Racoons

**tinkerbell** · #1 03-09-05, 06:56 pm

Hi everyone

I was wondering, does any one have any info about C&C cages and racoons? i have so babysit one for a month in the summer and before my friend gets the racoon i would like to know if i/she could use a C&C cage for the little fellow. thanks ------ Tink :0)

**pennick** · #2 03-09-05, 06:57 pm

Arent racoons illegal to own?

**LiciaMommycott** · #3 03-09-05, 11:24 pm

From what I know about racoons they will be able to easily escape from a C&C cage. Also, I think it would be horrible to keep a racoon in a cage. They are large animals that like to roam around. That would be like keeping a cat in a cage.

I don't recommend them as house pets either. My friend had a racoon that roamed free between inside and outside and it ruined ALL of their furniture by chewing it and tearing it up. It was very friendly but they could never train it to leave the furniture alone.

**bunnyluv17** · #4 03-10-05, 10:59 am

Raccoons are wild animals and belong in the wild.

Anyone who thinks they can handle a raccoon as a pet is crazy; it would be like having a perpetual two-year old who can climb, bite, and scratch.

**pennick** · #5 03-10-05, 11:35 am

I have seen many programs relating to racoons that have gotten into people's homes and they had to have the animal rescue come and get them out. They always warned about how racoons are very nasty and can do terrible harm to ones body.

Couldn't quite understand her writing about babysitting. Did she babysit the racoon? I don't know, doesn't sound right.

**tinkerbell** · #6 03-10-05, 11:40 am

i know that they are not sutable as pets and i'v tried to tell my friend that but she won't listen. her cousin rescuse them from the humane society so she's not taking it from the wild. she is going to Germany for one month in Augest and I have to take care of it but I have to keep it in a cage at night ( this is only if she does get one)I wouldn't keep it in the cage all the time just at night so that it couldn't get in to anything. does any one have any more information for me ? thank you again

----- Tink

**pennick** · #7 03-10-05, 11:45 am

Are you sure she got them from the humane society? What Humane Society adopts out racoons? Never heard of this. I heard of fostering baby racoons so that they can go back out into the wild. Maybe this is what you mean? Anyway I can't help you on this one. sorry

**tinkerbell** · #8 03-10-05, 12:26 pm

Well she said that her cousin gets them sometimes when people bring in "orphaned ones" ( probley just finds them) he (her cousin) has about 6 raccoons before and now she wants one. she live on a farm and has lots of room. are they really into bitting even if you have had them since they were little. (still need bottle; little)

**suzy_99** · #9 03-10-05, 12:50 pm

I have heard of this, but people usually get them from the department of natural resource. This department is not usually involved with extensive rehabilitation (at least not around here) and they will put down an animals it cannot be easily treated. In these cases, where an animals cannot go back into the wild, a private party can usually take in the animals, so long as they will treat them in a humane way (cannot keep them for food). I personally see no problem with this if it was a raccoon that could not go back into the wild.
I am not sure if a c&c would work good or not. You would have to ensure that you use mental locks that are not easily picked. I have actually seen a racoon escape from a live trap before and those are almost impossible to get out of. Remember that they are really crafty and sneeky and can get out of almost anything if they wish.

**DocDolittle** · #10 03-10-05, 03:57 pm

I've seen a raccoon get into our garbage can with a padlock on it, bungee cords holding it down, and a cinderblock on top. They're incredibly crafty, so be careful about their cage( and I also say that the raccoon shouldn't be kept as a pet, for the above reasons).

**Plummie** · #11 03-11-05, 11:25 am

Here's an excerpt from the following website: http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art4119.asp

"If a raccoon is kept as a pet, he must have the run of the house. He should have a room of his own. In his own room, he can have his own bed. Raccoons are very destructive and have a tendency to dig large holes in a bed to nest. He should have his own stuff then he will be less inclined to destroy your stuff. Your raccoon can retreat into his own room and should feel safe. Provide him with pillows, blankets, and sheets. Give him plenty of safe toys. They love balls, stuffed animals and many of the infant and toddler toys on the market. Raccoons are destructive but if they learn from an early age on, they will learn to leave your stuff alone.
Your home must be raccoon proof. All cupboards should have locks. Raccoons are very proficient climbers. All knickknacks should be locked up. There is no such thing as being out of reach of a raccoon."

