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Best Raccoon Traps Reviewed & Rated for Quality
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Versatility
Though the products on our list are all designed to catch raccoons, there is a bit of versatility here as many of them are able to catch other kinds of unwanted visitors to your home and garden as well. For a live critter cage, there are a number different creatures they can catch, such as raccoons, weasels, stray cats, and anything else of that relative size and shape. So, if raccoons aren’t your only trouble, this kind of cage can be a big help to you for getting rid of those other unwanted visitors, too.
Effectiveness
You should never underestimate the ability of a raccoon (or three) to mess with your life. While perfectly willing to coexist with humans, the common raccoon is tragically unable to understand how to actually do so without making the other half of that equation (i.e., us) not want to coexist with them. You name it; a raccoon can do it from harmless stuff like getting into your garbage, to outright chewing through your wires and messing with the electrical grid of your house as a result. Raccoons are adorable creatures when you don’t have to deal with them, but it’s funny how quickly that appeal can fade once you do. That's why the effectiveness of the options on our list was an important criterion we used when it came to judging the products. You don't want to mess with a raccoon, especially considering that they can carry rabies and be deadly.
Durability
You don't want to catch a raccoon to only have it escape moments later. Your cage will need to be durable enough to withstand a raccoon and be able to be re-used once you've relocated the first offender so you are able to use the product again in the future. Raccoons are smart and persistent little creatures so your product needs to be able to provide enough durability to withstand even the smartest critter.
Value
The last criteria we used to judge the entries for this list was the price of each entry. Funny enough, the most expensive entry on this entire list was our first entry, purely based on the materials used to make it. That combined with the type you’re looking at, the size, and the features it offers, all come together to determine the overall price of the product. However, due to the inconsistent nature of the prices of these entries, we decided to judge each entry by how well they justified the prices they had, rather than the prices themselves. After all, if the product has the features to back it up, you’re probably not as likely to get testy about a high price tag.
10 Best Raccoon Traps
1. Tomahawk Original Rigid
Kicking off our list with a classic, we have the Tomahawk Original Series Rigid . This is the kind you go for when you’re just looking for a way to get the job done, and there’s a good reason that the design of this product is considered the default. Which we shall now demonstrate.
Powerful and Rust Resistant
Of course, when you’re using something to catch a critter, you want to make sure that the cage in question is strong enough to handle it, and raccoons are stronger than they look. Which is why this option is made entirely of 12-gauge galvanized wire mesh. And as if that wasn’t enough, it’s coated in a material that makes it completely rust resistant. Which is definitely good for something intended to be left out in the elements for days on end.
Rear Sliding Door
When you catch the raccoon, the obvious next step is to find a safe place to release the creature, and then do so. And for that purpose, this product is built with an easy to operate the rear sliding door, which is inaccessible from the inside so that the raccoon doesn’t get out. But it’s incredibly easy for you to operate.
Cost and Value
Of course, such devices don’t come cheap, especially if you want high-quality models like this one. However, if you want the best performance on the market right now, the price is definitely worth it.
2. Duke Powder Coated
Coming in second place, we have this option from Duke. Duke is a name you’ll be seeing a lot of if you decide to really get into critter catchingas a hobby. While they only have two entries on this list, this company really has set themselves apart from others on the market.
Dog Proof
When setting a cage up for a raccoon, there’s one little snag in the plan you have to account for: a lot of dogs are the same size and general shape of a raccoon, and most products are unable to tell the difference. If this is a major concern for you, then don’t worry, as this option is completely dog proof.
Completely Humane
Even compared to the human entries that make up this list, this product stands out as particularly safe for the critter you’re trying to catch. After all, the poor thing is just hungry, so you don’t want to actually kill it. This product will grab the raccoon’s leg once it goes for the bait you’ve set nearby. The only thing we recommend is to make sure to handle the critter promptly, as there’s no way of ensuring that the raccoon stop it from harming itself in a panic.
Cost and Value
The best part about this is its price. Being just a chain attached to a spring mechanism, this option is one of the cheapest on the entire list. So, if you want an excellent, humane product on a tight budget, this is the combination you’ve been looking for.
