Bestest Comments: Pet Racoon

We raised a pet racoon over 6 years ago. She was raised in the house until she was five months old, then transfered to a large cage complete with climbing limbs etc. then we began to let her out daily for longer and longer periods of time. She was always very tame even as she made her a home in the woods. Today, we can still go outside and call her and she'll come home within 15-20 minutes. She lives closeby and has raised several litters of beautiful babies. When she is pregnant or has a new litter, she comes around more often for food. Her favorite treat was always Hot Dogs, so we try to keep a package on hand for her visits. We no longer try to pick her up, although I believe she would allow it, but she loves scratches behind the ears and eating from our hands. She has never attempted to bite. She and my 14 year old cat coexist without conflicts. Friends and family come hoping she'll make an appearance--she shows out for a laugh and cautiously accepts strangers. A raccoon is an extremely smart and resourceful animal with a friendly disposition but please do not forget that a wild or scared raccoon can be very dangerous. Just ask someone that hunts them. They can rip a dog to pieces in a fight and as I understand, are one of the largest carriers of Rabies in the wild. It terrifies me to think of a child being rough with a Coon that is not used to children. Would I raise another? Yes! Abby never forgot us and knows where to come when food is scarce for her. But everyone please be careful when taking one that you rescue. Better safe than sorry. Rabies shots are very painful--I received my series of shots over 30 years ago after picking up a stray cat and would hate to undergo another set. Back then, it was one shot a day for 14 days in the stomache--don't know what is done now. I love all animals and don't wish to offend anyone but when we think with our hearts, sometimes, we forget to use basic common sense.

Use cat wormer by size, one cc for every pound. Put it on ice cream or something he likes. To the people who found the raccoon tin the garage, u save him, he will hang around for life and thats O.K. They're kind creatures when u r kind to them. And auntie listen to katherine, she knows too well about your delema, she will help u. Is wisco close to u if it is number is 1 608 474 o236,mary wille is my name,have 2 now,let me know is i am close enough to help,oh convince your vet its for your cat, the wormer people, mary k

I have found a raccoon thats family has been killed and is afraid of me and tries to bite me... what should I do to get him to be like a pet?

hi alex,just read your email,my name is mary,i already have a female named nakoosa and another male on the way in the spring,but this little girl needs someone very special who can help her get over her loss of you,its gonna hurt her since she is so bonded to you,i have emailed a very good person who definetlly understands what xena will go thru from her loss of you,perhaps she will be able to help xena out,i will let u know as soon as i hear from her,she definetlly ,i have no doubt,if she chooses can be that special person to help xena,i think that was her name i apologize if i am wrong on her name,mary

hey selena if u r going to do something please dont make it cruel,i am just curious why dont u want them around your house?you live in a wooded area,well thats kinda part of there home also,but just f.y.i.depending where u live late march, april,may is when they have there babies and they r more nutureing[sp] then most parents i see today so moving them during that time would result in certian death for her family,so whatever u decide please take that into conscideration,nakoosa wille

Hi, nakoosa here, I am looking for zorra, r.i.p.,, Man I am willing to do battle with u, but have not heard from u. I am hoping it is really just a battle of knowledge, I think most of the rehabor's heart and soul is in the rite place, so maybe we can just give the knowledge we have learned on how content these creatures can be with the proper care in "un" captivity so they think it is. But it can be done properly. Our state allows only 2 per farm. They have to be from a registered breeder. But I hope, and from talking to rehabores in there area who work for d.n.r., that's r state agency, there not as much as a-hole as the state u used to live in. Believe or not I wrote the president of the u.s.a on this issue and others concerning are companion the animal. I call them family and friends. I know they are probably at the bottom of his list, but at least I am trying. mary

