Wild Pets

Hmm...Raccoons are not a good choice for an exotic pet. they are uncooperative and can become violent. However, I can recommend a similar animal that is much ebtter as a whole to keep. The coatimundi. It weighs 15-30 pounds adult, tends to be a light brownish color with a ringed tail always held high, really fun to be around and alot like a raccoon. They are diurnal and very active. They can be pain and are not exactly well behaved. They caqn and will get into everything, be a major nuisance and always want your attention. Very smart critters. Have been described as perpetual five year olds. They can be litter trained in some cases. Not nearly as violent as raccoons and usually much less destructive, especially if spayed or neutered. I would suggest getting them from a breeder when they are very young. I considered getting one myself but decided I didn't have the time to give it the attention it needs. There are several breeders for them and they can give you wonderful animals. I'd suggest looking into it if you think having a pet raccoon would be cool, because they look like light colored raccoons with longer, pointier faces. Dan

Two different friends of mine have raised deer they found as fawns who had lost their mothers. Both these deer became pets much like a dog in how they craved their owner's attention. Anyone could come up and pet these animals. They were that tame. One of these deer was turned into several fine meals. The other, a buck, had to be destroyed when it attacked a person. Raising wild animals is a mixed bag.

I can't say that I have ever raised a wild animal before, but we had a wild baby squire that I gave to a friend of mine to raise. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to take care of him and the mom abandoned him in our home. He is doing very well now and very happy.

I have never actually raised what is known as a wild animal, but did try to raise a wild dog. She took up residence in a shed that wasn't too far from me, and I went everyday and fed her and she would wait for me but I was never able to catch her. She would follow me and a couple of times I tried to get her in a cage but never could. I even tried to give her a tranquilizer in a pill but she never went to sleep and I still couldn't catch her. I just wanted to give her the rabies shots and get her fixed. She finally did go off but a couple of years later, believe it or not, I saw her with puppies and of course couldn't get anywhere close to her.