Raccoons, Part 3, Here We Go Again

[Coaltminer]

Ok people, quit it! This is my 3rd post on this. We have 4 cats that are in/out, feed both in and out, raccoons have been joining them for 3 years, cats wisely giving them distance when they eat. There have been absolutely no problems with this arrangement, despite the "get rid of em" mentality encountered on this board. Yes, I know they can carry disease and can carry rabies, something I have witnessed in another wild species, and it ain't pretty, but these are coexisting with our cats quite well with respect for one another. I want them to be afraid of me, don't try to pet them or that nonsense, just fun to observe eating and drinking from a bowl that's there for the cats. Think what you want, please read carefully and don't be quick to criticize. All I got last 2 posts on this was how stupid it was. Whatever, it's working out fine, cats are wary, coons are wary.

 

[rags]

This little rascal?

 

[Kanewpadle]

When your first problem happens, and it will. Let us know just the same.

 

[Coaltminer]

Yeah, that's him Bob

 

[Coaltminer]

Kanewpadle, I will, don't think I don't worry about it!

 

[Vulcan Bob]

Raccoon's are fun to watch to be sure. However, I would keep a good to go rifle handy in case you do get a rabid coon wander in. The campground in John Pennicamp state park in Key Largo Florida was over run with the beasties and it was quite the challenge to keep your food outa their grubby little paws. It was fun watching them raid the new campers even though we would warn them about the little raiders, they learned too!

 

[Kanewpadle]

Kanewpadle, I will, don't think I don't worry about it!

I know you will. Be wary.

Good friend of mine has some acreage out in the sticks. He has dogs, cats, chickens, goats, and ducks. So naturally he has problems with the occasional cougar, coyotes, eagles, hawks, and raccoons.

The raccoons are his biggest headache.

 

[Buckey08]

A big problem waiting to happen?

 

[LouisianaJoe]

When I see posts about Raccoons, I remember a post made by my brother Charlie Sherrill in early 2008. I have copied most of his stories so that he can publish them some day if he desires. Here it is for your reading pleasure:

Coon Whisperer​

My neighbor, Dr. E., who is really not a doctor at all, has been catching raccoons in live traps for several days. He caught five of them and put them in a large cage. Needless to say, the coons aren't real happy with this. The coons are to be used to train a puppy for coon hunting.

One of the locals, whom I only know by the nickname of "Tumbleweed" dropped by Dr. E's house a few days ago. I think the nickname has something to do with his state of mind. Anyway, Tumbleweed was celebrating his release from house arrest in the local tradition of consuming large amounts of cheap beer. The DOC had recently removed his tracking bracelet and Tumbleweed felt like celebrating a little.

While talking with Dr. E and others, Tumbleweed noticed the large cage full of coons. He started poking at the wire picking at the coons and making them growl and jump at him.

Then he did something a little strange. He asked Dr. E if he could get in the cage with the coons. "They don't call me the coon whisperer for nothing." Dr. E agreed to his request but wanted to invite a few more friends over before he did.

After hearing what the day's entertainment was going to be, it didn't take long for several friends to show up. Lawn chairs were set up and adult refreshments were passed around. Tumbleweed entered the cage and the door was locked behind him.

Tumbleweed was promptly attacked by five very irate raccoons. Dr. E said they looked like a mad hive of bees. As the coons growled and bit and as Tumbleweed screamed and tried to fight off the coons neighboring dogs arrived barking and baying and upsetting the coons even more.

Tumbleweed was screaming to get out of the cage but that couldn't be done until the unanticipated dog problem was taken care of. After a few minutes, the dogs had been caught and put in dog boxes on several pickups.

The coons finally tired of biting Tumbleweed and backed up in a corner. The door to the cage was opened and Tumbleweed fell out on the ground. His wounds were treated with more cheap beer. Tumbleweed decided he did not want to be in the coon taming business any more.

It was agreed upon by those present at this event that this was probably some of the best entertainment to be had since the alligator snapping turtle event of last year.

 

[Seldom]

Many years ago one of my cats was injured in a fight with a racoon. He had a bite or claw mark on his chest that got infected. The infection became generalized and he died from it.

