Raccoon issues

[Racersk]

I need a quick and CHEAP way to get rid of raccoons on my property.

I had a family that wipped out my pond stock about a week ago. Since then I pulled all my outdoor stock, one brown 'goldfish' and a handfull of small trapdoor snails. BUT the pond is still in the yard, now without filtration.

Yesterday, there were more wet prints and the vegetation in the pond was disturbed...They have also terrorized our outdoor cats.

I really don;t have the cash for a trap, but I don't want these rodents messing with my stuff when everyone goes to bed. Short of spending the night outside with a 22, what other deterants could I set up? Any smells or automatic deterrents that work? I know there is at least one family in the back yard as they were confronted once, moma and 4 kids, moma left when hit with a rock, the kids left when blasted with a supersoaker!

 

[latshki]

a dog

EDIT a big one at that

 

[Gasha]

Get an alaskan malamute.. they will kill(try to) anything that comes in your yard even birds...lol best dog i ever owned... they can be trusted around anyone(humans) just when it comes to other animals... they are psycho. Tibetan mastiff would get the job done too..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRZ5OC_fHFA&feature=fvw

 

[Racersk]

OK a dog ain't gonna happen, that would be more expensive to feed than, well, ME!

alright, other than a 22 AND a dog, any other idea's? like a 110V electric fence rigged around the pond?

 

[ceeej31]

paitball gun or a sling shot

 

[Dullamite]

I'd try the electric fence, Raccoons are smart, it would probibly only take getting shocked a couple of times before they didn't return.

 

[fishtex]

rig your shotgun up with a trip wire tied to the trigger and staked out in front of the barrell. anything trips the wire and boom. just make sure raccoons will be the only thing in range of gun. i've seen similiar traps like this online for fairly chep. Not too humane but i'm pretty heartless when it come s to raccoons

 

[Racersk]

I can't use a gun or projectile, first I would have to catch them in the act...This hasn't happened yet. Second, it's in my front yard, I don't think my neighbors (or my wife) would appreciate my efforts at shootin critters off the front porch, she' already accused me of redneck livin with car parts...lol

I am working on getting a trap, but I have a feeling I am going to catch more cats than anything else...Maybe not a bad thing...

 

[geronimo69]

I can't use a gun or projectile, first I would have to catch them in the act...This hasn't happened yet. Second, it's in my front yard, I don't think my neighbors (or my wife) would appreciate my efforts at shootin critters off the front porch, she' already accused me of redneck livin with car parts...lol

I am working on getting a trap, but I have a feeling I am going to catch more cats than anything else...Maybe not a bad thing...

Not sure if it works, but it does for skunks... Leave a radio on in the backyard, not loud enough to disturb neighbours, etc, but just enough to be heard around the pond and your yard. These animals don't like being disturbed, they enjoy the quiet of darkness. Maybe a small light would help also??

Edit: just re-read your post : FRONT yard...

 

[MadRussian79]

Use Ultra sonic deterrents. No mess, no dead critters and you show your wife that you are not a redneck.
http://www.ebugs.us/yardgard.htm
Cheaper than the law suites that result from the shot gun trap capping the neighbor's cat or kid. Also cheaper than getting a well trained large dog or training a large dog.

anything trips the wire and boom.

You don't see the problem with this? Not going to toss out insults but that has bad idea written all over it. Kid, cats, your drunken idiot buddy etc.