Random Lesser-Known Facts About Raccoons (12 items)

• 

  (#9) Raccoons Can Not Be Domesticated

  Taking a raccoon out of the wild and making it your personal pet is not only illegal in some states, it's also incredibly ill-advised. While raccoons can be taught tricks, they are not social creatures and can not be domesticated, even through multiple generations of breeding. Keeping a raccoon as a pet can end up in a vicious attack if the animal feels stressed, which can leave the owner severely messed up.

  They're also just general nuisances. If they don't mess up their owner's face, they most definitely will mess up their house. Raccoons are known to be destructive animals, and will rip apart furniture, bedding, and even walls. 
• 

  (#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. 
• 

  (#11) Raccoons Raid Campsites For Not Only Food, But Pots And Pans Too

  If there is food at a campsite that hasn't been stored properly, bears aren't the only type of forest wildlife attracted to the site. Raccoons who feel exceptionally daring will completely raid a campsite for food, even during the middle of the day. They'll go through whatever has been left out for food and shiny materials like aluminum cans, pots and pans, and even keys, so if you're not careful, you could be left without food and whatever vehicle you drove in to get there. 
• 

  (#7) Baby Raccoons Usually Have An Aggressive Mother Nearby

  Seeing a baby raccoon in the wild can be in incredibly cute experience, but it's best to stay away from it if you think a mother raccoon is anywhere nearby. Mother raccoons are very protective of their young, as they have the duty of protecting them all by themselves.

  While the babies are in the nest, the mother raccoon will frequently be on patrol around the area looking for potential predators. If she sees you as a predator, she's going to become very aggressive and treat you like one, which could leave you in a nasty situation.
• 

  (#3) Fatal Diseases And Parasites Hang Around In Their Poop

  The droppings of raccoons carry a serious amount of diseases. And if it happens to come in contact with children or pets, it can be deadly. If a raccoon decides to settle down in or around your yard, you could possibly end up with a variety of nasty illnesses. Their fecal matter and urine can carry leptospirosis, salmonella, and raccoon roundworm.

  Where leptospirosis and salmonella are contracted from coming in direct contact with the raccoon's waste, you can catch raccoon roundworm by simply being close enough to inhale the roundworm's eggs, making their fecal matter in any form extremely dangerous.
• 

  (#8) Raccoons Terrorize Small Livestock

  Wild raccoons will terrorize small livestock, especially chickens or hens, that have been left out in a coop. Raccoons are not attacking these animals to eat them, instead they're trying to steal their eggs or any food left for them in their coops. 

  If they get in, they'll tear chickens to shreds just to eat their eggs. While they typically won't eat the chickens, they'll leave them as a bloody mess and occasionally eat at the breast and entrails before nabbing their eggs. What's even scarier is raccoons will typically carry out these chicken assaults in the night while the chickens are asleep. 

New Random Displays    Display All By Ranking