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HOW TO CATCH RACCOON
The raccoon is well known in the greater part of the American Continent; and the raccoon hunts form the burden of many laughable stories. This animal possesses the mischievousness of the monkey, united with a bloodthirsty and vindictive spirit; he slaughters the tenants of the poultry-yard with indiscriminate ferocity, and this in many cases leads to his own destruction, by exciting the vengeance of the farmer.
Being peculiarly fond of sweet substances, the raccoon is occasionally very destructive to fields of Indian corn. While the ear of the corn is still young, soft and tender, in the milk, and is very sweet, it is then eagerly sought by the raccoon. A family of them, five or six in number, frequently enter fields of corn, and in one night do considerable damage, both by the quantity of grain they consume, and the number of stalks they break down.
The raccoon is an excellent climber, and his strong, sharp claws effectually secure him from being shaken off the branches of trees. In fact, so tenaciously does this animal hold to any surface upon which it can make an impression with its claws, that it requires a considerable exertion of a man's strength to drag him off, and as long as a single foot remains attached, he continues to cling with great force. The conical form of the head, and the very pointed and flexible character of the muzzle or snout are of great importance in aiding the raccoon to examine every vacuity and crevice to which he gains access; nor does he neglect any opportunity of using his natural advantages, but explores every nook and corner with the most persevering diligence and attention, greedily feeding on spiders, worms, or other small insects which are discovered by his scrutiny.
Where the opening is too small to give admittance to his nose, he employs his fore paws and shifts his position, or turns his paws sidewise, in order to facilitate their introduction and effect his purpose. This disposition to feed on the grubs or larva? of insects must render this animal of considerable utility in forest lands, in consequence of the great numbers of injurious and destructive insects he consumes. He is also said to catch frogs with considerable address, by slily creeping up, and then springing on them with both paws. The general color of the raccoon is blackish gray, which is pale on the under part of the body, and has, over considerable part of the neck, back, and sides, some fawn, or light rust-colored hair intermingled. The tail is covered with hair, and is marked with five or six black rings around it on a yellowish white ground. The entire soles of his feet are bare. When standing, he rests upon his feet from heel to toe, flat like a bear, but in walking he goes upon his toes only, like a cat.
There are many caught and killed about cornfields, but the fur is then not very good. Later in the fall, and during the winter and spring, up to the middle of spring, it is excellent, and when the pelts are well dressed they make good mittens; putting a whole skin in each one they reach up to the elbows. In the spring of the year, when the snow begins to go off the ground, the raccoon is easily found. On a warm night they come out from their hollow trees, make a circuit, and return on their back track. By watching for their return, you are quite sure to find them, one, two, three, or four, altogether. When you go out to hunt them, take an axe with you, and fell some hollow tree in which they have their nest, and see what fun you will have in trying to outrun the little ring-tails. Later in the season, when the ground is bare, and the ice is out of the creeks and ponds, they travel along the muddy shores in search of frogs, of which they are very fond. Take a good smart trap and set it on the edge of the water. Fasten it well, and bait it with fish or fowl of any kind, placing the bait above the trap as for a mink, or behind the trap, in such a way that the coon can only get at it by going over the trap. Scent the bait with oil of anise. You may also catch him with a pole trap, baited with frogs, fish, or a bit of partridge. When you find coon tracks in the mud, you may set your trap with a little oil of anise rubbed on the under side of the pan, covering it up with leaves or moss. The first one that comes along will stick his fore paws into the trap, feeling for the bait.
Thrasher, Halsey. The Hunter and Trapper. New York: Orange Judd and Company, 1808.
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