hello again mary and nakoosa here again and rocky r.i.p. i just discovered u tube in the last couple of weeks,anyone interested in how to care for these beautiful creatures check out utube raccoon molly from germany ,the one that is mostly in german text,he shows a beautiful incloser and the blueprints you can see how content molly is it wonderful to see it done rite,and in my opinion and mollys dameanor[sp] its done rite,also thank u for the websites for petitions with raccoon dogs,i also found a organization based out of the u.k.;;, n.a.p.a,k. it stand for national association of private animal keepers,it my understanding there about our rite to have animals privately,has anyone else ever heard of them or know anything else about them,also i recently got a offer to under tutalidge[sp] for 1 year to be a animal rehab person,liscenced,i told the womem i would get back to her because of exactly what happened to zorro,sunchasers companion,i felt it was nothing less the WRONG what happened to them,and i would have a serious problem letting babies or others go back to living on there own,release back to the'"wild"not prepared to survive or unable to because they were never taught to and she replied exactly what zorros companion said they do,well i release them,but there is always a bowl of food in the backyard and encloser is always open if they choose to come back,now her heart and soul has been to help all creatures ,i beleive that,you just dont do this line of work for the money,you have to have a soul for critter,now being put on the spot like that it really makes me think,what happen to zorro is and was wrong,just cruel,how do u do it as a rehaber,i think maybe some sort of re-enry program or something to guarentee these babies know who to survive without a ma before a release is even conscidered,and for those who cant be release there has got to be something for them also,theres gotta be a way to do this proper,think about,meanwhile take a look at molly from germany these people have done it rite and deserve to here it,molly was a orphan until they found him,also i have not heard from zorros ma,i am willing to help anyway i can,my email is cmwmkw@gmail.com,hope to hear from u,mary

to zorro companion sunchaser,what is the name of your book?nakoosa

Zorro's companion,what kind of cruel state do u live in and who the hel- is that women and who the hel- do they think they r playing god with a loving soul. God I am sooooooooooooooo pist off I cant image having to do that. I cant, love is love whether u look like another raccoon or not. God how can they do that, but they did didnt they. God i am sooooo sorry for your loss, it was so wrong, i mean where is the logic in that,they took a perfectlly happy critter put him/her someplace completely foreign to them. Probably scared the heck out of the little guy, and destroyed him. What cruelty, I hope there is a hell for people like that. To zorro's companion, my name is nakoosa, 16083397824, i would love to know what u learned from this and who to fight, but give me a few days, my rocky died, heart attack, the vet put him way passed 12 years old, wow,he would of been a perfect advocate for this he hated going outside really, the cold was like criptonite to him, i am very sad rite now, and ownly hearing something like what happen to zorro i am greatful he died at home with me holding him, i want to share with you all the card my husband brought home from work that day, i feel its perfect for all who love all creatures and treat them with the same respect we treat ourself, and dont treat them like we are superior somehow,some humans r sooooo cruel. Why? That is what we ask. The truth is, we may never know for sure why. But we do know that there is no single "should have done" or "could have done" or "did or didnt do" that would of changed that why. All that love could do was done. With deepest sympathy me, rocky was very special to us, I think that said it all to all of us who has lost a great companion, mary

I am thinking of getting a raccoon, I raised skunks for years and have always wanted a raccoon. Does anyone know if there is a difference in the tempermant of the male and female racoons? Is one calmer than the other and more friendly?

Does any one know if it is illegal to have raccoons as pets in the state of new york? I love raccoons, they are cuddly, loving, and they could keep some one on their feet.

Hello Everyone I am scooter I am Approximately 7 months old and looking for a play mate.. if anyone out there knows of a sweet gentle playmate will you let my master (Cough) slave know ... you can contact him at Semmes Feed and Farm Supply at 251-645-3694 thank you PS. his name is Greg and I would like my playmate young like me so we can spend a longtime together

Updated: left out info about my health in last post Hello Everyone I am scooter I am Approximately 7 months old and looking for a play mate.. if anyone out there knows of a sweet gentle playmate will you let my master (Cough) slave know ... you can contact him at Semmes Feed and Farm Supply at 251-645-3694 or e-mail him @ dixie_trailers@yahoo.com thank you PS. I would like my playmate young like me so we can spend a longtime together and they can grow to exept im missing half my rear leg and i have been fixed so females are ok

This is in response to "Stacey" who asked "Does anyone know a website through which to purchase a raccoon?" on November 18, 2008. Stacey, if you (or anyone else) are truthfully (and sincerely) interested in giving a raccoon a beautiful home, or can possibly properly reintroduce one into a safe natural habitat I would love to be contacted. This is not about making money from the sale of a coon; however, it is about finding an awesome home in a state where it is not illegal to have them as a pet.

Does anyone know a website through which to purchase a racoon???

