If a raccoon is working through your garbage cans, nesting under the porch, or picking off chickens, the fastest humane fix is a well-sized live cage trap and a plan to seal the entry point afterward. Picking the best animal traps for raccoons is less about brand prestige than it is about size, door geometry, and whether the trap can be set and released without putting your hands near a frightened animal.
We spent time reading thousands of owner reviews across ten live traps, comparing frame construction, door mechanisms, and the complaints that show up again and again. Every trap below is a genuine cage-style catch-and-release design rated for raccoons. We left out the foothold and body traps on purpose, and we explain why in the safety section below, because the trap most likely to catch a raccoon is not always the trap that is safest for the animal or for the dog in your yard.
Live traps do work for raccoons, but not on the first night. Raccoons are bait-shy and cautious, and most homeowners who give up report the trap was never the problem. What follows covers the ten traps worth buying in 2026, how to size them, what to bait them with, and how to release the animal without a trip to the emergency room.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Picks for Raccoon Trapping (October 2026)
Havahart Large 1-Door Live…
- 32.29 x 13.1 x 11.1 inch cage
- Galvanized mesh and solid steel door
- Trigger tuned for heavy animals
Havahart Large 2-Door Trap
- 36 inch walk-through body
- Two spring-loaded doors
- No reaching in to bait or release
HomGarden 32 Inch Steel…
- 31 x 12.5 x 12 inch cage
- External trigger rod
- Tight mesh blocks escapes
The Havahart Large 1-Door wins this roundup on the strength of its review volume and its heavy-caliber trip mechanism. The two-door Havahart is the smarter choice if you plan to bait it often or handle trapped animals. The HomGarden is the pick if cost is the deciding factor.
Best Animal Traps for Raccoons at a Glance in 2026
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Havahart Large 1-Door Live Animal Trap
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Check Latest Price |
Faicuk Large Collapsible Humane Cage Trap
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Havahart 1085 Easy Set Live Animal Trap
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SZHLUX 32 Inch Folding Live Animal Cage Trap
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Humane Way Folding 32 Inch Live Humane Animal Trap
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Havahart Large 2-Door Humane Catch and Release Trap
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Check Latest Price |
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HomGarden Live Animal Cage Trap 32 Inch
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Check Latest Price |
HOMESTEAD 32 Inch All-Metal Live Animal Trap
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ANT MARCH 32 Inch Live Animal Cage Trap
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Duke Traps Heavy Duty Large Cage Trap
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Check Latest Price |
What Kind of Trap Catches the Most Raccoons
A cage trap is the right answer for almost every homeowner. It is a box of galvanized wire with a baited trigger pan that releases a spring-loaded or gravity door, confining the animal whole and unharmed.
Cage or box trap
A cage trap holds the entire animal, which means no injured limbs and no trap left in the yard. This is the only trap family we recommend to homeowners.
One-door versus two-door
A one-door cage gives an animal a single opening and lets it commit fully before the door drops. A two-door cage creates a walk-through path, so you can bait, clean, and release from either end without reaching deep inside.
Dog-proof foothold traps
A dog-proof trap is a foothold-style device built so the animal must insert its entire front paw into a bait cup to trip it, which is designed to exclude most dogs and cats. Owners on r/preppers praise the species selectivity. The American Animal Welfare Society published findings of soft-tissue damage to heads and necks in animals caught in these traps, and some jurisdictions restrict them.
Tube traps
A tube trap is a small cylinder that suits minks, weasels, and squirrels. It is far too cramped for an adult raccoon and can injure one.
How long will a raccoon live in a live trap?
Most state wildlife rules require you to check a set trap at least once every 24 hours, and several require more frequent checks in extreme weather. In practice, check at dawn and dusk, provide shade over the cage, and attach a small water feeder so the animal never sits in heat without drinking water.
On r/pestcontrol, trappers described the standard practice of clipping a hamster-style water feeder to the cage and keeping the trap shaded through the afternoon. That is a simple step that separates a humane trapping setup from an inhumane one.
