Random Lesser-Known Facts About Raccoons (12 items)

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  (#2) They Will Seriously Mess Up Your Pets Over Food

  If you're not careful about where you leave your cat or dog's food, raccoons might just smell it out and eat it themselves. And when a raccoon comes looking for food, the presence of another dog or cat won't deter it. Even though it's uncommon for cats and raccoons to end up scrapping, dogs will typically be more curious and go sniffing it out. If the raccoon ends up cornered and they do happen to end up getting into a fight, it's very easy for a raccoon to seriously mess up a pet or, even worse, kill it.

  Raccoons will first go for the dog's eyes, blinding it before it starts jabbing at the chest. This causes a dog's lungs to collapse. Raccoon nails are sharp, and have been known to penetrate a dog's abdomen and into their organs. 
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  (#10) Raccoons Eat Car Wires And Destroy Interiors

  Raccoons will sometimes use the insides of cars as nesting sites. That's because cars are often dry and warm, and when it's off and left alone it's a perfect invite to any animal looking for a new place to settle down. If a raccoon decides to make a car into a den, it can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage by chewing up the car's internal wiring and destroying whatever else it decides to rummage around with on the inside.
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  (#1) Raccoons Are One Of The Primary Carriers Of Rabies

  Raccoons are one of the primary - if not the largest - carriers of rabies in the United States. They are also the most frequently reported rabid animal, according to the Center for Disease Control, accounting for 28.6% of all animal rabies reports in 2017.

  While these reports are found heavily on the east coast, it's typically in your best interest to avoid a raccoon no matter where you see it. How do you tell if a raccoon is rabid? Usually if any animal has rabies, they begin acting erratic, have wet and matted hair around their face, and seem oblivious to sounds. And if you get bit by a rabid raccoon - or any rabid animal - you're going to have a bad time. Rabies cause muscle weakness, fever, hallucinations, and sometimes death. 
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  (#4) Raccoons Have A Reputation For Mauling People

  All across the Internet you can find accounts of people being viciously attacked by raccoons, either alone or in packs. From posts on forum to news reports, there are countless recollections from people who have been brutally scratched, bitten, and mauled by angry raccoons in various situations.

  While there are no hard numbers on how many raccoons attack people each year, there is plenty of anecdotal evidence. Experts say raccoons are naturally very bold and curious, which means it will put itself in close proximity to humans. It's not common for regular raccoons to attack unless they feel threatened, and even then it's more common for them to freeze. But if a raccoon is rabid, it will attack and viciously so. 
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  (#6) Raccoons Have Two Sets Of 10 Dangerous Claws

  Raccoons come fully equipped with five fingers on each hand, and every finger comes with a very sharp, non-retractable claw. While these claws make them very good at climbing, raccoons are also easily threatened. If they feel like they've been backed into a corner, you get too close to their babies, they won't hesitate use them with full force.
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  (#5) Raccoon Teeth Are Made For Shredding Things

  Although raccoons are omnivores, their canine teeth are made for shredding. While their bottom canine teeth are curved, the top teeth are the ones that will seriously do some damage. Instead of being a curved tooth, their upper canines are straight and come to a complete point, much like a knife. In comparison, you can see how much raccoon teeth look like cutlery, and let your imagination do the rest.

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