 

[gdnagle]

Saw a guy keeping one tied up in his back yard with a dog house for years. I guess he never had a problem. To each their own. Heck one guy here on the forum has deer for a pet, had two but one never came back, I guess. To me they are wild and I won't purposely feed them and maybe endanger my pets. Got enough problem with the skunk, opossums, fox, deer etc., hanging around here getting into the trash and garden. Especially the skunk marking their territory or getting run over out on the road, can't keep the windows open in nice weather. BTW I've seen people keeping skunk as pet also. I assume they had their glands removed.

Good luck with your friends and I hope you don't have a problem with them.

 

[eb07]

Kill now. Or kill later after your cats are gored. Either way. Whatever helps you sleep at night.

 

[Smokin' Iron]

As long as your raccoon numbers don't get too high, things might be just fine. The real fun will probably start when you stop feeding them.

 

[Collo Rosso]

In the late 80's a friend had a some acres with a nice 3 bedroom "cabin" in the Catskills. One Saturday he gets up there and finds the kitchen torn apart. Refrigerator door open and the shelves pulled out, every cabinet door torn off the hinges, lots of damage. He has a State trooper come out and tells him I think a bear got in. Trooper takes a look and says "nope, coons".

 

[rburg]

I assume they had their glands removed.

The skunks or the neighbors?


We've been having trouble with them for years. It all started decades ago when the nice lady 3 houses down thought they were cute and started feeding them. Between the feral cats and the coons, they over ran the place. When we bought this place in 1995, the population was so high they were expanding. We came home one night and coming in the back door, we tripped the motion lights. There was a monster coon on the roof next door, upset we were disturbing him. Somewhere we've got a picture of him. And then a few nights later I was relaxing in my recliner when the motion light came on again out back. Mr. Coon was busy disassembling our garbage. So I opened the kitchen door to yell at him and he charged. So of course I closed the door and he piled into it. It wasn't a false charge, he was after me for disturbing his meal. I started to open the door a 2nd time to yell, and he again charged. OK, I'd had enough.

So after just moving in, it was a little difficult to find a suitable weapon. But I found a M63 and some ammo. Back upstairs to repeat the earlier exercise. I opened the door, Mr. Coon charged and the 22 lr hit him midship. He stopped his charge and waddled off the deck.

So that exercise repeated itself many times over the years. I changed my weaponry to a 547 with shot loads. Those puppies were loaded hot enough to cycle some semi-autos. Better still, my aim didn't need to be perfect beyond maybe 5 feet. So we were at war and the other side was taking a bunch of casualties. Then that summer my oldest brought his brood over to swim. As he was walking across the deck and down the steps to pool level he looked at the downspout. And then at the steps and handrail. It looked to him like a woodpecker had gone wild. Dozens of loads of shot will do that!

Now my neighbor 2 houses down has the problem. They've discovered a way to get in his attic. A few years ago I bought him a box of .38 shot loads. He's too civilized to do it himself. He hired a local "critter getter". The guy climbed up in the attic and found 3 babies, but momma wasn't home. So he wired up a trap with the babies as bait. I don't know if he captured her or not, but she needs to die.

I can see scratch marks on the empty house next to me. They scratch at the dormer until they rip off the siding. They sort of make their own door. And then they use the attic as a toilet, among other things. The point being here that the nice lady wasn't causing any trouble. She was just feeding the wildlife. And those same wildlife procreated and infested the neighborhood.

 

[shouldazagged]

When I see posts about Raccoons, I remember a post made by my brother Charlie Sherrill in early 2008. I have copied most of his stories so that he can publish them some day if he desires...

Joe, lean on Charlie and tell him to get busy publishing that stuff. He's got one hell of a fund of stories.

 

[jmcghee]

Well,
Bless your heart

 

[Mike McLellan]

Well brother, if it's any consolation, I'm just as stupid as you are. We don't have raccoons (or skunks) in Alaska. I miss both of them. I grew up in Michigan and grew to love the little pukes. I'm almost embarrassed to say that on a trip to Michigan 30 years ago, I smelled a dead skunk on the highway. It was a very pleasant reminder of my childhood.

