I am a city boy, tell me about . . . .
 

So, when I pulled into my driveway a few minutes ago, the headlight on my bike caught some varmint run from my neighbors yard to the tree in front of my kitchen window.

It froze when I tried to line up my headlight on it, but I was wearing shades, and it was slightly higher up the tree than my headlight would hit. I saw what looked to be a ringed tail, and the tail seemed a little long to be a cat.

I blew it off and parked the bike in the garage.

Anyway, a few minutes later I came outside to blow off a few fireworks, and I heard something in the tree. I looked over and saw this varmint was still (or back) in the same place saw it before. I went to the trunk of my car, and pulled out my high-beam flashlight and sure enough, I am now making contact with a huge fucking raccoon.

We stared at each other for a while, and I have to admit that it seemed like it would make a nice pet. Pretty nice looking animal. I soon learned that raccoons don't really like fireworks too much.

So, you country people, what can you tell me about raccoons? Is this something I should be concerned with? Should I trap it? Kill it? Ignore it? Do they carry rabies?

This is the first time I have ever seen a raccoon in this setting, so not really sure how he ended up down here. I have had possums and squirrels, but this is the first coon.

shoot it for dinner

(if you can eat em that is - how the hell would i know being an aussie)

feed it something. hehe

They make for great coonskin hats.

You could be Baddog Crockett.

You're lucky to be alive -- :warning


2HP

They are nothing to worry about. They dont like to be cornered, and can be vicious if they are. They love trash. Other than that if you ignore it, it will ignore you.

So, I should put some trash out for it?

Our neighborhood has city provided cans, I doubt a coon could open them

Trap it and get rid of it.

Raccoons will breed and start digging up any gardens you have. Not to mention that they can find their way into just about anything. Don't be surprised if your city-issued trash can is infiltrated and trash is strewn about soon.

Also be careful that they don't get into your house, they'll use a dog door, or your chimney (if it's not capped). They got into the attic of my mom's house and had babies, she had to wait for the momma raccoon to move the babies out of the attic naturally before she could get the trapper to come and get the momma.

Raccoons are like little kids, they'll get into all your shit if you don't keep an eye on them. Luckily it's easier to get rid of a raccoon then it is a kid :winkwink:

Yes, they can carry rabies and this has been on the increase in recent years. Get yourself a 'live trap' and catch it.. bring it to the dump where it can find plenty to eat.

think again..those buggers can open most cans...put a rock on top of it

they wont hurt you unless you corner them...If you have a cat they will enjoy beating up your cat, Also, Dont give them any way of getting into your house or garage, They will steal things from ya, especial shiny things like watches, jewely, dinnerwear....
Otherwise, he wont bother ya

Baddog,

I "rescued" a baby rac while living in the Hollywood hills, back in the 80s. Rocky (what else would you name him???) was great, growing up. You learn a whole new type of housekeeping with a four-handed smart critter roaming the house. He and the dog were inseperable. When I'd take the dog out for a walk, Rocky would either ride her or walk beside her, holding her collar.

However, once they become adults, they get a 'mind of their own.' There was no more control. I finally had to release him to some people who would reintroduce him to the wild. As much as I hated to let him go, it knew it was best...for BOTH of us.

Young, they're great. As adults, they're a PITA!

We have a lot of raccoons around here. The basic mode of thought (same with possum, bears, deer, turkeys, etc.) is "Don't bother us, we won't bother you." :) A rabid raccoon is trouble and they WILL get into trash and bird feeders, but don't cause trouble unless you do ;)

And you would be amazed at the cans they can open - I finally had to stop putting food in the one I have outside.

:1orglaugh :1orglaugh

There trouble Baddog, be carefull like everyone else said they will find a way into your trash and into your house, we had one that made it past the chimney cover and got stuck in the chimney we didnt know it was stuck there until it started dripping blood into the chimney and then it started to smell, we called a company out and when they grabbed it out it was a prognant mom that gotherself stucka nd killed herself and the babies

Yep you sure don't want to get bit by one.

:)

raccoons are cool :)
here people mostly have problems with wild boars, they also eat the rubbish, but don't go into houses though

ive seen them open tupperware containers and coolers in campgrounds..

they are naturally fearful unless they got a sweet pile of garbage around, don't corner it or it'll get right fucking vicious, they have a nasty bite.

just ignore them....

Thanks Baddog, i read this thread and then replied, after that i went outside the house to get some stuff from my car when I noticed the animal trap had caught something, so i got closer to loook at it and it was a damm Coon, it had eaten all the grass under the cage and he was staring at me like he wanted to bite, well i took him about 15 miles away and let him free.

Great . . . .I have a chimney, and this guy was no baby, that is for sure.