1. Havahart Large 1-Door Live Animal Trap for Raccoons, Cats, Bobcats, Beavers
Havahart Large 1-Door Live Animal Trap for Raccoons, Cats, Bobcats, Beavers
32.29 x 13.1 x 11.1 inch cage
Galvanized wire mesh, solid steel door
Trip tuned for heavier animals
Pros
- Largest review base of any trap here
- Heaviest trip mechanism holds determined raccoons
- Smooth interior edges released animals unharmed
- Handle guard keeps hands off the door
Cons
- Does not fold flat and eats storage space
- Some buyers report thinner wire than older production runs
- Redesign removed the door loop lock
- so releasing takes two hands
This is the trap most people end up buying, and for good reason. It carries the largest review base in our roundup at more than 18,000 reviews averaging 4.4 stars, and roughly 72 percent of those reviews are five-star. Owners consistently report successful raccoon, skunk, groundhog, feral cat, and armadillo captures.
The cage measures 32.29 inches long by 13.1 inches wide by 11.1 inches tall and weighs 4.51 kg. The frame is galvanized wire mesh with a solid steel door, and the trip mechanism is deliberately calibrated heavier than a squirrel trap needs to be. That heavier calibration is the single most useful thing on this list, because it is what stops a 20-pound raccoon from walking through a half-set trap.
Owners on trapping forums repeatedly single out this cage as the one that survives an animal that chews through cheaper knock-offs. The spring mechanism is easy to set with one hand and easy to open again for release, which is the reason so many people describe it as the trap they will buy again.
The honest complaints are about hardware changes rather than performance. Several reviewers note the wire gauge looks thinner than on older Havahart production, and the current redesign removed the sheet metal door loop and lock frame. That matters if you need to open the door on a panicking raccoon, because your fingers end up closer to the animal’s path than they used to.
This trap does not fold flat. If you have a small garage or a crowded shed, budget for permanent floor space or buy a collapsible model such as the Faicuk below. Weld points can also show rust after long-term outdoor storage, so store it dry between seasons.
What to check before you buy it
Make sure you have somewhere to store a rigid 32-inch cage, because this one does not collapse. Confirm your local rules before setting it, and decide in advance who releases the animal, since this model’s door hardware puts hands closer to the animal than some competitors.
Who should skip it
Skip it if storage space is tight or if you expect repeated seal-outs and cleanups. For very high-volume removal work, the Duke gravity-door trap below releases without approaching the cage at all.
2. Faicuk Large Collapsible Humane Live Animal Cage Trap, 32 x 11 x 13 Inch
Faicuk Large Collapsible Humane Live Animal Cage Trap for Raccoon, Opossum, Stray Cat, Rabbit, Groundhog and Armadillo 32 x 11 x 13 Inch
32 x 11 x 13 inch cage
Folds flat, saves about 75 percent of space
Sensitive single-door trigger
Pros
- Folds flat to roughly a quarter of its set size
- Galvanized steel resists rust and corrosion
- Large handle guard for transport
- Smoothed internal edges
Cons
- Lowest average rating in this roundup at 4.0
- About 11 percent of reviews are one-star
- Trigger and door reliability trail fixed-frame cages
This is the pick if the deciding factor is storage. The frame collapses to save roughly 75 percent of its set volume, which means a small-town homeowner or anyone in an apartment with a patio can keep a raccoon trap on hand without giving up a closet.
Set dimensions are 32 inches long by 11 inches wide by 13 inches tall, with a listed weight of 4.65 kg. The body is galvanized steel with a large handle guard and smoothed interior edges. Owners like the baiting flexibility that comes with the taller interior.
The rating is the story here. At 4.0 stars across 3,483 reviews it is the lowest-scoring trap we included, with about 59 percent five-star and 11 percent one-star. The pattern in the negative reviews is consistent: the trigger and single door are reliable enough, but noticeably less consistent than a heavy fixed-frame cage when a determined raccoon pushes against it.
The manufacturer’s own listing recommends checking local trapping laws before use, which is good practice and worth repeating. A folding frame trades some rigidity for portability, and a raccoon that leans hard into the rear half will find that difference.
The bait list on this trap is unusually thorough, covering peanut butter, cake, biscuits, jujube, walnut, corn, sunflower seeds, sausage, and roast meat. For raccoons specifically, we would keep it to marshmallows or chocolate placed behind the trigger pan.
