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Thread: Racoons getting in sap buckets

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Kalamazoo, MI
    Posts
    99

    Default Racoons getting in sap buckets

    Last year I had an issue with racoons getting in some of my sap buckets and ruining the sap. I use 5 gallon buckets that sit on the ground, covered but not tightly, with holes drilled in the lids for the tubing to go through. I don't put the lids on tightly because that would slow down sap collection too much and I realize the irony that by not doing that, I'm not being able to collect any of it. Out of the 28 buckets I have, the most they ever bothered in one day/night was 5 buckets, usually more like 2 or 3. Shooting the racoons is not an option. I'm thinking of switching to bags but wondered if anybody has had issues with critters getting into them.
    Tracy

    2011 - 3 gal syrup
    2012 - 4 gal syrup
    2013 - 14 gal syrup

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2021
    Location
    WI
    Posts
    10

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    You could try to live trap the raccoons and dispose of them somewhere else. Check rules against releasing them somewhere else, usually illegal. I think the would just shred the bags or bite holes in them easier than the buckets. They may have found better food somewhere else so it may not be a problem.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2019
    Location
    Nashville, MI
    Posts
    939

    Default

    I have quite a few around here and they have never bothered the buckets or the bags. the bags may discourage them more.
    2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
    2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
    2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
    2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
    made 17 gal. syrup
    2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 ga.l syrup
    2021 - Didn't work out
    2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    MI
    Posts
    8

    Default

    Have the same setup and never had any bother mine yet *knock on wood*

    Wonder if you could distract them with like an easier to get at pail or bucket of open water near where they are causing trouble. Although knowing racoons they would just make a mess of both.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    West Michigan
    Posts
    49

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by octane View Post
    You could try to live trap the raccoons and dispose of them somewhere else. Check rules against releasing them somewhere else, usually illegal. I think the would just shred the bags or bite holes in them easier than the buckets. They may have found better food somewhere else so it may not be a problem.
    This. If feeding them fast doses of hot lead is not possible then I would trap them and try to relocate them or otherwise encourage them to not return.
    All Sugar Maples
    2017 7 taps on propane & 5 gal pot
    2018 12 taps on propane & 5 gal pot
    2019 17 taps on propane & 5 gal pot, Gen 1 barrel evaporator
    2020 26 taps 2-22-20 - Gen 2 barrel evaporator, DIY 100GPD RO
    2021 cut back some-12 taps Gen 2 barrel evap-too many other projects.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
    Posts
    11,547

    Default

    I hope you sanitize the buckets extremely well before collecting more sap in them. Maybe if you don't want to snap the lids on tight, could you come up with a way to fasten them on so the coons can't get in, but you can? Beware, raccoons are very smart when it comes to keeping them out.
    Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
    Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
    Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
    After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2010
    Location
    Kalamazoo, MI
    Posts
    99

    Default

    I do sanitize before re-using the buckets; dumping the sap hurts but the major reason I was hoping to find a way to collect that was racoon proof is because cleaning them most often has to be done right then and takes me away from doing all the other stuff that needs doing when you're boiling, right at the time it all needs doing. I thought about putting some kind of weight on top of the lid (a brick maybe) but didn't think that would keep the critters out, it would just turn them into weightlifters. Then they'd be smarter and stronger than I am.
    Tracy

    2011 - 3 gal syrup
    2012 - 4 gal syrup
    2013 - 14 gal syrup

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