That being said, I personally don't think a C&C cage is a viable option for a 'coon. They are extremely intelligent and I would worry that the raccoon would chew the connectors of the C&C apart (whether it's the plastic connectors or plastic cable ties), and will figure out a way to free themselves.

**tinkerbell** · #12 03-11-05, 12:19 pm

Thanks for all the information. I was talking to one of the people I work with (at a vets) and she said that like 95% of all 'coons have this type of weird worm. She also said that people can get this worm and it goes in your eyes and it's just really nasty! I told my friend all of this and I also said that I wont come over while she has it because I don't want to give it to my younger siblings or pets, but she's going to get one any ways and is going to just see how it goes.

Do you think that if she raised it from when it was younger and then when it was older do you think that she could let it go? or would it not know what to eat and hunt and such.

**suzy_99** · #13 03-11-05, 07:14 pm

I don't beleive that she could ever let it go.

I find it really weird that she is able to get a baby racoon from the humane society. Babies are not usually seen as "hopeless cases", as are many adult animals, and are usually rehabilitated into the wild. I live in Canada also and I know that around here there are laws forbidding having a wild animal, unless it is for rehabilitative or fostering purposes (fostering can be lifelong if they cannot go into the wild), but this long term fostering would never be for a healthy baby. I find it hard to believe that you wouldn't have laws like this in Ontario. I remember one time when I found a baby crow that had falling out of its nest. I called the department of natural resources and they told me that they would come and "take care" of the bird. Instead of that deadly fate, I decided that I would try to nurse him back to health and I was told that if we kept him for over a certain amount of time that we would have to apply for special permits and such just to have him in the house. Does your friend not have to do this?? Anyway, you really should try and talk your friend out of this.

**tinkerbell** · #14 03-11-05, 10:09 pm

I was tlking to her again today and the raccoons aren't from the humane society, her cousin just has people bring them to him when they find them because they know that he has raised them before. I'll try to talk to her some more later and try to convice her not to get one but I have a funny feeling that she will no matter what I say or do by telling her.

**gpcarman** · #15 03-29-05, 06:37 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by suzy_99

I don't beleive that she could ever let it go.

I find it really weird that she is able to get a baby racoon from the humane society. Babies are not usually seen as "hopeless cases", as are many adult animals, and are usually rehabilitated into the wild. I live in Canada also and I know that around here there are laws forbidding having a wild animal, unless it is for rehabilitative or fostering purposes (fostering can be lifelong if they cannot go into the wild), but this long term fostering would never be for a healthy baby. I find it hard to believe that you wouldn't have laws like this in Ontario. I remember one time when I found a baby crow that had falling out of its nest. I called the department of natural resources and they told me that they would come and "take care" of the bird. Instead of that deadly fate, I decided that I would try to nurse him back to health and I was told that if we kept him for over a certain amount of time that we would have to apply for special permits and such just to have him in the house. Does your friend not have to do this?? Anyway, you really should try and talk your friend out of this.

I'm from Canada too. Some just out of my town fosters baby coons but later on let's them go. But here (in Canada) as - sorry, forgot who posted, but you have to have a permit from the ministry and cannot keep them as "pets"

**Ketus15** · #16 03-29-05, 05:19 pm

As far as advice for housing the racoon for a month. It sounds as if you're going to have to change your entire house and lifestyle! Perhaps a large dog kennell with lots of bedding and a padlock would be acceptable for overnighting.

Are you even going to take it with the worm possibility?

**tinkerbell** · #17 04-02-05, 10:47 am

no I 'm not going to take the coon anymore if she gets it or not. I don't want the responsiblelity of haveing to change my whole life around for the critter, and besides I don't want to have to deal with the whole worms thing too. I told her(my friend) that even when she does get it I'm not going to even come over because of all the trouble that can happen and that I don't want to get involved with it.

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