Studio8 - Uniting the Arts

My upstairs neighbors have been gone for four days. I just heard them return a few minutes ago.

I was convinced since the first day I moved in here that we had raccoons living in the area. The first night I was here I cleaned out my refrigerator and discarded several things -- among them a half a bag of chocolate chips. Well, heh, next day Someone had clearly rifled through the garbage, tossing things this way and that, until they located that bag of chocolate chips. Then, they ate every single one and tossed that bag too. Yum, yum!

Well, I've been hearing weird shuffling noises directly above my head in the bathroom and bedroom. It was too "clickety" (nails) and definite to be a cat.

I had a heartstopping thought: what if my upstairs housemates went away and left their dog to fend for himself in the bathroom above me? Uh oh. Tonight I heard more noises and went up to investigate. All was totally quiet up there, the bathroom was open and Scooter the Dog was nowhere in sight. Whew, they took him!

Then I went back down and banged my flashlight on the ceiling in the bathroom. Surprised shuffling noises? What? Huh?

This evening I caught their furry little butts in the headlights as they made their nightly raid on our trashcans.

They are living in our foundation, somewhere between the basement and the ground floor. I have looked for their entrance and I cannot find it. None of my business, anyways.

That explains the rapt and fascinated look my cats have as they gaze up the window-wells in the evening. It also explains the "poltergeist" noises. David thought he was creating them. Well, not.

What does anybody here know about raccoons? Ever met any? Are they going to create a nuisance or just live up there between the ceiling and the floor and come out to raid the trashcans at night?

Can I do anything to aid and abet them, safely? Like what if I left them a peanut butter and jelly sandwich? Would that be OK?

I know it sounds silly, but I never met any raccoons before, other than at a petting zoo. I know next to nothing about them.

bloodmeal


i think that is what it is called

it looks like bonemeal but has blood added...you won't smell it but the animals will, and will stay away

get it from the local gardening centre

Knip, lol, thanks, but I don't want to get rid of them. They aren't doing anything bad. Yes, they raid the trashcans and that is a minor nuisance, but that's it.

They are so quiet up there that I didn't even know they were living in the house foundations until my neighbors left for a few days.

Actually, I just want to know what to expect from them -- their habits and so on. And can I make friends with them, or is that a VERY bad idea? I looked up some websites that talk about feeding them. You have to be careful where you do it, and that you don't do it too regularly. Otherwise, they become dependent on handouts. If they know where you live, they might decide to invite themselves inside too.

Has anybody had close contact with these guys? What happened?

living in the country, i have close contact with them all the time

probably the smartest and most devious animal i've ever known or met

no way would i try to make friends with them...i'd think you would be asking for trouble

mapaches! they look funny. I only have experience with rats and murciélagos and I never thought about being friends of them.
saludos,

Arcadia

I had a next door neighbor several years back who was an exterminator. He and his wife had adopted a baby raccoon as a pet, I assume from removing the raccoon from one of his client's homes. It was cute as can be! He said he wouldn't be able to keep it as a pet for long.

Later, that raccoon grew bigger, as babies will do, and left its happy home to take up residence underneath my deck.

My daughter was only 5 and her friend was 6 and used to come over here during the summer. They saw the raccoon under the deck and told me about it. I mentioned this to her friend's father, leery of whether the kids should be out there near the raccoon.

Joe (my daughter's friend's father) is a very good friend of mine and an outdoorsman. He spends a lot of time out in the woods. He adamently stated, "Do NOT let the kids go NEAR that 'coon! They are very dangerous! They will attack the kids, scratch and bite them! We need to get that raccoon OUT of there!"

So, I suggested the exterminator next door and explained that this raccoon was probably the exterminator's pet which had grown up and escaped. Joe just shook his head. He said my neighbor was a nut and that NOBODY can domesticize a racoon and make a it a pet!

Eventually, the raccoon moved on all by itself and found another place to live. I was happy about that.

I trust Joe's opinions and I see that knip has concurred with this assessment of raccoons. I suggest you stay away from them.

Nobody should domesticate a raccoon and make it a pet for any reason. It's not good for the raccoon or the human.

We get these questions all the time… and we have information both on our website and for handouts; with helpful ideas on how to deal with raccoons and other assorted critters of the (day) or night.

