Kade said:
@Reagan
Uh, raccoons are one of the most common rabies carriers in North America. I’m guessing you’ve just been lucky.
In all my life, I’ve never seen a rabid raccoon, and I live in the woods where raccoons and deer are everywhere.
@Reagan
Raccoons are known rabies carriers, especially in wooded areas. I grew up in the woods, too, but let’s agree to disagree here.
Kade said:
@Reagan
Raccoons are known rabies carriers, especially in wooded areas. I grew up in the woods, too, but let’s agree to disagree here.
Starting to feel like I’m talking to a bot down here in this thread.
@Reagan
A few years back, a rabid fox attacked a man nearby. Rabies cases in raccoons, foxes, skunks, and bats are not uncommon in my area (Finger Lakes, NY).
They might look cute, but they’re a nuisance. We’ve had raccoons kill our livestock without even eating them, just leaving the bodies. One ripped up a goose and left it there. They’ve also torn open our trash, dragged it everywhere, and peed on animal feed. Years back, one almost wiped out our chickens.
@Quizing
That’s tough! Were you calling the goose livestock, or have they actually attacked bigger animals like cattle? I keep my trash secure, so they’re not too much of a problem for me. They actually help control rodents in my area.
@Dane
Yes, the geese are livestock, but mostly pets. The raccoons got into our barn trash, tore things apart, dragged it everywhere, and even left some trash in our hayfield. I’ll try the radio idea if they come back.
@Quizing
Geese are so great! They’re like feathered watchdogs. Raccoons are tricky, but maybe the radio trick will keep them away next time!
@Dane
Worst they do for me is dig up the yard. Other than that, they’re fine.
Reagan said:
@Dane
Worst they do for me is dig up the yard. Other than that, they’re fine.
Digging up the yard is one thing, but don’t forget about the rabies risk.
Reagan said:
@Dane
Worst they do for me is dig up the yard. Other than that, they’re fine.
Digging up the yard is one thing, but don’t forget about the rabies risk.
True! Guess it’s from all the garbage they eat.
@Quizing
I know, they keep tearing up my yard…
@Quizing
The one in the picture, named Honey, stays in the woods where she belongs. I feed her there, but the others keep digging up my yard, and it’s starting to annoy me!
Reagan said:
@Quizing
The one in the picture, named Honey, stays in the woods where she belongs. I feed her there, but the others keep digging up my yard, and it’s starting to annoy me!
Maybe stop feeding her if you don’t want her around your yard. She’s cute, though!
@Dane
I see what you mean, but Honey doesn’t come near the yard. She sticks to the woods!
They’re cute until they try to break into my bird coop. I have raccoons in my yard a lot, but when they mess with the coop, it’s time for the three S’s: shoot, shovel, and shut up.
All good until it has rabies.
Drue said:
All good until it has rabies.
Totally, but my Honey doesn’t have rabies.
I once got surrounded by angry raccoons at a campground, and a friend had three raccoons break into his apartment. Would you want that?
Rafe said:
I once got surrounded by angry raccoons at a campground, and a friend had three raccoons break into his apartment. Would you want that?
Sorry to hear that! Honey would never do that kind of thing.