3. Bridger Dogproof
Finishing up our top three segment, we have the Bridger Dog Proof option. Like the previous entry, this one is meant to be staked into the ground, armed with a chain that wraps around the raccoon’s leg when it steps over the designated area. So, what sets it apart from its predecessor? Let’s find out.
Strong Springs
This is a spring based mechanism, and since it’s meant to catch and hold onto a live, wild, and after it is sprung, panicked critter, it needs to be made of some pretty tough stuff. So not only is this one of the most ruggedly constructed raccoon products on the list, but it’s also made with strong music wire springs to make sure there isn’t a malfunction of some kind when it’s time to spring it.
Stable
When you work with any device meant to be staked into the ground, the quality of that stake is paramount. After all, if the stake isn’t anything of quality, that raccoon is not going to have any trouble getting away. Which is why this option is made with an integrated stabilizer stake that keeps it stable and, in the ground, no matter how much the raccoon thrashes as long as, of course, you make sure to stake it into strong dirt.
Cost and Value
This product is a bit more expensive than the previous entry, but not by a lot, so it’s still pretty cheap.
4. Havahart 1079
Coming in the #4 spot, we have the Havahart 1079. Havahart is considered to be one of the leading manufacturers of humane cages, especially urban-based critters like raccoons. And this animal cage embodies that about as effectively as it possibly could.
Smooth Interior
At the end of the day, you’re still putting a raccoon in a small metal cage, and that can do some damage if it’s not made properly, as metal is a tad sharp. Fortunately, Havahart considered this and made sure that the interior of this cage was nice and smooth, so as to not cut or scrape the poor creature while it’s caught.
Versatile
The great thing about a cage like this is that it can handle a lot more than just raccoons. A lot of things are the same general size and shape of a raccoon, after all, especially pests. So, if you have a lot more problems than just raccoons, like say armadillos, stray cats, groundhogs, possums, and other critters, this product is exactly what you’ve been looking for.
Cost and Value
Despite being a very similar kind of cage as the first entry on this list, it’s actually a lot more affordable. While the lower price shows in the specifics of the product in comparison to its predecessor, we still heartily recommend it.
5. DakotaLine Snare
For our 5th place entry, we chose the DakotaLine Hunting Snare . As the name suggests, this option is a set of snare wires that you set up to catch the critter you’re hunting mid-run. They get tangled up in the snare, and just like that, you’ve got them. So, let’s see what got this product on the list.
Hard to See
One of the main things in the way of a good snare is the fact that if you want a strong snare, you need that line to be thick which means sacrificing the all-important lack of visibility for added durability. Fortunately, this product found a way around that little hurdle, by dying this snare in such a way that makes it hard for critter to see, especially when they’re trying to outrun a hunter, and not focusing on the fine details of their surroundings.
Versatile
The biggest selling point on this option is its versatility in the kind of game it can catch. Sure, you could use it to catch all the raccoons you want, but if you have a hunting trip with your buddies coming up, you can bring this product with you to help catch everything from deer to coyotes.
Cost and Value
This costs a good bit less than the previous entry, but not enough for it to earn the moniker of being cheap.
6. Duke 110 Body
Coming in at #6, we have another entry from the master craftsmen at Duke, with the Duke 110 Body. Now the title of this product may make you wince since it does sound a tad bit brutal. But in fact, this is probably one of the most humane raccoon catchers on the entire list. Allow us to explain.
More Humane Than Foothold Options
Foothold options get the job done, but they can be harmful due to their nature if the raccoon panics hard enough. The problem with only holding onto the foot of the raccoon is that the foot in question is now at risk of breaking when the critter inevitably panics. Which is why this product holds the entire body of the raccoon, preventing it from moving around too much.
Multiple in Package
Got more than one raccoon that you would prefer to handle all at once? No problem, because this comes in a set of 6 per box, which should be more than enough for the family of raccoons that have moved in.
Cost and Value
For a set of 6, we expected this product to cost a lot more than it ended up being. So, if you want one of the best sets on the market right now, look no further.
