Nocturnal Visitors

This morning when I took my Jack Russell Terrier out in the back yard he went nuts smelling around the yard.  The mulch that is in the perimeter flower beds was all dug up and the fountain's water was all cloudy and stirred up, so far I have not seen any of the goldfish that lived in the fountain.  Whatever was in the yard left footprints on the patio after being in the mulch but the prints don't look like raccoon tracks to me, what do you guys think?  Will Skunks raid fountains for goldfish?  I don't want to set out a live trap if it is a skunk. 

Classic coon prints to me. What part of town? Hunting season is 11/16 - 3/31.

You just need to borrow my dog. Far right one in the picture. She took out a family of five in one night in about 20 minutes, and a raccoon has not been back on our property since.

We have a problem with raccoons in our backyard going after the chickens and my wife's water garden with goldfish for mosquito control.  The chickens get locked in a secure coop and night and the water garden has an electric fence around it.  Just last night we had another coon learn what the wire around the rim is for.

 I know ScubaLuis raise" them as pets 

Classic coon prints to me. What part of town? Hunting season is 11/16 - 3/31.

Can't discharge a firearm in the city limits.  I will have to set a live trap tonight to see what shows up.  There are apples, strawberries, melons, corn, and tomatoes in the yard too.  I have seen the tree squirrels running off with an entire apple a few times and the birds eat a lot of the fruits but so far we have not had a problem with raccoons even though there is a creek across the street. 

Shooting in city would definitely be bad with shot spotter systems in place. Archery?  or a .22 pellet gun? I've had success with a pitch fork too.

I have a coyote trap if you find the prey is too large for your trap.

I want the tail!

Of the raccoon, I mean, in case that wasn't clear... 

Classic raccoon prints

I want one of FishyFishy's puppies!!

Bushy

 
  Yep coon!  Your fish?  tender snacks.  If the coons didn't get them, a passing egret did.

Yeah, they ate all the Koi out of my Dad's ponds in San Jose.  Just the heads though...  They ate my chickens last year too....just the insides.  Remember, they scream very loudly when injured.  I'm told they will thrash around in a trap too until they break it. 

I want one of FishyFishy's puppies!!

Bushy

The breeder is trying to place a stunning female right now. If you are interested, let me know, I will hook you two up. PLease note how the Akita is not an easy dog to own, and it is a single pet household 99% of the time. The most loyal family dog, and a great property protector. Will take its queue from you as to when to be protective.

Set the trap last night and while I did not catch a coon I did catch a feral cat, SOB tried its best to bite or scratch every time I had to move the trap, snarled and hissed too, made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up!  Took the cat to the local animal control office and they would not take it because one of its ears had been snipped which meant it was fixed.  WTF?!  Why the hell do we even have an animal control facility if they won't take unwanted animals?

Cats?