: The price of any product normally depends on its quality. Expensive traps prove to be more efficient and vice-versa. Therefore, if you want to purchase a large number of traps, you might have to compromise either your budget or the quality of the trap.

Bait: Many traps come pre-baited and pre-scented in order to lure the raccoon in to the trap. If you want a trap for indoor use, you should opt for a non-scented trap that requires you to place the bait manually.

Trap Trigger: Sometimes, the trigger is not strong enough and keeps on shutting down. So, you need to buy a strong trigger that will trap the raccoon effectively and won’t let it go.

Make sure that the trap doesn’t kill them: Sometimes, the traps don’t have the good holding capacity and air circulation that suffocates the raccoon trapped inside and results in its death. So, it’s really important to make sure that the trap you’re buying doesn’t kill it, but instead humanely traps it so that you can displace it later.

Conclusion

The best way to get rid of any creature is not by harming them but by humanely trapping them and taking them to a safe place, far away from your home. There are various raccoon traps available in the market that don’t make use of any poison and safe to use around children.

The majority of the raccoon traps are made of galvanized steel to prevent it from corrosion, have a sensitive trigger, can trap various rodents, and include a safety handle and smooth inside edges to protect the trapped animal and you from any harm.