This is our Raccoon Info - and whichever ends up being used.. be persistant; it helps things work out faster:

http://www.wildlife-museum.org/

Raccoons

Raccoons are nocturnal, needing a quiet and dark place during the daytime. They are attracted by pet food, ripe fruit and water. Their nesting season begins in February and can go through October. Litters average 2 to 7 babies. Weaning ends at 12 to 16 weeks. Adult raccoons are usually solitary, but young raccoons may stay with their mother during the winter, either in the same den or nearby. Life expectancy in the wild is 6 to 12 years. They den in tree cavities, underground burrows made by other animals, and human-made structures such as chimneys, basements, attics, spaces under patios and between walls.

It is not good to feed raccoons, either intentionally or unintentionally. Don't leave pet food outside at night, keep ripe fruit picked, keep garbage cans securely covered or inside a garage at night. Raccoons are excellent climbers and are very dexterous.

Under House


Find the entrance, usually a loose vent cover. Wait until the raccoon comes out, then securely close the hole. Make sure there are no babies still under the house.

If there are babies under the house, leave the hole open and make the area unpleasant by lights and noise. The mother will move her babies to another nest site and you can then safely close the hole.

Sprinkle flour or corn starch on the ground around the opening so you can more easily check for foot prints to see if the raccoon has come out.

In Attic


Find the entrance, usually a loose vent cover. Wait until the raccoon comes out, then securely close the hole. Make sure there are no babies still in the attic.

If there are babies in the attic, leave the hole open and make the area unpleasant by lights and noise. The mother will move her babies to another nest site and you can then safely close the hole.

Sprinkle flour or corn starch around the opening so you can more easily check for foot prints to see if the raccoon has come out.

Prevent access to the roof or attic by trimming overhanging branches or wrap metal guards at least 18" wide around trees or posts 5' above the ground.

Under Deck


Screen the area under the deck using welded wire or other strong material. Leave one opening, then close it securely when it comes out. Make sure there are no babies still under the deck.

Sprinkle flour or corn starch on the ground around the opening so you can more easily check for foot prints to see if the raccoon has come out.

In Tree


Raccoons sleep in the daytime. It will leave at night.

Eating Pet Food


Don’t leave pet food outside at night. Feed pets indoors or put food outside only during the daytime. Pet food should be stored indoors or in a secure metal container.

Coming into The House


Close the door. If the raccoon is coming through a pet door, close the pet door (hopefully keeping the cat indoors).

Getting Into Garbage Can


Fasten garbage can lids securely. Rope or chain should work. To prevent toppling of the can, place the can in some kind of anchored rack or tie it to the fence.

Keep the can in the garage.

Use repellent on and around the can.

Digging in Lawn


It is looking for grubs and worms. Treat your lawn for grubs (insect larvae that eat grass roots) at the beginning of the summer so there will be no food available in late summer and fall when the raccoons are most likely to dig in lawns. Beneficial nematodes are a good non-toxic way to kill the grubs; see your nursery for advice.

Sprinkle the lawn with finely ground black pepper or cayenne pepper.

Use dog and cat repellent around the perimeter of the lawn and the perimeter of the yard to keep the raccoon away from the lawn.

Cover the lawn with welded wire so the raccoon cannot dig into it. The lawn will grow up through the wire, and will become hidden very shortly. It's OK to mow over the wire.

Make sure the raccoon is not living on your property (under house, etc.).

Use a light with a motion detector.

Use a infrared/motion detector-activated sprinkler to spray animals with water.

Fence the yard with electric fencing.

Water the lawn less to make the soil less soft and easy to dig in for food.

Eating Produce From The Garden


Fence the garden with a flimsy chicken wire fence that won't support the raccoon's weight.

Install an electric fence.

Keep ripe produce picked.

Use dog and cat repellent around the perimeter of the garden.


Drinking Out of Swimming Pool


Cover the pool.

Use dog and cat repellent around the perimeter of the yard to keep the raccoon away from the pool.

Make sure the raccoon is not living on your property (under house, etc.).

Eating Fish Out of Pond


Cover the pond with wire. This can be submerged, leaving the center open for the fish. The raccoon can't reach over the wire and will not stand on it because it is not stable.

Install an electric fence around the pond.

Use dog and cat repellent around the perimeter of the yard to keep the raccoon away from the pond.

Provide rocks for fish to hide under.

Young Raccoon(s) Alone


If under the house or in a nest area, leave them alone so the mother will return.


If they are in an inappropriate area (out in the open), wait until evening to see if the mother returns. They may be placed in a box that they can’t get out of, but the mother can get in. Do not handle the raccoons with your bare hands. Since raccoons are nocturnal, the mother will not return until night. If the mother doesn’t return, call the museum in the morning.