What to check before you buy it
Check that you have no need for a longer, two-door path, because this body is single-entry. If you already have rigid cages on hand, the portability advantage shrinks considerably.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you expect repeated captures, or if you cannot tolerate a 4.0 average on a box that has to hold a full-grown raccoon overnight. The Havahart 1-Door is the sturdier alternative at the same size class.
3. Havahart 1085 Large 1-Door Easy Set Humane Live Animal Trap
Havahart 1085 Large 1-Door Easy Set Humane Live Animal Trap for Armadillos, Cats, Groundhogs, Muskrats, Opossums, Raccoons, Skunks – Havahart Live Animal Cage Trap
Easy Set sets and releases with one hand
32.7 inch body, galvanized one-piece mesh
Adjustable trip plate
Pros
- Sets and releases in one motion with one hand
- Arrives fully assembled
- Handle keeps you clear of the opening
- Owners report first-night raccoon catches
Cons
- Lighter frame may not hold a large raccoon long
- Press-fit hinge cap failed for one owner after a single catch
- Some units need trigger adjustment out of the box
The defining feature is the Easy Set mechanism, which sets and releases the trap in one quick motion with a single hand. If you are baiting a trap on a dark deck in the evening, this is a meaningful convenience, and owners repeatedly note how much they appreciate it.
It measures 32.7 inches across the body, arrives fully assembled, and carries a one-year manufacturer warranty from Woodstream covering defects in material and workmanship. The trip plate sensitivity is adjustable, and the galvanized one-piece mesh resists rust and corrosion.
Owners report catching raccoons and opossums on the first night with nothing more complicated than cat food, and several describe the cage causing no harm to agitated animals. The rating sits at 4.1 across 2,786 reviews, with 67 percent five-star and 12 percent one-star.
The one-star thread is mostly about small hardware. One reviewer reported a missing hinge cap that disabled the trip plate, and the press-fit cap failed after a single raccoon capture. Others needed minor adjustment to the door locking bar and trigger before the trap would run smoothly.
At 10 pounds this is a light frame for a large adult raccoon, and a determined animal may not stay contained indefinitely. The single door also means reaching past the trip plate to retrieve bedding or leftover food, which is awkward once an animal is inside.
What to check before you buy it
Inspect the hinge caps and trip plate the moment it arrives, because that press-fit part is the weak point in this design. Test the trigger twice before you leave it set overnight.
Who should skip it
Skip it for large adult males or for a property where a failed door means a chewed-through pet. The Havahart Large 1-Door at number one is heavier for exactly this reason.
4. SZHLUX 32 Inch Folding Heavy Duty Live Animal Cage Trap
SZHLUX 32″ Live Animal Cage Trap, Heavy Duty Folding Raccoon Traps, Humane Cat Trap for Stray Cats, Raccoons, Squirrel, Skunk, Mole, Groundhog, Armadillo, Rabbit, Catch and Release
32 x 10 x 12 inch cage
Folds flat, assembles in four steps without tools
Low carbon steel welded wire
Pros
- Tool-free assembly from nearly flat in four steps
- Wire holds shape against a raccoon
- Tunable trigger sensitivity
- Fits in a car trunk
- Strong value
Cons
- Rear door clips broke for some owners
- Release awkward with an aggressive animal inside
- Collapsible frame lacks rigid metal bands
- Sharp edges can nick fingers during assembly
This one ranks highest in its category for search interest and has the highest rating of the folding designs at 4.2 stars across 2,414 reviews, 67 percent five-star. The weld quality is what earns those marks: low carbon steel with medium frequency welding produces firm, weather-resistant welds with a flat surface.
Set dimensions are 32 inches long by 10 inches wide by 12 inches tall, and the packaged footprint is 38.2 by 11.8 by 3.15 inches. The oblong support frame holds the cage shape, the fixing clips hold the rear door, and a top cover guard board protects your hands while baiting.
The trigger connecting rod sits inside the cage, and the design includes a small tool that extends your safe release distance. Owners like being able to tune sensitivity to the weight of the target animal, and many report successful opossum, groundhog, raccoon, and stray cat captures.
The recurring problems are all in the clips. One owner had the rear door fixing clips break and an opossum leave through the back until they zip-tied them. Others found the rear door release hard to disengage when the trapped animal was agitated, which is a genuine safety issue during release.
