Everyone knows you aren’t supposed to leave cat food out at night or else you might attract wildlife such as raccoons. This bold little guy is working around that by coming to eat during the day, several times per day, every day for the past week or so. He’s very very cute. But, Raccoons aren’t the best critters to have around. Rabies of course is a concern (and we haven’t decided whether or not it is an old wives tale that if a raccoon is out and about during the day it must have rabies), but way more than rabies I am terrified of raccoon roundworm. If I start thinking about it I might not sleep tonight. Have you heard of it? If not, and you want to freak yourself out, you can read about it HERE. We are way more afraid of this critter’s poop than we are of getting bitten.
The poor dear has fleas.
The poor dear has fleas.
Notice the kids watching the raccoon, not the muddy fingerprints on the glass, please.
Now I’ve been noticed, but he’s not terribly concerned. He probably knows that I am wishing I had a bag of marshmallows to feed him. I got in a lot of trouble with Jonny one time for feeding marshmallows to a raccoon on the back porch. I used one of those long metal forks for roasting marshmallows and stuck it through a crack in the back door. The raccoon would take them off and sit and eat them. So cute!
The children are now absent from the window because they have all come out the front door and are standing with me. Rascal the raccoon lazily hops down and goes to hang out under the trampoline. In all seriousness we have got to do something. I don’t know what though. I can hardly imagine letting Jonny kill it (He thinks he should). It does pose a significant health risk.
In other wildlife news, because today we are full of it, we had a wild turkey hanging around our yard all day as well. I think she must have misplaced a baby because no matter how many times we scared her off by trying to look at her (and take her picture-I seriously need a zoom lens!!!) she kept coming back to the same area and making the same clucking sound. It is pretty cool to watch a big ole’ turkey fly from tree to tree. The kids are of course convinced that rascal the raccoon stole the turkey’s babies and Moses wants to kill it. Well, truthfully he wants to kill both the raccoon and the turkey. He’s all about killing stuff (In a normal sort of way, not a psycho kid kind of way if you believe it is possible for a kid to want to kill animals in a normal way). Seth was just all excited because of the “mystery” involved. Why was that turkey hanging around?? I for some reason get very excited about seeing wild turkeys no matter what is involved, as long as there is a turkey. Both of my run ins with them (in our yard) have involved baby turkeys. Last time I actually saw the babies. If a momma turkey loses a baby she is very persistent about getting it back. In other words, a turkey mama is a good mama.
Lerin says
Okay, I loved the photo of your kids peeking through the door watching the raccoon.
godlover says
About 20 years ago we lived up in the mountains and we had raccoons all the time. I fed them dog food. I know, shame on me, but don't lecture please. Anyway, we had a lot and one Christmas Eve we were snowed in due to a horrible storm and the raccoons came up on the deck and then began "knocking" on the glass sliding door. I took them out some food (come on it was Christmas eve!) and I counted 26 raccoons on our deck. Their favorite past time was napping after they ate. They would lie down on the deck railing on their bellies and then let all four legs hang down, two on each side of the rail. The were so funny. One of them always got up into out bird feeder and slept for an hour or so. Of course we had names for them all and a couple even came when I called their names. They were so much fun to watch. One was named Snorty because he was always snorting (yes, we're quite imaginative when it comes to naming animals). But you see there were so many of them that we had to find some physical reminder to actually name them all. Sleepy for the one who slept all the time. Bill who reminded me of my Uncle Bill. Right now I have forgotten why he reminded me of Uncle Bill, but he did. Anyway I just wanted to add that just because they're out in the daylight doesn't make them rabid. If they are acting strangely day or night, keep your distance. This applies to bats too.
summer says
don't forget, racoons like to eat baby chicks, (and big hens for that matter) much better than they like cat food!Ever thought of having a few turkeys in with the chicken mix!!!! I would love a pet turkey.