Hit by Car


If it can safely be put into a secure container without touching the animal, it can be brought to the museum.

Otherwise, call Animal Services, especially for adult raccoons.

Begging for Food


Do not feed the raccoon. Once fed, a raccoon may become very aggressive in its demands for more.

Leave the area and do not attempt to get closer for a better look.

Keep your doors closed so the raccoon does not enter your house.

Large Pile of Feces


Raccoons tend to leave feces in large piles. Remove piles with shovel and discard in plastic bag in garbage. Wear gloves. Clean the area with bleach to remove the odor and discourage them from returning.

Try dog and cat repellent or a small bowl of ammonia with a rag in it to discourage raccoon from returning.

How Long Will it Take For Raccoons to Move?


The combination of lights, noise and ammonia is very effective. Give it at least a week to work. It may take a couple of days for the mother to get annoyed, a couple of days to find a new home and some time to move the babies. The mother may move only one baby a night.

Using Ammonia


Soak cotton balls with ammonia, place cotton balls in small bowl. Don’t block entrance with ammonia.

Using Dog/Cat Repellent


Not all raccoons respond to repellent in the same way. Initially, use lots in a wide area.

~~~

That's if for our information on Raccoons. You can find out information on these critters as well:


Bats
Birds
Deer
Gophers
Mammals - in general
Mice & Rats
Opossums
Rabbits
Raccoons
Skunks
Snakes
Squirrels

Simply go to the website and click on All About Wildlife and then Help For Wildlife

I love critters; and everything works out best when they're NOT in our homes.

Just a little bit more on raccoons ... On the fun side. Our local paper had a columnist who writes about pets & wildlife in our area (SF bay area) and he recently had a very funny column about raccoons and their favorite thing ... cat doors. PS ~ I'm not the "Deborah" of this letter.

http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cct ... ary_bogue/
http://www.contracostatimes.com/mld/cct ... 831582.htm
Posted on Thu, Oct. 06, 2005
GARY BOGUE

Raccoons see cat door as invitation to come in

darkness falls early
inviting contemplation
nature's plan for all
-- fall haiku by Nona Mock Wyman, Walnut Creek

Dear Gary:

I'm hoping you can help me solve a mystery. The other night I was awakened by a loud noise and when I went to investigate found two raccoons in my kitchen. An adult and a teenager.

I got a broom, and yelling "Get out of my house!" managed to shoo them out the front door (or so I believed). It took a while for them to find the door, as they raced around the house, jumping on the sofa and chairs and into the fireplace, where they proceeded to make a mess by tracking ashes all over my carpet and furniture.

I went back to bed and just as I was falling asleep I heard a mewing noise. I got up to investigate and found the youngster, his head sticking out from under the sofa where he'd been hiding. Well, I repeated the yelling and broom shaking and finally got him out of the house. As I walked back down the hall I saw a movement out of the corner of my eye and so found a little 2-inch mouse just darting into the hall closet. I began taking everything out of the closet in order to capture it and as I pulled the last item out he came running directly toward me. I screamed and fell over.

So my first question is why are women so much more afraid of mice than a large raccoon? My second question and the real mystery is, how did the raccoons get in?

All my doors and windows were closed and locked. All vent covers at the base of the house and the attic were intact. I thought they may possibly have come down the fireplace but the chimney cap was intact. The only other possibility is the cat door but I checked it and it was still locked and did not look as if it had been disturbed at all. I went outside and pounded on it repeatedly and it didn't give way.

Even if one raccoon could possibly have gotten in without breaking the lock, how is it possible for both of them to get through it? Any thoughts?

Deborah Muccino, Concord

Dear Deborah:

I must say, you have an interesting household at night. Sounds like a lot of fun.

Taking it from a logical standpoint, if everything else is sealed (doors, windows, chimney, vents, etc.), then it has to be the cat door. Besides, I already know raccoons are experts when it comes to opening locked cat doors so they can slip in and look for food in your cabinets.

Raccoons can take both their front paws, slip the claws under the bottom of the door, and yank and swing the door up and toward them, popping the lock open in the process. The adult raccoon probably let the youngster in while it was holding the door open and then followed. I'm guessing the door swung shut behind it and locked itself again.

Raccoons like cat doors so much, the cat door installers give them stacks of business cards to pass out around the neighborhood.

I refuse to be dragged into the women vs. mice debate, but I can't resist mentioning the man who called me one morning on his cell phone from the top of his kitchen table. He begged me to come to his house and catch a mouse on his kitchen floor. He even offered me $100.

It was tempting.

I was under the impression that raccoons were carriers of rabies

That's the only thing I can see wrong with feeding them and/or keeping them around.