Two more drawbacks worth knowing. The collapsible frame does not have enough metal bands to stay perfectly rigid, so a determined cat can push its paws through the mesh. And the two-piece trigger rod and hook align poorly enough that some owners have to set the trap flat on the ground rather than lean it against a fence.
What to check before you buy it
Bring pliers and a few zip ties. Reinforcing the rear door clips before the first night is a five-minute job that prevents the most common failure on this trap.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you want a trap you can release without leaning over the animal, or if you need a cage that will not flex under a panicking raccoon. The Humane Way folding trap below shares the concept but has a different door arrangement.
5. Humane Way Folding 32 Inch Live Humane Animal Trap
Humane Way Folding 32 Inch Live Humane Animal Trap – Safe Traps for All Animals – Raccoons, Cats, Groundhogs, Opossums – 32″ L x 10.2″ W x 12.2″ H
32 x 10.2 x 12.2 inch cage
Sensitive trip plate, spring-loaded door
Folds flat, tool-free assembly
Pros
- One owner removed 18 raccoons and 13 skunks in six months
- Better reinforced door than earlier production
- Tool-free assembly
- Good bait access for a 32-inch body
Cons
- Rear door swings inward so you must reach in to bait
- Locking mechanism can go stiff outdoors
- Frame brace broke after about two years
- Mesh wide enough for rodents to squeeze
The single most compelling owner report in this entire roundup came from this trap. One long-term user documented 18 raccoons and 13 skunks removed over about six months with the trap still in working condition, which tells you more about durability than any specification does.
It is a 32-inch folding body measuring 32 by 10.2 by 12.2 inches at 9.3 pounds, in high-strength rust-resistant galvanized steel, with a highly sensitive trip plate and a spring-loaded door. It assembles without tools and folds flat for storage.
Owners also note that the 32-inch body is easier to bait than the longer 33-inch versions of the same trap, and that the door area is better reinforced than on earlier production units. At 4.1 stars from 2,218 reviews, 63 percent are five-star and 11 percent one-star.
The most common complaint is the inward-swinging rear door. Because it opens inward, you have to reach into the cage to set the bait and again to remove leftover food and droppings before disinfection. That is a sanitation problem as much as an inconvenience.
Long-term durability is not guaranteed. One owner reported the locking mechanism going stiff after a few months outdoors until the door stopped latching, and another had the frame brace that holds the cage upright break after about two years. The mesh is also wide enough for small rodents to squeeze through.
What to check before you buy it
Test the rear door and latch ten times in a row before you rely on it. If you are trapping repeatedly, spray the hinge and latch with a light lubricant at the start of each season.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you plan to remove a family of animals in one weekend and need to clean the cage between captures without reaching inside. The two-door Havahart at number six solves that specific problem.
6. Havahart Large 2-Door Humane Catch and Release Live Animal Trap 1045SR
Havahart Large 2 Door Humane Catch and Release Live Animal Trap for Armadillos, Beavers, Bobcats, Small Dogs, Cats, Foxes, Groundhogs, Nutria, Opossums, Raccoons, Live Catch Trap for Stray Dogs 1045SR
36 x 10 x 12 inch two-door body
Walk-through path for baiting and release
Handle guard and smooth edges
Pros
- Bait
- clean and release without reaching deep inside
- Trigger worked out of the box for most owners
- Survived a panicking raccoon under trail-camera observation
- Popular for trap-neuter-return of stray cats
Cons
- An armadillo bent the end frame and popped the loop lock out
- More frame slop than older production units
- Trigger can be finicky and needs reassembly
- Trap divider is a separate purchase
This is the trap we would buy if we were only buying one. The two-door layout is not a marketing flourish: two spring-loaded doors create a genuine walk-through path, so you can bait the rear of the cage, clean it out, and open the far end for release without reaching over a trapped animal.
It measures 36 inches long by 10 inches wide by 12 inches tall and weighs 12.8 pounds, making it the heaviest cage here. That 36-inch body gives a longer run from trip plate to door than any one-door model in this roundup, which means the animal has to commit further in before the door fires.