 

[islamoradamark]

we had so many coons eating our cat for and doing damage i was catching one every night, then driving to state park to let go 10 miles away

 

[jag312]

I live two blocks from the Guadalupe River that runs through the middle of San Jose. Racoons live on the banks of the river, and they come wandering through the neighborhood at night. It is common to see racoons calmly stolling down the sidewalk late at night. Some neighbors have complained about the racoons, but what can you do when you live two blocks from a racoon habitat? The racoons don't bother me, and I don't bother them.

 

[PA Reb]

Even though you will probably disagree, here's my two cents which I base on my experience as a former wildlife conservation officer. First, domesticated cats have no business being allowed out to roam and to do as they please. They are probably good cats but even good cats kill game birds / animals when left alone to do so. Second, it is never a good idea to invite wild animals (especially raccoons, skunks, etc) to share in the same meals pets are eating and its even worse to entice the wild animals to do so. Sooner or later trouble will come looking and if one of your cats gets bit or scratched by a sick individual, well, I think you know where that will go. In short, the fuse has been lit on a ticking time bomb.

 

[DeadAye]

Even though you will probably disagree, here's my two cents which I base on my experience as a former wildlife conservation officer. First, domesticated cats have no business being allowed out to roam and to do as they please. They are probably good cats but even good cats kill game birds / animals when left alone to do so. Second, it is never a good idea to invite wild animals (especially raccoons, skunks, etc) to share in the same meals pets are eating and its even worse to entice the wild animals to do so. Sooner or later trouble will come looking and if one of your cats gets bit or scratched by a sick individual, well, I think you know where that will go. In short, the fuse has been lit on a ticking time bomb.

Believe it or not:
There are actual reasons why it's illegal to feed wild animals...

Get the cats trained to eat on a schedule and then put the food up where the coons can't get at it -- They'll find another source.

Encouraging them to hang around you and yours is NOT a good idea.

 

[Arik]

While I don't advocate blasting away everything that breaths (besides humans) and comes within eye sight like most here. I still think it's a bad idea to keep feeding them. They get used to it but they don't know the difference between you and the next guy who will happily blast them to bits just for giggles

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[MK]

I had a mama coon have a pack of coonettes in the attic a couple
of years ago. I was pretty concerned because they rip up stuff, and
make a mess. Their poop has worms in it that are real bad news for
humans.

I thought I was going to have to shoot it with my pellet rifle, but didn't
want to, as it would leave the babies to starve and then stink up the
attic.

I searched for web tricks to run em off, and some said ammonia can
work. Then other sites said it didn't work, but most seemed to be in
the critter removal biz..
Anyway, I filled up a spray bottle and sprayed ammonia all around in
the attic. I'd do it every few hours, or whenever I got the chance..
At first I thought it might not work, but after about three days of that,
it took the babies and runnoft. I sealed up the hole where it got in and
was a happy camper.
I think it moved to a garage across the street, and I've seen two of
them together, both big and fat as ticks on a dog. Must have a steady
pet food diet..
They were standing out in that yard with the garage one night when
I drove back from the store. Possums on the prowl too, but they don't
seem to be the mess makers that the coons are.
BTW, this is on the city of Houston, not out in the sticks. :|

 

[JcMack]

, but after about three days of that,
it took the babies and runnoft.
|

Interesting.. Around here it's spelt runtoff

 

[SmokeStack Lightning]

My mutt was going nutz barking at the outdoor cat dish the other day so I investigated.

A mid-sized racoon was up on the top rail of the porch banister helping itself to their food while one cat just stared and the other was trying to snuggle with the coon.

 

[rog8732]

Interesting.. Around here it's spelt runtoff

I don't know how it is spelt, but that is what MRS Hogwallop did in "Oh Brother, where art thou".

Spent an interesting few weeks off and on last summer watching mother coon and her two little bandits in and out of the hollow crotch at the top of the tallest poplar tree on the place.