I have a real sweetheart. Coonie has been with us since a bottle fed baby two and a half years ago. I feel so blessed to have found a vet that gives him rabies/distemper shots, (& most importantly I think) nuetered him before he was six months old. He lives in a ferret nation cage (2 stories high), and comes out for regular playtimes. He is a real people person coon, so to speak. His cage is in the foyer, and he loves lady to open the cage and let friends pet him and shake paws. I can only humanize it that he figures if you're cool with mom and dad, you're cool with him. He has won the hearts of many. When he is let out for playtime he doesn't usually come over to snuggle. He has a different personality for playing with each of the different animals. One he is very chatty with, and they often have to be told to quiet down and calm down. Another dog he climbs on top of, they tossle about, and usually end up grooming each other for hours on end. Now that cat he just wishes he could get close to. His favorite "toys" would be ice cubes, the dogs water bowl and anything he can dunk in and out of the water. Like a 2 year old, you put it in, then you take it out, in and out, in and out. And now as his owner and mom, I'm a little beside myself. I found out today that he has cancer. The vet says that we can put him on prednisone to try and slow it down, but I am concerned about side affects,and possibly a change in his attitude. Right now it only seems to be in his glands on his neck. it started in one gland and within a month it was in the next. The good news is it hasn't gone to any other glands, AND his temperment has not changed, it doesn't seem to be causing any pain. I have noticed he has more frequent coughing fits though. I know this has been wordy, but thank you for letting me share. I have always felt that Coonie has a mission in life - to change peoples fears and melt their hearts. I hope he can continue to do so.

Congradulation mr./mrs.colemen. Your little guy will love you forever. You saved him and that will make a big impact on your relationship with him. My name is Mary and I have posted here before, so I am sure you can tell how I feel about release. Everyone has an opinion, but what I wanted to say is your gonna see just how loveable these creatures are. Shoot, half the humans I've met are not as loving as theses guys. He will grab your finger and cry for you, it's awesome. I have a raccoon named rocky. Well I said someday I would tell the story on how we came upon each other. Well it was late january in wisco. Our home had just burned to the ground, lost my orphan raccoon in the fire. I don't want go into details because I will cry, it was an electrical fire in a 1813 farm house. The lights went out and I couldnt find him in the dark, the smoke, anyways. It was aweful, meeka was his name. Well, we had to stay at ma's until we had a roof over our head again. About 2 weeks after it happen I was sipping a cup of coffee looking out my ma's patio window and I saw a blop in the middle of the driveway. My ma lived on a 42 acre farm road a mile back in the woods. So it was cold but I went to go see what it was. It was a raccoon, no ears, no tail and I did not think it was possible to see ribs on a coon. It had more gray from age then brown or black. I put a blanket over him, then a sleeping bag, then a down blanket, then a cage and hay, then a heater. Well this went on for 2 days. I put food out but he wasn't eating. Finally I wrapped him up in some of this stuff and picked him up, he was so light, and brought him in. I think my ma was gonna kill me. My husband understood, tough guy cried as hard as I do when we think of meeka. Well I gave rocky some penicillin in the butt and wormed him with a syringe in the mouth. Not even a snarl, he knew we were trying to help. Gave him some ensure (vitamin drink), he guzzled it. He had no teeth, he couldn't eat anything hard, that was 3 years ago. Rocky is still here with us. He lets us know when he's gotta go potty, goes out and comes right back in, he hates the outside. Why, I can only image why, he has no tail or ears and all that he has seen in the wild. He is so old, gees I don't know an age. My point is they know when you save them. Meeka was an orphan, he was with us for 3 years before tha fire. He stuck by us like glue. Rocky is so sweet, kittens lie on his back, he sleeps next to the dog and half the time he's upside down with all four limbs in the air snoring. He's a "wild" raccoon, not bought. Now Nakoosa is a purchased raccoon. We built her an outside kennel plus the house. She just came home after running the countryside for 1 month, she's gonna learn the hard way. Rocky and meeka already knew the hard way and wanted nothing more to do with it. Each of them have their own personalities, and I hope if you have the patience, mr/mrs colemen, you are about to enjoy the best companion you will ever have. Mary

I found a baby racoon covered in cooking oil at my job last nite and I don't wanna see him die. What can I do for him? I have him in a box with a blanket trying to get some of the oil off him, but I don't know if it's gonna work. I think he needs a bath but he is wild and I don't wanna get bit. So what do I do? Please help.

My wfe was walking this morning and came across a baby racoon. She brought it home. I am not sure of its age or what to do with it as far as caring for it goes. Its eyes are not opened, it is completely covered with fur, from its nose to its eyes are black, and you can just make out the rings on its tail. What do we do to care for it?