Owners report strong results on raccoons and armadillos with no trigger adjustment needed out of the box, and several mention durability testing on trail cameras that showed a trap holding through hours of abuse from a panicking raccoon. It also happens to be the trap most commonly recommended for feral cat trap-neuter-return work.
The criticisms are honest and worth weighing. One owner had an armadillo bend up the end frame and pop the loop lock out, requiring the reinforcement wire to be re-bent. Others note more frame slop than older production units and a trigger mechanism that has needed reassembly.
If you plan to use this for multiple cats in one season, buy a trap divider separately. It is an essential accessory rather than an optional one for that workflow. Some owners also wish the body were longer than 36 inches.
What to check before you buy it
Inspect the loop lock and the end frames first, because those are the two documented failure points. Reinforce the frame ends with a length of wire before the first set if armadillos are known in your area.
Who should skip it
Skip it if storage space is the priority, since at 12.8 pounds and 36 inches long this is not a trap you will move around the house casually. For a single raccoon under a deck, the number one pick is lighter and easier to place.
7. HomGarden Live Animal Cage Trap 32 Inch with Iron Door
HomGarden Live Animal Cage Trap 32″ X 12.5″ X 12″ w/Iron Door Steel Catch Release Rodent Cage for Rabbits, Groundhog, Stray Cat, Squirrel, Raccoon, Mole, Gopher, Chicken, Opossum, Skunk, Chipmunk
31 x 12.5 x 12 inch cage
Trigger rod mounted outside the cage
Tight mesh blocks escapes and bait theft
Pros
- Lowest cost trap in this roundup
- Mesh openings tighter than most same-size cages
- External trigger rod cannot be damaged from inside
- Galvanized with no glues or sprays
Cons
- Lighter wire than premium cages
- Best suited to smaller animals than a prime adult raccoon
- No folding frame
This is the budget pick, and the design detail that makes it interesting is the trigger rod mounted outside the cage. Because the linkage sits outside, a trapped raccoon cannot damage or disable it by reaching around inside, which is a genuine problem in cheaper designs.
The cage is 31 inches long by 12.5 inches wide by 12 inches tall, built from galvanized wire mesh with steel reinforcements and no glues or sprays. Owners consistently single out the unusually small mesh openings as the reason animals do not escape or steal bait through the sides.
At 4.1 stars from 1,986 reviews, with 62 percent five-star, the ratings are solid for the money. Reviewers report success across a wide range of species from chipmunks and moles up to opossums and raccoons, and the smooth interior edges protect the captured animal.
The limitation is straightforward and honest: the wire is lighter than a premium cage. That makes this trap a better choice for juvenile raccoons, opossums, and stray cats than for a prime adult raccoon that will spend hours leaning into the mesh.
It is a fixed frame, not a folding one, so storage space matters. The manufacturer lists it as usable around children and pets with no chemicals involved, though any trap set in a shared yard should still be physically secured against tipping.
What to check before you buy it
Confirm the cage is reachable by your arm for baiting, since a wide mesh cage can make it hard to place bait at the back without a long reach. Stake it down so a raccoon cannot tip it.
Who should skip it
Skip it for large adult raccoons with a long stay in the trap ahead of you. If your problem is a litter of young ones in the spring, this size and weight are actually a good match.
8. HOMESTEAD 32 Inch All-Metal Live Animal Trap
HOMESTEAD 32 Inch Live Animal Trap – Specialized for Raccoons, Opossums, Groundhogs, Skunks, Feral Cats, Squirrels – Humane Way Catch & Release Animal Trap
32 x 10 x 12 inch all-metal body
No assembly required
Heavy-duty closure lock, no plastic panels
Pros
- All-metal build survives gnawing better than plastic-topped traps
- No assembly required out of the box
- Heavy-duty closure lock holds once tripped
- Good value for a full-size trap
Cons
- Trigger-to-door linkage is short and hard to set
- Awkward door when releasing an animal
- Long body makes back-baiting difficult
- Mesh wide enough for mice to escape
This trap’s selling point is that there is nothing to assemble and nothing made of plastic. It is an all-metal body with wire mesh and heavy-duty steel, and owners note that this matters because trapped raccoons chew plastic top panels to get out.
