Woman Plagued by Raccoons

@worldwise1 (14885)
United States
August 1, 2007 6:00am CST
A news story reported that a woman is living in fear because her home is often surrounded by raccoons. They started out getting into her garbage cans. Now she says they are coming onto her front porch and even onto her roof. She is trying several recommended methods of getting rid of them, but has had no success as of yet. She said that she fears for her family coming home after dark because she thinks they will be around her house. I feel as though the city or county should step in in a case like this. I once lived in a house where the attic got invaded by squirrels and I didn't get much help at all. The traps they give you are of little use. I finally had to move out of the house.
3 people like this
10 responses
@raychill (6525)
• United States
1 Aug 07
That's why you take care to what you do with your trash sometimes. To keep things like raccoons away. That's also why you get pets. Dogs can easily scare off some raccoons or squirrels. If you're allergic I could see it. I don't think the city or county should necessarily step in because I think there are so many more things a bit more important going on then someone who has a bunch of squirrels or a bunch of raccoons. Now an alligator... or huge python or something...that I could see someone else stepping in but not something natural like squirrels and raccoons.
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
4 Aug 07
While it might not seem important to you, raychill, it matters to those who fear these animals. I know that there are many who are natural animal lovers and have no fear of them. This is not the case with everyone.
@weemam (13372)
1 Aug 07
That is so sad , is there not a local coulncil office , can they not deal with them for you , here in Scotland the council look after things like that , not that we ger racoons though , shame xxx
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
4 Aug 07
In most places in the US there are strict laws governing what you are allowed to do regarding wild animals invading your property. The most they will do is give you traps-which, in my case, was virtually no help at all.
1 person likes this
@weemam (13372)
4 Aug 07
bats are considereed an endangered species (sertain species)here in Scotland and I read of a family who had to leave their house because of that too , xxx
• United States
2 Aug 07
oh myy! if i didnt know any better i think u were talking aboit me! i have a family..yes afamily of racoons that live unde4r my house..no one seems to want me help get rid of them..one person tells me go somewher else...blah blah.//they eat my garbage..well they did i found a way around that..and they have also well one have been in my home..SNEAKY!! heran in as sooon as i opned the door..anywho the arent scared of us after they get used to us after awhile..they just stand theer and look at you like WHAT???? LOL LOL..but i spray pneaunia all over my garbage they hate that!!! and i started spraying my deck at night..and if i get a trap id be too sca5re to bring it to them in my car..heck i dont evem have one now its broke lol..but they are a pain in the bum..and we have chipmunk probs here too..arrghhhh!!! lol
2 people like this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
4 Aug 07
The little critters can really be a pain, cloud. I agree that there's not much help to be had when you need it. When I had the problem with squirrels living in my attic I was advised that they could eventually chew through the wiring and cause a fire hazard. I didn't need to hear any more. I moved out as soon as my lease was up.
@mummymo (23706)
1 Aug 07
I think I would be terrified - can't raccoons be quite ferocious? It is awful that no one is helping this woman and her family - they must feel as though no one cares! xxx
2 people like this
@Feona1962 (7526)
• United States
2 Aug 07
They could have rabies and that would not be good..I wonder what is attracting them to her home..I would be scared too! I would think that the county or whoever it is could step in..I just hope she doesn't get bit and they can't get into her home...
2 people like this
@3lilangels (4639)
• United States
1 Aug 07
i think raccoons are really cute,but very dangerous.we had a few matter of fact last week it was like 1:00 in the morning,and we were all in bed,and we heard a loud noise,so my husband got up and saw that there was 4 raccoons in our garbage can.i was so upset because the next day was garbage day and this mess had to be cleaned up before 7 in the morning when they come.i dont know if there is any ways to get rid of them,but peoples voices do scare them.thanks for the wonderful comment.very sweet.how do you do that with the comments.im still learning.
2 people like this
@Aurone (4755)
• United States
2 Aug 07
Animal control should definitely get involved if the raccoons are that bad. The woman shouldn't have to live in fear because of Raccoons!
1 person likes this
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
4 Aug 07
I wanted to add that if the raccoons are outside and not hurting anyone then she might adopt a live and let live attitude but my first post was for ppl that have problems with them getting into their houses such as your squirrel problem. I don't go around advocating killing little animals lol. Just wanted to clear that up before I'm crucified as an animal hater lol. LIVE IN PEACE
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
4 Aug 07
WOW!! You'd think animal control would handle it. My mom bought a farmhouse years ago and tried tons of stuff to get rid of a critter (we didn't know what kind) that was in the house...poisons, cages, traps...nothing worked. A friend told her to put a pot of cooked brown beans down on the floor and wait. The next morning there was portion gone. That afternoon the contractors found a large boar raccoon under the floor near the room that had the beans...turns out they can't release gas. If you feed them a gassy food like beans, they can't release the pressure. Not a pleasant way to go but it works. She never had a problem after that. Maybe the woman needs to try that. LIVE IN PEACE
1 person likes this
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
4 Aug 07
Well, you learn something new every day, twoey! I had never heard of this. Maybe someone who knows this woman might see this and pass it on to her. Thanks.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
1 Aug 07
Squirrels lived on the second floor of my house, but my cat did them in. The ones that wouldn't leave, got eaten! Dogs bigger than raccoons usually chase them away. If she got a big dog, they would probably leave. But now that there are so many, she would need big dogs, plural. Otherwise they can gang-up on the dogs. Raccoons pose a danger, rabies. In the Canadian/America Borderlands, some states and provinces set out rabie vaccine pellets or air drop the pellets for them to eat. That way, they won't attack people and pets with rabies. That's the theory anyway. It seems like some raccoons would eat too many and some would not eat enough. After raccoons become accustomed to people, they are not scared. They are related to bears. Garbage containers should be animal proof. Compost piles should be in the woods or enclosed and heated by solar energy, turned or stirred often. My friend had a small raccoon come in through her dog door (small dog) and crawl up on top of her drier. The next morning she found it asleep. She tried to wask it up, but the baby raccoon just wanted to keep sleeping. My brother's girlfriend confronted one that walked into her house, and it looked at her like, "What is your problem?" She even banged pots and pans. I've told them both to get electronic dog doors that only let the dogs that belong there in. On Helium, I have the story of how a family of raccoons ate all of our cantalope. Since we've moved here, they've eaten all of our grapes. Farmers in my area usually shoot them. This upsets me because they usually hang them up somewhere and they decay and become nasty. If you aren't going to eat them, then another way should be found. Or at least offer a raccoon to each family that has children without food at the end of the month. Also, I don't know if they're shooting all the raccoons in an area or just the excess caused by too much food. I don't want them wiped out. We have a motion censor light that lights up our driveway and our porch. That was self-defense so we wouldn't surprise a skunk. But it can temporarily blind any animal and give us a chance to see what's there before we get surprised. What ideas has she tried that haven't worked? If an area doesn't have an animal control officer, officials will probably not do much. But some places the park rangers will help or at least offer suggestions. Others have police who will deal with animal nuisances. That's all the things I can think to explain and help. Hopefully something will assist her. Please let me know if she does solve the problem.
@worldwise1 (14885)
• United States
4 Aug 07
What you had to say is very interesting, writersedge. It could be that where she lives has strict laws about not harming wildlife, but I know I would be terrified. I have a natural fear of animals and it has been hard to overcome my fear of domestic animals. That's odd since I grew up in the country, LOL. I remember a time when it was a common practice to eat these animals, but it is now shunned in most areas for some reason. As you stated, the incidence of rabies in the wildlife population is an ever-growing problem. This should always be taken into consideration.