Hi, I notice the women in Missouri looking for a home for a boy raccoon, I could help her with her situation. Sorry, not very computer literate. Anyways if your willing give me a call 16084740236, my email address is wrong and we don't know how to fix it. The women with the little boy raccoon, if not me there are hundreds of caring people out there who would love to have him as a friend anyone who has had raccoons knows what i am talking about. Oh the women thinking of getting rid of another one, don't let her live around outside if you can. I have noticed females will get more moody during breeding time also they are more moody in general. But that's because they have the seroius job of having kids and defending them from preditors. Boys, well you know, that's why they're less moody.

Hi, my name is mary. I have had the honor of having such a loyal friend as a pet raccoon. All you people that have one and take care of it the way it needs to be, you are wonderful. They are as much work as a child, they really are. So those of you that say iI need to set them free, how free would your child be if you left them in the woods all by themselves. Or for all you folks that will say they're animals, ok if not your child your dog. Would that be humane to take your dog out and leave him in the woods, it's illegal. So when people wake up and see that and have the honor of enjoying one of the creatures and see that all of them have a soul, they cry when they're hungry or scared, they wrap their little fingers around yours and they all look at you for comfort when there in danger. Anyone who thinks its ok to "un" set them free, are you really or just getting rid of something to you that takes a lot of time to care for. If you truly know these creatures, you know in the right envirement they will be happier with you! By the way, the women looking for a good home for her little one: 16084740236. I have noticed girls are a little more moody around breeding time, just moodier in general, and do take a little more patience. I believe it's because they have more to handle in the wild then the boys do. Oh, anyone who tries to respond, my email is wrong right now, a general response would be interesting.

I will take any unwanted racoons. I have 1 now and she needs a playmate in her life. So if any body out there has 1 in need of a good home, just call me 405-248-4444.

My son has found an apparently sick racoon in our back easement. It is in tall weeds on the neighbor's side of the fence but its tail and feet are exposed on our side. It purrs (?) when we touch its feet (or hand) softly with a stick so is alive. It moves, occasionally even gripping the stick lightly. We are going to put apple slices under the fence to it and a dish of water. We know it is probably sick or injured and so I do not want my son to touch it. Besides, unless it is dying, it could likely remove a finger. Does anyone have a suggestion on further care or resources? We are assisting only in the case that it has been injured by a preditor and may recover if given food and water. Thanks, Marcia

WANT A RACCOON? I have a raccoon that has been bottle fed and is now around 3-4 mo old. I cannot keep her, if anyone is interested i am in AL. Please email me sarah512@bellsouth.net

The Wildlife Center of Venice (Sarasota County) takes raccoons even if they've been "handled". I turned mine over to them this past week. She was a great raccoon. I had had her for 2 months and I believed I was doing the humane thing by giving them to her. They have good success with rehabilitating the raccoons. They normally keep them until they are about 8 months and then "relocate" them to specific areas, trying not to over-populate, but giving them a good chance to survive. If it helps anyone and helps any raccoons. They currently have about 45. They've had up to 60 at a time. They need volunteers. Their number is listed.

As a child, my family had a pet racoon. He was found in the woods along with a sister. We think the mom was killed while the nest they lived in was being logged. We kept the male and the female went to my cousin's house. Our coon was very clean, playful, and very attached to the family. We bottle fed him with a premie nipple for about 5 weeks. During this time, he quit eating for several days. Getting weaker and weaker we were all crying because we knew he couldn't live much longer. To cheer us, my dad bought us all milkshakes. My sister was holding "coonie" while she was drinking her milkshake and spilled some. He lapped it up. We put milkshake in his bottle and bam! he was drinking again. We kept him about 2 years but he loved the outdoors. But after he decided to rearrange all the wires in my grandfathers car, we knew it was time that he really went to the wild. We took him to an area we owned that had about 360 acres of trees with a old house in the center of it. To acclimate him to the wild we took food to him everyday. We'd honk the horn and he'd come running. After about a month, it would take him longer to reply to the horn and he would be bringing friends along. Soon he wouldn't respond to the horn. We knew he was finally acclimated with other racoons. One day, we saw him in a tree, he wouldn't come to us because he had learned his friends fear of humans but we knew it was him because he was the only one with a flea collar! He was by far, my most loved pet, and we knew he loved us. He loved sleeping at our feet, eating crackers, and never missed going to work with my father. But we realized there was a time that he needed more freedom but even though there was plenty of trees and space around our house, he needed more. The thing is, he would never leave because of his attachment he needed us to set him free.