It measures 32 inches long by 10 inches wide by 12 inches tall at 7.9 pounds, and the heavy-duty closure lock keeps the door latched once triggered. There is a green finish and the manufacturer is Olympia Tools.
The rating is 4.1 from 1,162 reviews, 64 percent five-star. Owners report successful catches of squirrels, chipmunks, pack rats, and even a rattlesnake, and they like the stable, consistent trigger that requires no adjustment.
The complaints are ergonomic rather than structural. The trigger-to-door linkage is slightly short, which makes the trap fiddly to set. The door opening is awkward when releasing a captured animal, and the long body means reaching all the way to the back to place bait.
Two smaller issues: the mesh is wide enough that house mice can squeeze out, and one owner found the latch holes were not properly crimped and needed pliers to work out of the box. Check the latch before your first set.
What to check before you buy it
Test the latch and the trip linkage ten times before relying on the trap. Bring a pair of pliers in case the latch holes need crimping on arrival.
Who should skip it
Skip it if setting speed matters to you or if you expect many animals. The Easy Set Havahart at number three sets faster, and the two-door model at number six releases cleaner.
9. ANT MARCH 32 Inch Live Animal Cage Trap with Gloves
ANT MARCH 32” Live Animal Cage Trap with Gloves Steel Humane Release
32 x 11.8 x 12.7 inch cage
Includes a pair of handling gloves
Folds flat, trigger rod outside the cage
Pros
- Included gloves are praised as high quality
- Folds flat but also stands propped open for permanent placement
- Trigger plate can be tuned
- Mesh openings adjusted to prevent escapes and bait theft
Cons
- Rear door puts your hand near a trapped animal
- Internal trigger arm can be knocked loose by a frustrated animal
- Trigger plate bent under a heavy armadillo capture
- No assembly instructions in the package
Most traps treat gloves as an afterthought. This one ships with a pair, and reviewers single them out as unusually good quality, useful well beyond trap handling. That matters more than it sounds, because a raccoon in a cage is a bite and scratch risk even when the trap works perfectly.
The body is 32 inches long by 11.8 inches wide by 12.7 inches tall at 9.3 pounds, in galvanized wire mesh with steel reinforcements. The trigger rod sits outside the cage, and the mesh opening size was specifically adjusted to prevent escapes and stolen bait.
Owners like that it folds flat for transport but can also be propped open for permanent placement near a den entry, which is a flexibility most folding traps do not offer. At 4.2 stars across 961 reviews, 66 percent are five-star and 10 percent one-star.
The safety complaints deserve attention. The rear door is awkward to open and puts your hand within reach of a bite or scratch, and the trigger arm sits inside the cage where a frustrated animal can knock it loose. One owner had the internal trigger plate bent under a heavy armadillo capture.
Quality control is uneven in a few reports: some units arrived with clips loose and the door completely detached, and no assembly instructions were included in the package. A long-necked cat can also reach bait at the back without ever touching the trip plate.
What to check before you buy it
Use the included gloves for every baiting and every release, and check the clips and trigger arm before the first set. Assemble it in daylight where you can see the hardware clearly.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you have dogs or cats in the same yard, or if you are not comfortable working over an agitated animal to open the rear door. The Duke trap at number ten removes the need to approach the door at all.
10. Duke Traps Heavy Duty Large Cage Trap
Duke Traps Heavy Duty Large Cage Trap
30 x 12 x 12 inch cage
Gravity-operated door cannot fail to latch
Released by rolling the trap over with a boot
Pros
- Highest average rating in this roundup at 4.5
- Gravity door cannot fail to latch
- Release by rolling the trap over
- Thick coated bars resist a determined raccoon
- Green coating blends into the yard
Cons
- Single handle is awkward once an animal shifts inside
- Can be tipped or rolled unless staked down
- Coating scratches where animals claw and chew
- Narrow space behind the trip lever
This is the highest-rated trap in the roundup at 4.5 stars across 556 reviews, with 78 percent five-star. The reason is mechanical, not cosmetic: the door is operated by gravity rather than by a spring, so it physically cannot fail to latch.
The cage measures 30 inches long by 12 inches wide by 12 inches tall, model 1112, in a green corrosion-resistant coating that is far less conspicuous in a yard than bare galvanized wire. The thick coated bars are designed so a captured animal cannot injure itself against them.
