To: nafex mailing list at ibiblio <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [nafex] raccoons
Date: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 10:21:20 -0400
Chris
It's cruel, but in utter frustration I got raccoons to leave my corn plants
alone one year by buying several dollar-store jars of powdered hot pepper
(cayenne, I think) and shaking it liberally over the stalks. The first
raccoon to show up after the application (at about 3:00 AM) must have snorted
about an eight-balls worth, since his outraged chittering continued at such a
volume for so long I feared the police would be summoned.
Unfortunately the hot pepper apparently had no effect upon squirrels, rats
and other local grifters, so I lost most of the crop anyway.
dylan
----- Original Message -----
From: Christopher Kennel
To: nafex mailing list at ibiblio
Sent: Monday, August 19, 2013 9:20 AM
Subject: [nafex] raccoons
I'd like to know how other fruit growers have dealt with raccoons. I have
seen one on our property and noticed that my ripest grapes have recently been
attacked, and I suspect the raccoon is to blame. I'm raising grapes on a
modified Geneva double curtain about 6-7 feet off the ground. I've heard one
can cover grape vines with 3-4' lengths of PVC (cut down the middle then
rejoined) to prevent climbing. Has this or any other technique worked for
you? Unfortunately I cannot shoot the raccoons because I live in an urban
area--I also don't have time to stay up at night waiting for them to come
around.