Large raccoon on my porch just now. Was just letting the cable guy out of the house. He went out the back door and I went out the front and to my surprise we scared off a very large raccoon that was probably here to eat my cats food. The cable guy was not impressed with all of my dogs and the look on his face when he saw that raccoon said it all. This is probably what my Min Pin was after last night! I scared it off a few nights ago but didn't know he was coming around during the day. I never let my smallest dogs outside but now I'm scared to let any of my other dogs out day or night. Life in the country can be great sometimes but this coon has to go. I know they carry diseases and can be vicious. I am so creeped out right now I have the chills. We will not be able to co-exist with this one! |
They're nocturnal -- if it's out during the day, it could be rabid. Careful! |
That's what I'm thinking and freaked out about! I've seen them out in the daytime before at a store a few miles away where people were constantly feeding them and am hoping that this one is just hungry. Regardless I don't want it here. I am looking them up online after I finish typing to you. |
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My first thought was also that it may be rabid....if it was rabid, they go nuts and will chase YOU down....not very easy to scare a rabid anumal off! They will also lay in the shade, clearly ill and in distress....this coon may be trying to provide food for young??? In any event, be very cautious.... |
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Well it wasn't spinning around in circles and when it ran it ran. I'll bet this is the same one that I saw the other night. It scooped up cat food with its paws or hands while looking up at me like a thief and then ran off. I'll bet it's feeding babies. I think this is what has been getting into the bed of my husbands truck when he loads the trash to take off. I used to watch more for snakes now its a dang coon with poss. babies. I have outdoor cats both here at the house and barn so this coon knows exactly where to get a quick meal. Not sure how we will get this one to leave. I will be careful but this is so not good especially for the sake of my dogs. How can I even trap it without trapping my cats. Crap! |
You have to bait the trap with anything that coons like but cats do not....like banannas, friut, etc |
Do they eat if they are rabid? I forgot to mention that it was eating with my cats when it stole the food and ran the other night. It just blended in with my pack. I thought it was a cat at first. |
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Ok..thanks! I think I'll let my husband handle that when he gets home. I'm gonna call Texas Parks & Wildlife as well and at least see where we need to turn it loose. It may come back if it has babies. |
It doesn't sound like it is rabid and only after an easy meal. Maybe you can put the cat's food in a different place where the raccoon can't get to it. |
I guess I am in the minority 'cause I absolutely LOVE raccoons. And I do concur that you need to use caution around them - they can be very aggressive, especially when they have lost a lot of their fear of humans. Although it can be a sign of sickness, raccoons do come out during the day on occasion. If this big 'coon has figured out feeding time and is partial to the easy meal you are supplying, he/she could very well just be taking advantage of your generosity. Since this is a time when a female would be feeding kits, she may have a family nearby and is using your porch as a quick and convenient food supply. |
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If it is a she 'coon and she has kits nearby, removing her would be certain death to the little ones. They generally stay with their mom for several months. They tend to mature slowly. |
I am definitely feeding the cats at the barn tonight and will probably feed there from now on. This is not the first wild creature that has come to eat on my porch. I've just never seen one come to eat during the day. A few yrs. ago I opened the front door and there was a coon and a skunk. Needless to say I closed the door pretty darn fast. The last time I called Texas Parks and Wildlife they told me that if we can co-exist with these critters that would be best because when one leaves another takes it's place. When I called about an alligator in my pond they came out but my husband, his friend and the wild life guys were all laughing at me because the gator was so small. I was told that we moved into their territory. I guess that has some truth to it. |
Be careful. Even if it's not rabid, those things can be vicious. I had one attack one of my German Shepherd several years ago. Luckily he was okay but it tore up his neck pretty bad. I wouldn't even want to think about what they could do to a small dog or you! |
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I to LOVE raccoons, but not to sit on my front porch. My concern is my pup. |
I like them to but from a distance. I fed the cats at the barn tonight and now will have to get my DH to do the same. I would not want to separate mom from kits but I may never know unless of course I see them and trust me I will not go looking. And if that's the case I hope they find food elsewhere. I do fear for my dogs and cats and they come first. I'm hoping he/she moves on. |
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