Except that people food probably doesn't fulfill their nutritional needs, and while a raccoon is chillin' at somebody's house, it's not fulfilling its role in the nearby ecosystem, which could contribute to ecological unbalance

I don't know


Captain Beefheart used to leave sugar by anthills near his home so they wouldn't have to come into his house, or into the neighbours' houses, which could have ant traps or ant poison laying about

interesting comment, mars

every morning I look out the glass doors and see two young squirrels playing in the back yard. About a month ago I found an old bag of bird seed in a cabinet and put it in the back yard. About 40 pounds of the stuff. These two young squirrels have learned where it is and are feasting on it daily. My worry is that I am interfering with their education. When the seed is gone and winter comes, they will have to work for a living and find natural food. Will they know how to do it? I guess that's the trouble with welfare.

i was wondering when the chief racoon himself would weigh in

I live in a city where I believe that racoons actually out number people...I love the little buggers, there are 2 in my back yard...they are tenacious, intelligent and they wash both their food and their hands...I confess i actually talk to them. I work building houses and as soon as they are framed racoons move in, and we chat, I make it very clear this is not their home and they would probably be far more comfy in some near by tree....as they like to snooze all day and in construction we make a hell of a racket. I firmly believe that in an urban setting we have to learn to live with the wildlife that was their before us. A few days ago on one of my job sites i counted 30 Red Tailed Hawks hovering above us with excited anticipation of the ensuing trip south...what a sight. I have also come in close contact with Coyotes, Foxes and even the occasional Skunk.

Lightningrod wrote:These two young squirrels have learned where it is and are feasting on it daily.

The squirrels should be burying plenty of these seeds to have as a store during the winter LR.

Thanks These contributions are GREAT and some are making me laugh!

OK (sigh) I will resist the temptation to leave them peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cat food and other treats.

They are really very unobtrusive here. We know they live here and that they occasionally raid the garbage cans, especially when there's anything good available, but they mind their own business and don't bother anybody. I have no interest in getting rid of them.

On the OTHER hand, I don't want to encourage them to become pests.

I read a website where someone was talking about domesticating baby raccoons. It was amusing, and it's obvious that raccoons CAN be domesticated, but also that they make TERRIBLE pets. Domesticated raccoons are into EVERYTHING. They are mischievous and very destructive and don't really fit into our lifestyles at all. They can rip through screendoors and escape in matter of minutes. They can go through our medicine cabinets and kill themselves eating pills, or get themselves locked in the fridge.

I know they can be frighteningly assertive if the people they depend on for food disappear. Yes, they can enter through cat doors, or just find their own way to come and pay a visit.

I thought I could maybe feed them a little and get to know them without taking a chance, but it doesn't sound like it's a very good idea, huh?

I had no fantasies of a pet raccoon. My cats wouldn't like it at all! I just wanted to learn a bit about them at close range, is all.

Trouble is, then THEY would want to get to know ME at close range, and that might be a problem.

BTW, there are some people in a nearby city park who regularly feed foxes. The foxes are getting along fine, and are very brave around people. They don't exactly come up to get scratched behind the ears or anything, but they don't automatically run when they see someone, either. I can't help thinking that it might be a GOOD idea to let wild animals become familiar with human beings and their ways. If we continue to spread across the globe and crush everything else out, the way we're doing, then familiarity with people will be a valuable survival tool for them.

For what it's worth, ABC - my in-laws lived in a mountain cabin (NM) and my MIL regularly fed a family of raccoons nightly on her deck. She left them bread but did not stay on the deck with them, only observed their feedings thru the window (as we did on several occassions). This went on for many years and she never had any problems at all. (a side story - the in-laws had a long abandoned outhouse where one day my FIL opened it up and there were the family, snug in a shredded roll of old insulation that was stored there. He closed the door and left them in peace).

These various replies are indeed interesting. Is it somehow 'wrong' to feed the wild birds in the eyes of some..? My MIL, being a lover of wildlife, also fed raw peanuts to the bluejays in her area. They were always on the lookout for her presence and even followed her from branch to branch when she walked her dog. A very cool thing to witness. To see the bluejays take the peanut and fly off any bury them was very interesting to me - did they remember where they buried them? Did they come back to eat them at a later date? Questions that were never answered for me.

In returning to the area on several occasions since the in-laws have moved, I have seen a cat or two. Now that is not a good thing! The bird population is at a minimum... a very sad thing to see.