Posted: 4/2/2026 3:56:14 PM EDT
| I trap some racoons that eat off my deer feeder. There is a camera. I am using a Dukes trap. I caught a racoon in the middle of the day. He arrived and got caught around 11am. I saw the pic and by time I arrived at the trap about 1.5 hours from being caught he is already dead and somewhat stiff. How did he die so fast ? Ideas on what killed him? I do not have the body as the buzzards ate it . He looked mostly normal other than being dead. |
RIP Jeff Reed. Tennessee Squire, Ga. Carry member, NRA,Non-puking 72 ounce drinker 2 of 6 Norcal call sign, Forgotten.
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Being sick, old (dementia) or injured can make them behave oddly. Distemper was going around here a decade ago with racoons wandering around out of their minds during the day in places. Same with lactating or about to give birth. They'll move around to find food during the day. I'd just rinse the trap off and reset for the next one... |
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Originally Posted By 7mmStalker: Probably stroked out from the stress of confinement. Personally witnessed this twice in my youth when medium sized rodents were captured then literally spazzed out and expired in minutes. Not confined in a Dukes trap. It grabs their leg when they reach for food . This was my early thought as well though. |
RIP Jeff Reed. Tennessee Squire, Ga. Carry member, NRA,Non-puking 72 ounce drinker 2 of 6 Norcal call sign, Forgotten.
| I tried marshmallows since a couple of you guys use them. I have caught 2 more with marshmallows. Including one that stuck both front paws in the trap. |
RIP Jeff Reed. Tennessee Squire, Ga. Carry member, NRA,Non-puking 72 ounce drinker 2 of 6 Norcal call sign, Forgotten.
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Originally Posted By dirtyboy: Coons and skunks, out in the middle of the day, are usually very sick. This. When normally nocturnal animals are out during the something is wrong. |
“An enemy at the gates is less formidable,
for he is known and carries his banner openly.”
for he is known and carries his banner openly.”