One evening just at dark I spotted them leaving on the young ones first , out-of-tree journey. They never came back,and I had a feeling the mother was aware of my attention, even with the binoculars, and decided I was invading their space too often.

Too often around here I see coons in the middle of the day with the staggers, and along with skunks, I always wonder what on earth can get close enough to one of them to bite and pass on rabies.

 

[M29since14]

...In short, the fuse has been lit on a ticking time bomb.

That's about it, right there. I am not one of the "blast-'em-to-smithereens crowd" but firmly believe that unless you are a licensed rehabilitator caring for an injured animal, feeding wild animals as you are doing is among the worst kinds of folly.

 

[HOUSTON RICK]

I thought this was another post on 'coon chili recipes!

 

[goldenlight]

Common Infectious Diseases of Raccoons

Raccoons are susceptible to a large number of different infectious agents including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Several of these infectious diseases are zoonotic. Veterinarians are faced with the diagnosis and treatment of wildlife including raccoons and need to be able to make the correct diagnosis as well as educate clients on the potential hazards associated with exposure to raccoons.

Leptospirosis is a common bacterial disease in raccoons caused by a number of different species of Leptospira. Trans‑mission is thought to occur via urine contamination of feed and water. Antemortem diagnosis is based upon serology and dark field examination of urine. Histopathologic examination and fluorescent antibody testing of liver and kidney are two postmortem procedures that can be done to help further aid the diagnosis of leptospirosis. Other natural bacterial infections reported in raccoons are listeriosis,yersiniosis,pasteurellosis, and tularemia.

Viral diseases of raccoons include rabies, canine distemper, raccoon parvoviralenteritis, infectious canine hepatitis, and pseudorabies. Rabies is a zoonotic disease that is endemic in raccoon populations in Pennsylvania and New England. In recent years, there has been a shift of rabies infected raccoons westward into Ohio (see Diagnostic Forum Vol. 8, No 2, 1997).

Canine distemper virus infection is probably the most common viral disease in raccoons. The clinical signs, and gross and histopathologic lesions in raccoons are similar to distemper in dogs. Neurologic signs due to distemper virus infection in raccoons are virtually indistinguishable from rabies induced neurologic disease. Diagnosis is based upon histopathologic lesions in brain, lung, spleen, and small intestine. Intranuclear and intracytoplasmicinclusion bodies can be visualized in many cells including epithelial cells in the respiratory epithelium, gastric mucosa, and transitional epithelium lining the renal pelvis and urinary bladder. The best tissues for fluorescent antibody testing and virus isolation of canine distemper virus are lung, brain, stomach, small intestine, kidney, and urinary bladder.

Parvoviral enteritis in raccoons is due to a unique raccoon parvovirus that is most antigenically similar to feline parvovirus. Clinical signs include bloody diarrhea, lethargy, inappetance, and loss of fear of humans. Raccoons do not develop clinical disease when exposed to canine parvovirus. Diagnosis is based upon histopathologic lesions of necrotizing enteritis and identification of the virus by fluorescent antibody testing. The most common method in which raccoons acquire pseudorabies virus infection is via the ingestion of virus‑infected pig carcasses.

An important parasitic disease of raccoons is toxoplasmosis, which is a protozoal disease caused by Toxoplasmagondii.Felids are the definitive host for T. gondii, and they excrete potentially infective oocysts in their feces. Toxoplasmosis in raccoons is commonly associated with immunosuppression from canine distemper virus infection. Necrotizing encephalitis and pneumonitis are frequent lesions associated with toxoplasmosis.

Another parasite of importance in raccoons is Baylisascarisprocyonis, which is an intestinal roundworm of raccoons. Baylisascaris is a known cause of cerebral nematodiasis and ocular and visceral larval migrans in domestic and non‑domestic animals, and humans. Transmission com‑monly occurs through the ingestion of infective eggs, which results in aberrant migration in hosts other than raccoons.

‑ by Jim Raymond, DVM

‑ edited by M. Randy White, DVM, PhD

Raccoons are nothing but traveling bags of disease. They carry MANY different pathogens, most of which can and will kill one or more of your cats.

If you love your cats, you will get rid of the raccoons. It's just that simple.