As far as him opening the cans. I highly doubt it would be possible, the tops do not come off, they lift open, and unless it stood on a ladder it would never be able to get the leverage required to open it.

Guess I will have to get a trap from the city or something.

Anyone want a pelt, because I most certainly am not going to take him somewhere else.

Fuck that raccoon without rubber. :1orglaugh

Do you have animal control? Call them if it's still camped outside.
Last thing you want is that thing biting you or a kid in the neighborhood.

Good luck with your squatter. :)

raccoons are really nothing to be that concerned about... just don't corner them. don't try petting them either lol

you'll know if its pissed off, it'll start making hissing noises, just give it some space. they live in the rain sewers here & haven't caused any trouble for anyone that I've ever heard of, aside from getting into garbage cans. they're pretty skittish and will usually run away if they hear someone approaching

I was wondering . . . where do they sleep? Where would be a good place to set up a trap? Should I just add some poison to a marshmellow or something?

Maybe Loryn would like it, she loves to rescue animals.

They're probably living under a shed/porch/crawlspace etc. Or if you have open rainsewers in the area.

Poisoned marshmellows are more likely to end up killing every other stray animal that you don't intend to :2 cents:

If you really want to trap it just try setting a trap in your yard with an apple or something for bait at night and pray that a skunk doesn't find its way in there instead. Good luck getting the cage door opened without getting scratched or bit, those buggers can carry rabies.

DO NOT FEED IT! they do not make good pets, as they are very smart, and will eventually get into trouble around your house. They WILL tear things up. And some do have rabies, but not all.

If I feed it, it would only be via a trap of some sort. As far as opening the trap after catching it, the thing will be dead before that happens.

Guess I will call animal control and see if they want to catch it first.

We raised a male raccoon...he was awesome and so much fun, he used a litter box and was a good pet...but..he was just a baby when we found him. When he got to be mature and breeding age, he started to act differently, so we took him to a barn and set him up a place there and that is where he lived until he passed away from old age :)

They are really smart and absolutely LOVE Apple Cinnamon Cheerios :)

Please don't just kill it....I know you have a bigger heart than that :winkwink:

You must have me confused with someone else.

No really...no need to kill it, it isn't hurting anyone or anything...right?

It's a fucking terrorist!!! Shoot the fucking piece of shit, make a hat out of it and wear it as a warning to all other terrorists!!!

Raccoons are crappy, get a shotgun and shoot it a couple times.

Eat it ;)

it took too much brain work to read that long ass post... all u had to write was saw a raccoon what to do.. my advice is go back to the city

Don't be so sure raccoons can't get into your garbage. They'll but out lids, knock over cans, and do anything they can to get into a garbage can. They found a way to burrow a hole into a dumpster next to my old apartment.

They are no threat to you, but if you have pets, be careful. They can get nasty with a dog or cat.

So, I should wait until it does? He came into my neighborhood, not the other way around.

I am in the city . . . but as it would have taken some brain work to figure that out, you are excused.

I am not being fair to you. Let's start off easy.

See pornkitten.
See pornkitten run.
Run pornkitten run.

See pornkitten.
See pornkitten play.
Play pornkitten play.

See how easy that was?

Yep...because more than likely, it won't hurt anything :upsidedow If you just leave it alone it won't bother you. If it is rabid, you could tell, they will come out during the daytime and look really bad.

When you get them as babies, they can domesticate pretty well. Otherwise, leave it alone and make sure the lids on your trashcan(s) are secure. They are well known to carry rabies, and from what you describe, I'd just as soon leave the buggar be. It doesn't sound rabid from the description, (you'd know it, it wouldn't have been scared of you at all), but it's better to be safe than sorry.

He wasn't scared until I started my fireworks show

nice one :thumbsup

Call animal control. Don't be a cowboy.

City people. :disgust

do you have a .22? if so then shoot it. skin it. Put it in a pressure cooker for a while. throw some bbq sauce on it and put it in the oven for like an hour pull it out and you got some good eatin.

I have a family of raccoons! The momma and 3 babies... we feed them everyday (I know we aren't supposed to) and the father comes and goes. The mommy and babies hang around, they're very gentle. I would love to keep all of them! They want to come in the house... they don't run when we feed them. The mommy even takes food out of our hands. They eat EVERYTHING. Hot dogs, bread, rice... they are soo cute. I would love to keep them as pets. I was going to look into domesticating them but I didn't know if it was possible.

if i were you, I'd ignore them.

Wait, I thought you ladies all loved cowboys.

I wish you'd said this before I went out and bought the assless chaps. Dammit.

rofl

fuck racoons

they killed my dog one time