What to Put In a Raccoon Trap (Best Bait to Catch Raccoons)

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In this article, we’ll answer the question:

“What to put in a raccoon trap?”

First, you’ll find a short summary of what you can use in raccoon traps, then get a detailed list and explanation of the best things to put in a raccoon trap to attract this animal to capture it.

Raccoons are medium-sized mammals in the family Procyonidae under the order Carnivora. These omnivores are native to North America but are also distributed across mainland Europe, the Caucasus, and Japan, and are well-known for their striped ring-tail appearance.

raccoon in trap

What to Put In a Raccoon Trap

You should put food in a raccoon trap that is high in fat or sugar, is white or bright-colored, and has a strong aroma. The bait you put in raccoon traps should also be fresh and contain multiple types of food to avoid habituation.

Raccoons are omnivorous animals that eat a variety of foods, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, eggs, insects, fish, birds, rodents, and garbage. They are opportunistic feeders that will eat whatever is available and easy to get. Therefore, choosing the right bait for trapping raccoons depends on several factors, such as the season, the location, the availability of food sources, and the preferences of individual raccoons.

However, there are some general guidelines that can help you select the best bait for trapping raccoons.

Foods That Are High In Fat or Sugar

Raccoons have a sweet tooth and a preference for fatty foods that provide them with energy and calories. Foods that are high in fat or sugar are more likely to attract raccoons and entice them into the trap. Some examples of foods that are high in fat or sugar are marshmallows, watermelon, sweet corn, bacon, peanut butter, cat food, fish, and honey.

Foods That Are White or Bright-Colored

Raccoons are nocturnal animals that have a good sense of smell but a poor sense of vision. They rely on their nose to find food sources in the dark. However, they can also be drawn by foods that are white or bright-colored, as they contrast with the surrounding environment and catch their attention. Foods that are white or bright-colored can also be easier for raccoons to see if they are placed inside a dark trap. Some examples of foods that are white or bright-colored are marshmallows, eggs, bread, cheese, grapes, apples, and oranges.

Foods That Have a Strong Aroma

Raccoons have a very keen sense of smell and can detect food odors from far away. Foods that have a strong aroma can help lure raccoons from their hiding places and make them follow the scent trail to the trap. Foods that have a strong aroma can also mask the human scent on the trap and make it less suspicious for raccoons. Some examples of foods that have a strong aroma are fish, bacon, peanut butter, cat food, garlic, onion, and vinegar.

How to Use Bait In a Raccoon Trap

Choosing the right bait for trapping raccoons is only half of the equation. You also need to know how to use it properly in order to increase your chances of success.

Here are some tips on how to use bait in a raccoon trap:

  • Use fresh bait: Raccoons can detect subtle changes in odor intensity and quality and may avoid stale or spoiled bait. To make sure that your bait is effective, you should use fresh bait and replace it regularly. You should also store your bait in airtight containers or bags to preserve its potency and prevent it from attracting other animals or insects.
  • Use enough bait: Raccoons are greedy animals that will eat as much as they can if they find a food source. To make sure that your bait is enough to entice them into the trap and keep them there until the door closes, you should use enough bait for each trap. A good rule of thumb is to use about one cup of solid bait or one tablespoon of liquid bait per trap.
  • Use multiple types of bait: Raccoons are smart and adaptable animals that can get used to one type of bait over time and ignore it. To prevent this from happening, you should use multiple types of bait and rotate them regularly. This way, you can keep the raccoons guessing and avoid habituation. You can also use a combination of different foods that appeal to different senses, such as sweet, salty, sour, or spicy.
  • Place the bait correctly: Raccoons are cunning and cautious animals that will try to get the bait without entering the trap or triggering the door. To prevent this from happening, you should place the bait correctly inside the trap. You should place the bait behind the trigger plate or pan, where the raccoon has to step on it to reach the food. You should also place the bait away from the trap walls or doors, where the raccoon can’t swipe it from outside the trap. You can also hang the bait from the top of the trap or bury it underr the trigger plate or pan, to make it more challenging for raccoons to get it.

Why Won’t the Raccoon Go In My Trap?

There are several possible reasons why a raccoon won’t go in your trap, such as:

  • You are using the wrong type, size, or location of the trap. The trap should match the size of the raccoon, be placed in an area where the raccoon frequents, and be secured and camouflaged to avoid suspicion.
  • You are using the wrong type, amount, or placement of bait. The bait should be high in fat or sugar, white or bright-colored, and have a strong aroma. The bait should also be enough to entice the raccoon, be rotated regularly to avoid habituation, and be placed behind the trigger plate or pan to ensure capture.
  • The raccoon is smart and wary of traps. The raccoon may have learned to avoid or escape from traps before, or may be cautious of new objects in its environment. The raccoon may also try to get the bait without entering or triggering the trap.

Do Raccoons Learn to Avoid Traps?

Raccoons can learn to avoid traps if they have been exposed to them before or if they sense danger or risk. Raccoons are intelligent and adaptable animals that can remember and learn from their experiences.

They can also observe and communicate with other raccoons and learn from their behavior. If a raccoon has been trapped or seen another raccoon being trapped before, it may develop a fear or aversion to traps and avoid them in the future. 

If a raccoon smells human scent or other signs of threat on or near a trap, it may also avoid it.

Learn More About Raccoons

Now that you know more about the things you should put in a raccoon trap, you may also be interested in these other educational guides on these mammals:

Bait to Put In a Raccoon Trap Summary

You now know what to put in a raccoon trap.

As you discovered, you should put food in a raccoon trap that is high in fat or sugar, is white or bright-colored, and has a strong aroma. The bait you put in raccoon traps should also be fresh and contain multiple types of food to avoid habituation by these mammals.