Skeptomania - Paranormal / UFOs, etc.

paul68 · Shaved Ape

For about a year now, my GF and I been feeding a family of racoons out back of our house. It's kept em outta the garbage, and they've become quite amiable. They'll show up, and check for us out on the back porch. They'll literally line up along the wall and screen, peering onto the porch, patiently waiting for us to notice them. They'll take food from your hand very easily, without any drama, and are not skittish or defensive.

For the last week however they've changed. Their behaviour's become erratic, aggressive, and strange. Two of them seem confused, and almost psycotic. They show up, hiss, snarl, walk in circles, make threatening moves toward us and all around act very strange.

One has dried saliva caked around it's muzzle, and is looking decidedly worse for wear. His fur is matted, he's moving jerkily, and I'll be looking more closely tonight to see if he has any wounds, or if his eyes are showing thick mucous or excretions.

I figure I am going to have to put him down. Animal control is next to useless. Once I take care of him, I'll bag him, and make notes about where he was killed, why, and when. I'll drop it all off to animal control in the morning.

Sucks, because, there are about six of them here living in a couple undeveloped lots across from us. And they've just begun bringing out this years youngsters with em. Cutest little buggers you ever seen. But the last thing I need is one of the girls getting rushed by one of em, or our clueless neighbors getting attacked.

No, they are not acting this way because of the youngsters. This is the third litter they've brought with them, and with the first two, they acted no differently than any other time.

Raven · Google Meister

they'd only act defensive around their young if it was actually near their nest... but if they're around you, who has established himself to be a source of food, then they would basiclly be like any stray dog or cat that you happened to feed. So, yea, i'm bettin' on rabbies too... time to put Old Yeller down...

Speaking of racoons though... i just came home today and as i was about to walk in the door, I happened to hear a noice above me, i looked up and see a black-eyed face staring at me. It turns out that i have at least 2 racoons making a home for themselves in my back trim. Anyone know of the best way to humanly get rid of them that wont get me mulled in the process? the place is rented, so if it costs me money, the land lords will have to deal with it, but if i can get it done myself, then i would prefer to because my land lords are morons.

wrphhi

Not sure what you mean by "back trim." I once had racoons in the attic: what a nightmare. I tried to "bug bomb" them out of there and even that didn't work. They had moved in for good, had babies and of course the insulation became a new indoor bathroom. Urine started seeping down through the ceiling creating yellow spots on the ceiling and the house started to stink. The babies were running around and it seemed like Romper Room up there.

Animal control was worthless because they were "too small" and pest control was worthless because they were "too big." We ultimately hared a security guy who worked at the guard gate and had a little side business to get rid of them. One nest was in the bathroom wall and he had to cut through the drywall and remove the babies. He tried to get the mother but she wouldn't cooperate so he shot her with his revolver. Not a great scene, but at that point it was out of our hands and in the hands of a "professional.

This was about 12 years ago, before I had internet and probably could have found some sort of resque group. I thnik they're quite cute, but they make horrible upstairs neighbors. It took forever to get the urine smell out of our house.

murphy · Horse Nazi

I hope you have been feeding onlyin the evenings.
If the racoons are at your house during the day that is not good. (Whether they show signs of an illness or no, they are nocturnal)
Rabies is a possibility, but distemper is alo a horrible and contagious disease.
I hope you do not have any other pets, because if you do Animal Control will demand they need to be tested for rabies and you know how that is done.

paul68 · Shaved Ape

Naa, no other pets. Rabies or distemper, not much difference. Either way, bad juju. Sometimes they are out before dark about 40 minutes before sunset, but not often. Thats expected with babies. But it's mainly their sudden change in behavior, and one raccoons obvious signs of illness that's bothered me. Wouldn't you know, the night I decide to sit and wait, they don't show up at all. If it's rabies, I don't expect they'll make it another 10 days. BUt they can cause a lot of havoc in a densely populated area like here, and I'd feel pretty bad if I read one morning in the paper about some nieghborhood kid getting bitten so I guess I'll be waiting on em again tonight.

murphy · Horse Nazi

Do make sure that the one you are planning on shooting (if at all necessary, but I am sure you will) is not a nursing mother.
The ones that are showing agressive behaviour could have lots of other reasons.
Be careful. OK?

p.s. if you do end up with baby raccoons to bottle feed..... that is way cool....... I have done it and I was also able to release them back in the wild.

paul68 · Shaved Ape

Well, there are three regulars. The mother is the smallest one, and so far, she seems pretty astute. When the other two that are making all the noise are around, she seems to steer clear of em. NIght before last she showed up when the largest one, who happens to be the most sickly looking one, was out back walking in circles and hissing and growling. She literally watched him from the corner of the back porch for a few minutes, then slipped away and came back later when it was clear. So here's to hoping she's been able to avoid infection.

If it came down to the babies, if possible I'd capture them and drop em off to the wildlife rescue here since there's no way to know if they are free of disease either.

paul68 · Shaved Ape

Two nights in a row, no raccoons. I baited em, and it was still there in the morning. HIGHLY unusual.

Yaish · Intel Chief

Rabies, distemper, or even advancing mange. All are bad.

You can get subsonic rounds for a .22 rifle that are damn near silent. I couldn't believe how quiet they are. Look for Super Colibri's or CCI subsonics.
Out of a pistol they're still sort of loud, but from a rifle it's quieter than a slingshot. No kidding.

Raven · Google Meister

Well... on the bright side of things, my raccoon neighbors seemed to have moved out already... either that, or they just got really quiet (I guess I’ll know by the smell later). Apparently, they must have realized the inconvenience of moving into a home that is slanted with the roof... which is good because that inconvenience would have made it a pain in the ass for me to get them.