7. Amagabeli Professional
For our #7 spot, we have the Amagabeli Professional. You wouldn’t think the traditional trip cage design would be one of the most versatile designs out there, but you would be very wrong. There are myriad different ways to improve upon this base, which this entry explores further.
Super Sensitive Trigger
This is meant for a lot more than just raccoons, but that just means that it has to take into account that a trick that works for a raccoon may not work for a cat. Such as a pressure pad release trigger for the door, which a stray cat can easily step over. The solution that this option proposes is to have an integrated unique hook (not sharpened, don’t worry) that will trigger the cage immediately the minute the bait is so much as grazed.
Coated Wire Mesh
The wire mesh that makes up this raccoon cage is covered in a black coating that increases its resistance to the elements while outdoors. You can even use it inside, due to how easy to clean it is. Finally, this cage has a much smaller wire mesh than other raccoon catchers of its kind, which not only stop the raccoons from just getting the bait by reaching in from the outside but also keeps you from getting clawed at when you do manage to catch the raccoon.
Cost and Value
While still not as expensive as the first entry, this is a much pricier kind than the previous few entries. Not too expensive, but just enough to be labeled as such.
8. Trapro Large Collapsible
Kicking off our final three entries, we have the Trapro Large Collapsible Live Cage. If what you want from a live crittercage is efficiency, then you’re looking at one of the prime examples of that with this entry. What do we mean by this? Let’s find out.
Collapsible
In case you haven’t yet noticed, these cages are rather big and bulky. So, they can be hard to find storage for, because of their large size and cumbersome design. A problem that this navigates around expertly, by allowing the cage to be completely collapsed with relative ease. And yet just as strong as a non-collapsible cage when setting up.
Escape-proof
With other cages, there’s usually at least a half second where the door is about to close, where the creature in question can still get out. And if you’re trying to catch, say, a cat, then that half second is all it needs to escape your cage. Unless, of course, you use this product, which closes shut its single door in microseconds.
Cost and Value
This isn’t quite as pricey as the previous entry, but still not enough to be labeled as either cheap or even affordable. Still, though, if you want a highly efficient option, then this is what you need.
9. Havahart Two-Door Cage
For our second to final entry for this list, we have the Havahart Two-Door Cage. Of all of the cages we’ve showcased on this list, this is one of the longest lasting of the bunch. What’s the secret behind this cage’s longevity? Let’s find out.
2 Door Design
It seems like an odd thing to showcase but think about it. How many cage plans have been foiled because the raccoon approached from the wrong side, figured out it was being conned, and then ran off? Or simply didn’t notice the door on the other side, and got frustrated with the fact that it can’t reach the bait inside? This is what makes the twin doors so effective because it gives the creature you’re trying to catch more ways in.
Sensitive Triggers
Every creature weighs differently, and that is going to affect how well the pressure pad in an critter cage is able to tell when to activate, no matter how sensitive it may be which is why this product is adjustable in its sensitivity, allowing you to target the specific size and weight of the creature you’re trying to capture.
Cost and Value
This cage sits somewhere between the previous two entries in terms of price, making it not quite affordable, but not quite pricey enough for us to label it as such either.
10. OxGord Live
For our final entry on this list, we have the OxGord Live cage. This is what we consider to be the basic concept of the live critter cage device broken down into its most essential elements. What do we mean by this? Well, let’s close out this list by finding out.
Smooth Internal Edges
Metal can be a sharp thing, in case you haven’t already noticed by now. Even mesh wire, which isn’t meant to be very sharp at all, can be murder on the sensitive paw pads of an creature like a raccoon. Which is why this product was specifically made to have as smooth an interior as possible under the circumstances of its construction. Meaning that you don’t have to worry about your humane cage proving harmful to the critter you’re trying to catch.
Durable
But of course, this is still mesh wire that this thing is made out of, and that stuff can be flimsy if not made correctly. Luckily, this cage understands that, and so constructs itself from high quality, rust-resistant mesh wire that will last a long time, as well as stay durable throughout that time.
Cost and Value
This is one of the cheapest entries on the entire list. Not nearly as cheap as the earlier entries, mind you, but still very affordable compared to the entries immediately preceding this one.