The release method is the detail that changes everything. You roll the trap over with a boot and the animal simply walks out the open door, which means your hands never go near it. For anyone nervous about a raccoon in a cage, this removes the single most stressful part of the process.
Owners report dozens of armadillos and raccoons captured with no escapes, and the green coating blends into landscaping well enough that most people do not notice the trap at all. It arrives assembled and ready to set.
The trade-offs are real. The single handle becomes awkward once a heavy animal is shifting inside, and the trap can be tipped or rolled by a determined raccoon unless you stake it down firmly. The coating scratches where animals claw and chew, so expect occasional touch-up.
One more practical quirk: the space behind the trip lever is narrow, which makes it hard to place a bait plate back there. Work within that space and do not force the bait in past it.
What to check before you buy it
Bring two heavy-duty stakes and a length of cord so you can tie the cage down before the first night. Confirm you have clearance to roll the trap over on the surface where you set it.
Who should skip it
Skip it if you need a longer 32-inch-plus body for very large males, or if you want a folding trap for storage. This one is 30 inches and rigid, so it stays put once staked down.
How to Choose, Set and Release a Raccoon Trap
What size trap do you need for a raccoon?
For raccoons you want the large size class, roughly 32 inches long by 10 to 13 inches wide by 11 to 13 inches tall. Anything marketed for squirrels or small rodents is too small. Raccoons appear only in the large and extra-large size classes in manufacturer sizing charts.
A 30-inch cage catches an average adult, but a large male needs the extra clearance. Anything longer than 36 inches only helps if you plan to bait the rear of the cage, which is exactly what a two-door design makes possible.
What bait actually works for raccoons?
Marshmallows and chocolate work best in cage traps, placed behind the trip plate so the animal must step on the pan to reach them. Cat food and canned tuna work well in cage traps and are cheap, though you may get less daytime interest from them. Eggs and marshmallows are the standard choice for foothold-style dog-proof traps. Peaches are widely recommended and widely reported to fail, with trappers on HuntTalk describing them as ineffective.
Pre-bait for three to seven nights before you set a trap. Scatter an open tin of cat food or marshmallows along the animal’s travel route with the trap open and visible, so the raccoon learns to walk that line without any pressure. The moment you set a trap the animal has never approached, you will likely wait a week.
Where should you set the cage?
Run the cage along a fence line or against a large tree trunk, because a raccoon will walk a narrow corridor rather than cross open ground. Put it near where you have seen tracks, droppings, or damaged insulation. Leave the bait at the far end so the animal has to commit to the full interior.
Poultry keepers on r/BackYardChickens place cages alongside a fence or large tree near the coop with open cans and boxes around them for cover, which reduces the animal’s hesitation.
Are dog-proof traps safe for pets and children?
No trap is safe for a curious pet. Dog-proof foothold traps are specifically designed to exclude dogs and cats by requiring an animal to insert its entire paw into a bait cup, and owners on r/preppers report they catch raccoons and little else. That selectivity is real but not absolute.
More importantly, the American Animal Welfare Society documented soft-tissue damage to the heads and necks of animals caught in dog-proof traps, along with weight loss and physical decline. Some jurisdictions, including parts of California, restrict or prohibit certain trap types. If there are children, cats, or dogs in your household, a cage trap is the only style we would consider.
Wear gloves when baiting and releasing, treat all droppings as infectious, and know that raccoons can carry rabies and Baylisascaris, or raccoon roundworm, whose eggs survive in soil. Keep traps away from play areas and secure them so a pet cannot push them over.
Do I need a permit, and is relocation legal?
Check your state department of natural resources before you set anything. Illinois requires a free permit from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to trap raccoons, and other states require operator licensing or certification for nuisance wildlife work. Relocation is illegal in many jurisdictions, so the common plan of releasing an animal 20 miles away can carry real fines.
Local animal control is the fastest way to get a straight answer for your address. Tell them where the animal is denning and whether there are babies present, and ask what your disposal or release options actually are.
What happens if there are baby raccoons?
Trap juveniles first and the mother last, because removing a mother before her kits are independent creates a worse problem: dead young in your attic, fleas, odor, and an agitated mother trying to get back in. Assume dependent young are present in spring and summer, and check the structure for a den with babies inside before you set anything.
