🐾🌲 Raccoons: Why They’re Not the Pets You Think They Are 🌲🐾
Raccoons are undeniably cute with their little masked faces and mischievous personalities, but these fascinating creatures are wild animals through and through. If you spot one around your home, there’s a good chance that there’s more than one—raccoons are social animals and typically live in groups. Whether you’re dealing with a family of raccoons in your attic or seeing them rummaging through your garbage, it’s important to understand their behaviors and why they don’t belong as pets or near your home.
Here’s what you need to know about these wild residents:
👉 Raccoons Are Social Creatures
Unlike many animals that prefer solitude, raccoons are social animals that live in groups, particularly during breeding seasons. These groups are typically made up of a mother and her offspring. This means that if you spot one raccoon, there's likely a whole family living nearby. They're often drawn to urban and suburban areas because of easy access to food and shelter, so if they’re in your neighborhood, they probably have a den nearby, which could be your attic, garage, or crawl space.
👉 Why They Shouldn’t Be Domesticated
Raccoons may look adorable, but they’re not meant to be pets. They have instincts and behaviors that make them very different from domestic animals:
Destructive Behavior: Raccoons are incredibly curious and love to dig, tear things apart, and investigate every nook and cranny. This curiosity, while fascinating, often leads to significant damage in homes, sheds, and garages.
Aggressive Nature: When threatened or cornered, raccoons can become aggressive. Even if they seem friendly, they have sharp claws and teeth and may lash out if they feel their space is being invaded.
Health Risks: Raccoons carry diseases like rabies, leptospirosis, toxoplasmosis, and parasites like roundworms that can be harmful to humans and pets. These diseases can be transmitted through saliva, droppings, or even their fur.
Wild Instincts: Domestication isn’t possible for raccoons—they are wild animals with instincts that cannot be tamed. Keeping them as pets leads to behavioral problems, both for the animal and the people trying to care for them.
👉 Why It’s Illegal to Relocate, Breed, Own, or Feed Raccoons in Washington State
While it might be tempting to “help” a raccoon by feeding it or relocating it, Washington State has strict laws in place to protect wildlife and public health:
Relocating Raccoons: It's illegal to relocate raccoons in Washington state. Relocation can be harmful to both the raccoon and the environment. When you move a raccoon to a new area, it often struggles to survive in unfamiliar territory, and it could disrupt the local ecosystem, spreading disease and invasive species. Additionally, relocating them often doesn’t solve the problem—raccoons tend to return to familiar areas.
Breeding: Breeding raccoons in captivity is illegal because it contributes to overpopulation and disrupts natural wildlife patterns. Raising raccoons outside their natural habitat also poses significant health risks to the animals and humans.
Ownership: It's illegal to own a raccoon as a pet in Washington State. They are wild creatures that belong in their natural environment, not confined to your home. Keeping a raccoon as a pet can be dangerous and is also considered unethical in many places.
Feeding: Feeding raccoons is also illegal in Washington state. While it may seem harmless to toss out a bit of food, feeding raccoons encourages them to stay in urban areas, lose their natural fear of humans, and become dependent on human-provided food sources. This can lead to problems such as aggressive behavior, damage to property, and the spread of disease.
👉 What to Do If You Have Raccoons Around Your Property
If you’re dealing with a raccoon problem, the best course of action is to call a professional wildlife removal service. Attempting to handle a raccoon issue yourself can be dangerous, both for you and the animal. At G Green Inc. Pest and Wildlife Management, we specialize in humane removal, relocation, and prevention strategies to safely manage wildlife issues in your home or business. We also help with sealing entry points, cleaning up any mess, and providing ongoing solutions to keep your property raccoon-free.
👉 Don’t Risk It! Call the Experts
If you’ve spotted raccoons around your property, don’t wait—call us at (360) 389-3599 or visit www.bellinghamexterminator.com for a professional inspection. We’ll help you resolve the issue safely, efficiently, and in compliance with Washington State law.
Let’s keep these wild animals where they belong—in the wild, where they can thrive in their natural habitat. 🌲🦝
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