Ginny says
Annie (wildlife rehaber Annie that is) thanks so much for your comment! Because we live on a cleared two acre plot surrounded by woods, we are sort of right in the middle of raccoon habitat so we always have them coming around. There really isn't a way to avoid providing them with shelter, it's just here. This one is just so bold that we were surprised by it. Thanks for talking me down off the roundworm ledge. I have six kids that play in the mud all the time, and I do worry that it is a possibility that they might ingest the eggs…but what's the point in worrying? There also isn't any point in removing the raccoon because there are so many here. Thanks again, you offered a lot more helpful info. than our local animal control agency. I wanted to know the statistics for raccoons infected with rabies (locally-we have I believe an inflated number here for some reason. the only other time we have had a "problem" with a raccoon it did test positive for rabies) and they couldn't tell me. And we aren't wildlife killers btw-my son Moses is from Liberia and it is just part of his culture to want to kill animals (he doesn't actually do it-we wouldn't let him anyway)…and my husband is all talk.
Ray(He ain't Ri says
I am a wildlife rehabilitator. I foster raccoons and skunks almost exclusively; well over fifty raccoon babies yearly and on average 25 skunk babies. All are released come fall, all with rabies,distemper and parvo vaccines on board. The daylight viewing of any mammal is not that abnormal; especially this time of year. Raccoon mothers are the most devoted and nurturing mothers I've ever seen. They spend countless hours foraging for those additional calories required every four hours to nurse her crew of kits. That is one of several reasons they are active during the day. Also the days are longer,it would be most difficult for most nocturnal animals to hunt and forage enough in the minimal hours of darkness. Territories are also being claimed by last years' youngsters, they must move on and my guess is your visitor has recently found he most claim his own turf and is unfamiliar with the area. Give him/ her time;he may stay ,he may move on. If you really wish to discourage him, set up a loud boom box on the porch and play 'rap music'-something bassy. Also consider dog hair placed about the yard.. give the little guy a sense of something predatory lurking nearby.Shake Away®(sold in most hardware stores) also works wells, it's a fox urine base-you won't detect the odor -but the raccoon will and will likely leave if he feels there's a fox nearby. If you secure your garbage & do not provide a shelter area for him he will find no reason to invade your space. But on the other hand, they are amazing to watch & rarely develop rabies(like less than 0.1% of all raccoons ever become rabid). They are terrific mousers and will rid your yard of most vermin. Round worm..Baylisari is very difficult to ingest and have develop into the destructive worms. If it were as deadly as the media would have you think -dont' you think far more cases would be acknowledged. One would have to almost try to get the worm. It takes three weeks post elimination from the raccoon,allowed to sit in moist soil and then ingested before it is of any threat. I do double bag all the feces I deal with..but keep clean, wear gloves and have educated myself about the round worm transmission. Education regarding rabies and baylisaris is key to becoming more tolerant of Nature, of your raccoon visitor and enjoying the beauty and peace of God's creations in your back yard. We live in fear and do horrid things to that we do not understand.Perhaps to take a solemn mindset of tranquility and peace would be healthy for you and your kids and of course the nature that abounds you. Enjoy the wildlife. Nature is good medicine for your soul. Annie WilczakMember: NWRA, CWRA, NYSWRCWild Blue Yonder Wildlife Rehab & Releas ehttp://www.geocities.com/wbyrehab/http://www.cafepress.com/wildbleuyonder“Our foster wild baby animals helping to raise funds for their continued care”NYS RVS amended Wildlife Rehabilitator; class IIPrimarily Raccoons & Skunks –but there is always a soft spot for the other small, furry babies.NYS licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control =^ÒÓ^=" All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. We are the ones we have been waiting for" Hopi
Kobey says
I am new viewer to your blog. Have you tried the dirty underwear trick? My husband's family stakes dirty underwear especially the dad's around their garden to keep out the raccoons. Slightly embarassing when you have company but it works for them.
Annie says
What wonderful photos! I'd relish that raccoon, too – but NO!!!!! I did NOT go to that link. No, no, no. How about having him vaccinated??? (That's the sort of odd idea that comes to me.) Aren't there "Critter Gitters" out there or someone to trap and move him? Killing him does seem sad. If it comes to that, though, I hope Moses can have a 'coon skin cap. Your house is SO wonderful. Can't you just build on?? I hate to think of you moving.
crispy says
We love watching wild life from our back door. Neat pictures.