If you find an active den with kits, the humane path is to let the family leave on their own once the exclusion work is done, or to call a licensed wildlife control operator who can remove the whole family together.
How do you set, check, and release a trapped raccoon?
Set the trap on level ground, stake it down, bait the far end behind the trip plate, and place a water feeder inside. Cover the cage with a towel or a light cloth, which trappers on r/newjersey recommend to reduce transport stress. Check the trap at dawn and dusk at minimum.
For release, put on heavy gloves, move slowly, and never reach into the cage. If the trap has a two-door or gravity design, open the far end and back away; the animal will leave on its own. For a one-door cage, stand to the side, open the door remotely if the design allows, and let the raccoon exit into cover rather than open yard. Confirm beforehand that release is legal where you are, and clean and disinfect the trap before storing it.
Why do customer ratings sit around 4 stars?
Four failure modes account for most of the disappointment. First, a trap that is too small, where the animal can enter partially and injure itself or fail to trigger. Second, bait in the wrong place, meaning outside the trip plate instead of behind it. Third, skipping pre-baiting, so the trap is set on an animal that has never walked that path. Fourth, an unchecked trap, where heat and dehydration turn a humane device into a cruel one.
None of those are reasons to buy a better brand. They are reasons to buy a correctly sized trap and work through the setup routine.
Do I need to seal entry points after trapping?
Yes, and this is the step people skip. Removing raccoons without sealing entry points means the space is re-occupied within days, because the territory is vacant and the route is still open. Exclude raccoons only after confirming no young are left behind, by removing one-way door covers for a few days before fitting permanent mesh.
Trapping alone is slow. Exclusion plus removal is what actually gets rid of raccoons fast, and it is the only part of the job that stops the problem from repeating.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size live trap do I need for a raccoon?
Choose the large size class, roughly 32 inches long by 10 to 13 inches wide by 11 to 13 inches tall. Raccoons only appear in the large and extra-large size classes in manufacturer sizing charts, and traps marketed for squirrels or opossums are too small for an adult.
What is the most effective bait for trapping raccoons?
Marshmallows or chocolate work best in cage traps, placed behind the trip plate so the animal must step on the pan to reach them. Cat food and canned tuna work well too. Pre-bait with an open tin along the travel route for three to seven nights before setting the trap.
How long will a raccoon live in a live trap?
Most state rules require you to check a set trap at least once every 24 hours, and often more often in extreme weather. In practice, check at dawn and dusk, keep the cage shaded, and attach a small water feeder so the animal is not left in heat without water.
Is it illegal to release a trapped raccoon?
Relocation is illegal in many jurisdictions, and fines can apply. Illinois requires a free permit from the Department of Natural Resources to trap raccoons, and other states require licensing for nuisance wildlife work. Ask your state wildlife agency or local animal control what your options are before you trap anything.
Are dog-proof raccoon traps safe for cats and dogs?
Dog-proof traps require an animal to insert its entire paw into a bait cup, which excludes most dogs and cats, but that selectivity is not a guarantee. The American Animal Welfare Society documented soft-tissue damage to heads and necks in animals caught in these traps, and some jurisdictions restrict them. With pets or children present, a cage trap is the safer choice.
Will raccoons come back after being removed?
Usually yes, unless you seal the entry points. The vacated territory gets re-occupied within days while the route stays open, so trapping without exclusion work only delays the next visit. Confirm no young are left behind, then fit one-way door covers before permanent mesh.
The Bottom Line on the Best Animal Traps for Raccoons in 2026
The Havahart Large 1-Door Live Animal Trap is our top pick for 2026 because its heavy-caliber trip mechanism and smooth interior edges hold a determined raccoon without hurting it, and more owner reviews back that up than any other trap here. Pick the Havahart Large 2-Door if you want to bait and release without reaching over the animal, the Duke gravity-door trap if you would rather never put your hands near the cage at all, and the HomGarden if cost is the deciding factor.
Whichever you choose, size it for an adult raccoon, pre-bait it for three to seven nights, check it twice a day with water and shade inside, confirm your local rules before you set, and seal the entry points once the last animal is out. That last step is what actually ends the problem.