Another Raccoon in the back yard

[SquirrelFactor]

Last night our motion sensor light went on, I looked out the window to see what was there, and I thought I saw what appeared to be a raccoon. I hurried around to the back door and looked out and there it was again. I lightly tapped on the window thinking it would take off and though it was a bit startled it wasn't so afraid as I expected. yet it continued on whereer it was headed. I closed up the blind, but checked back in a bit and there it was again standing by the back door facing away. So I taped on the window again, but this time it turns around to face me and stands up high on it's back legs looking right at me to beg for food.

These animals come down the flood channels using it as a roadway to get water and food in the Summer left out by pet owners. The problem occurs when folks leave food out for them intentionally or unintentionally. With those that feed a raccoon, it becomes less afraid driven by hunger, and then the worse thing occurs, they try to pet it, or get afraid and pull their hand back with the food still in it, and then they get bitten. It isn't the animals fault, but humans fault, but the animal ends up paying the price for by law they have to euthanized and tested for rabies. And if that wasn't tragic enough, if the one that did the biting can't be positively Identified then other likely suspects are also trapped and euthanized to test them for rabies too. For the sake of this animal and others in our area, and the community, this animal needs to be caught and rehabbed and released far away from humans.

Update, I am waiting to hear from the rehabber that the center that treats wildlife told me to call. I hope they respond quickly, we need to get this set up asap to help this animal which can't help itself.

[SquirrelFactor]

Not to demonize these animals, but some may not be aware that raccoons are opportunitic hunters, and as such will predate small Mammals at night anywhere within their reach. Very sadly a lady I know that rehabs squirrels had some raccoons break into her outside release cage; and tragically none survived. It was a new cage too, even had a cement floor, built very well, yet they still were able to breach the cage. The only way to ensure that raccoons can't gain access to an outside cage housing squirrels is to have an entire chainlink cage surround, that is top to bottom, side to side, so they can't climb in or dig under to gain access. Raccoons are super diggers, and can chew through wood as well. My Dad had a family of them move in under his house after they chewed their way through the wood siding below the level of his floor. Please don't underestimate them in this regard. Some rehabbers of raccoons rely upon full chainlink surrounds to keep the raccoons in till they are to be released, for they are effective to keep them confined. Along the same idea having a cage surround for your squirrels is needful to keep raccoons out. Self standing cages should have floors of metal fabric for reason of smaller predators that can dig under them to gain access too.


Please also be aware that Raccoons will go after squirrels in nestboxes if the boxes aren't made so the squirrel inside cannot be reached. Anything you put out for squirrels to nest in at night needs to be raccoon proof, or the nest can be come a death trap for them when predators are on the prowl.

[AppleCorps]

SF - the best squirrel boxes have a predator block about 3" under the inside of the opening for the very reason you mentioned. That is why fuzzer boxes should be at least 18" tall under that block - the coons can't reach over the block and down to the fuzzers.

[SquirrelFactor]

Thanks for sharing that AC. The nest cage we made for our released squirrel was long box, with a peaked roof; the divider was over 3/4 the height of the sides of the box itself that divided the box vertically presenting a wall recessed back about a third of the length of the entire. The porch was simple, just enough room for food and water and a place to sit. The hole was just big enough for the squirrel to get in and out. We put nesting material in the back room.

[Midnight]

I still have Bandit..I know that someone had to have owned him at one time..The time i got him in the have a heart cage he just laid down and when to sleep.He wasn't scared like a wild animal would have been..Everyone knows the store about Bandit he got back home almost before me and John..I know all the things that can happen with wild animals..But you know we are taking more and more of there land..I feel that we are either going to have to give back there land or learn to live with them in our yards..

I do think that feeding them can help keeping them out of peoples yards that don't understand about wild animals..Look around a lot of these coons have never been in the woods..We took it and put houses where there parents used to climb trees. They only know about going from house to house at night looking for food..Yes some person not knowing could get hurt..But its our fault not the animals we did this to them..

Think about it..If I feed him he stays around here..I'm not really happy with him laying on the limb of the tree waving good bye every time I leave the house..Are his eating John's fish out of the pond..Plus he washes his face in the swimming pool..

If I call for them to come and get him they want take him to the woods and let him go or turn him lose..His what they call a City coon..They have all there life went from trash can to trash can to dog food..They can't live in the woods they don't know how they will put them down..

Even if Bandit drives me and John nuts..We can't see him being put down..His the VICTIM here not us..

[SquirrelFactor]

I know how that is, but to what degree is this one habituated, that the rehabber has to first determine. This coon may do fine in a colony close to town, lots of food and water, and a healthier diet than trash for sure.

The land issue effects all wildlife, but sadly when it comes to anyspecies, or subspecies, the law is such that unless it is insecure, of special concern, or endangered, the last being the only condition in which land is actually protected with them on it, then so far gone as far as numbers, nothing is done. That is the way of the World sadly. There are many land conservancies out there, but as for raccoons, the main issue is that they not become habituated to begin with. As you say, humans are guilty in that regard; they look cute and they feed them, but then they no longer rely upon their natural foods but seek it from the hands of humans. The the worst part is when people approach them to hand feed them, and then bites may occur; in this case that is exactly what I am hoping to see prevented. It may not be a perfect solution, but putting this one with others of it's kind where there aren't much for humans is better than euthansia. As for Bandit, I agree he is fully habituated, and wouldn't survive in the woods. Perhaps you can have him vacinated for rabies, for just in case he ever bit someone, which could save his life.

[AppleCorps]

Bandit Rocks - feed him / watch him / love him / care for him / we all could use a Bandit to care for / the world would be a better place.

[SquirrelFactor]

Do you have any photos of bandit to share, it would be fun to see him?

[BusySqrl]

testing . . .