(CNN) - In the ongoing battle between a pack of particularly ambitious raccoons and the White House groundskeepers, the raccoons appear to be winning.
According to White House spokesman Robert Gibbs, no raccoons have been caught on the White House grounds since the band of intruders were first spotted roaming the premises earlier this month.
The National Parks service set up several traps around the White House lawn earlier this week after determining one large raccoon and several smaller ones were causing trouble around the West Wing and the Executive Mansion.
If and when the raccoons are caught they will be released into the wild, the National Park Service has said.
But the traps, which include peanut butter and apples as bait, have yet to allure any of the pesky mammals.
"No raccoons that I know of have been caught or disbursed into other places in Washington," said Gibbs.
The White House press secretary also said he would be of little use in the hunt: "There are a few that roam in my backyard, so I don't have any particular tips."
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
No wonder they aren't catching them...they're using the wrong bait! Even the racoons have been watching the headlines and they know to avoid peanut butter!
In regards to trapping these pesky varmits, try using something sweeter, like powdered koolaid. I have found that certain families like grape the best.
Happy Hunting
- TJ
We kill em' an eat em down here in Mississippi. Racoons that is.
We had racoons once and momma chased them off the back porch with a broom!
Hey! My opinion once more is to invite them as non voting members of congress for the stimulus bill. They may offer an idea or two. How are they affected by the bill? Anybody needs to know?
By watching the news in the last few weeks, are we living in the same country. Itseems to me that the politics as usual. Are we forgetting what the last eight years were like. The republicians are forgetting they were in charge six of those years. If I amnot mistaken the dificet doubled in those eight years. There is enough blame to go around, please do the job you were sent to Washington to do.
this story seems potentially offensive,
just a thought
why not cover news cnspin?
It's funny because I don't care
I , Guess I will have to repeat!! IF the GOP,and SEN. McCain have all the solutions to solve the economy,WHY???,OH WHY are we in this mess. BUT of course their income is not in jeopardy,or is it?maybe in pork
Never had furry pests running around for 8 years, and now?? Maybe it is the CHANGE they want! Take out the trash and they will go away...
Peanut butter– are they trying to kill the little buggers.
Try canned cat food. When we trap ferals, we get racoons and opossums a lot (and release them of course
.
Pesky??? Raccoons are beautifully smart aminals. My biggest problem with them is they break into my squirrel feeders.
But these raccoons, these raccoons are so smart they where able to make their way through a city to arrive at the White House for their handout from the Spendulus package. Smart!!!
They heard there was a section (pork) in the stimulus package so they're just showing up for a portion before it gets removed.
Local Animal Control dumped a can of dog food in a have-a-heart trap and caught a particularly pesky raccoon in my yard in one night.
Leave them alone.. They are probably smarter than the majority of Congress . (Which isn't saying a whole lot...)
The trappers need to use canned sardines in oil.I've used them in the past with great success.
Just some more bankers trying to get more of the bail out money. Give them and the rep. some peanut butter
Tell them to put sardines in the cage if the what to catch them
ANY SCAVENGER WILL INTRUDE YOUR TRASH IF IT'S NOT SEALED AND COVERED. I GUESS THE WHITE HOUSE IS NOT
VERY TIDY IN WHAT GOES OUT THE BACK DOOR. NOT VERY
GOOD SECURITY AT THAT HOME----
NAM VET NH
Grow up people. Your juvenile comments about the inauguration crowds are pathertic.
That said, they should try dry cat food for the bait. It seems to draw the raccoons to my back porch all the time.
Canned fish like mackeral, traps them everytime.
you people are ridiculous in your claims about salmonella tainted peanut butter. Raccoons are scavengers that will eat almost anything in a garbage can, their stomachs can handle just about anything you throw their way.
Bring in Sarah Palin in a helicopter and let her take care of 'em from air!
Quick, get rid of them before the Dems add $6 billion to the stimulus for raccoon care. Oops, too late.