I found a baby racoon years ago when I was a boy. I kept her for four years, and she was raised with a male pup I got at the same time. The dog and the racoon really liked each other and played alot together. When the racoon grew up she escaped often and would sleep in our chimney or on one of our neighbors garage. When ever I went to bring her home I would always take my dog with me as she could become quite aggressive, and I needed the dog to chew on her and keep her busy. She became very agressive to everyone and even bit me. At the age of four I took her to the river and let her go after a woman I knew told me what happened to her. She too had raised a racoon and it would watch TV with her. She turned her garage into a home for it and kept it for a few years. One day as she entered the garage to feed it, it attacked her. Clinging to her it bit her and she required several stitches, as she couldn't get it off. She had to call the police and they shot it. Wild animals are just that,and they can changed moods very quickly. A racoon is not a domestic animal, and great care should be used when handling them, especially once they have matured. Except for a mother and her young, or when breeding they are not social animals.

I have had Raccoons as "pets". I use the word pet loosely, because there were more like members of the family. I agree that 99% of people who want a pet raccoon will probably not be able to properly take care of them. They are so very precious when they are babies, but like everything else, they grow up. I kept my coonies inside and they had full run of the house. They were never caged and were allowed to go in and out at will. They chose to stay inside most of the time and I have never had one that went out and did not come back. They used a litter box that was filled with water instead of litter. I simply dumped out the dirty water once or twice a day and as long as the water was kept relatively clean, they never used the potty anywhere else except the box. They are extremely curious and those little "hands" are constantly feeling of everything around them. I get the biggest kick in the world out of them and would take in another in a NY second, but I know what to expect and know that I can handle it. They are as destructive and mischieveious as they are cute. They can get into anything, anywhere. I had childproof locks on EVERY SINGLE CABINET IN MY HOUSE! They can open medicine bottles, the refrigerator (nothing like coming downstairs in the middle of the night to see what the noise is only to find a raccoon sitting in the fridge, eating what looked good and tossing the rest onto the kitchen floor), they will unplug your clocks, tv's ect., break your trinkets and whatnots, hide your keys, chew the buttons off your cell phone, and yes...they DO and WILL BITE. They have very sharp claws and teeth and can inflict damage even when not meaning to. They (at least mine did) become very territorial towards their house and their family. You must put them behind closed doors before letting company inside. Mine would not tolerate the presence of anyone that did not live in the house. If a thief had ever broken into the house, he/she would have been easy to find later. If they managed to get out of the house, you could just check the local ER for a shredded person! So...if you are super patient, don't mind replacing material possessions, can take pain from bites and scratches, have adequate space, never go on vacation, have excellent homeowners insurance, rarely have company and if you have the proper paperwork/licenses to keep one, go ahead. But please please! Be sure you can take care of it FOREVER or provide for it in case you are unable to.

If you are looking for a pet raccoon, or looking to find a new home for one... Read this: Polly and Friends is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping raccoons world wide. We are based in Florida (United States). Polly and Friends are centered around both raccoons living in the wild as well in captivity. We educate people of all ages about raccoons and our environment in general. Peaches is our one year old disabled non-release-able raccoon with brain damage. Peaches does education at schools and events along side her adoptive mother our director Aletheia Robinson-Wilson. All healthy raccoons that are capable of surviving in the wild return to their natural habitat. This is best for them as well as us. Raccoons are not designed to live in captivity. They are all wild animals. One project that's important to all of us with Polly and Friends is us reaching out to network with others who also love raccoons. We specialize in getting captive raccoons that need long term placement with people and organizations willing to make a commitment to them. We meet all legal requirement and have all necessary permits. If you would like to adopt a raccoon or if you have a raccoon that needs long term placement we would like to help you. If you have found a raccoon, would be interested in volunteering, making a donation, just have a question or would like to contact us for any reason at all we look forward to hearing for you. please call us at (850) 385-7971 anytime day or night and e-mail us at pollyandfriends@gmail.com and send a Carbon Copy to pollyandfriendsdirectorraccoons@yahoo.com. If this is an urgent issue and we do not return your call within a couple hours please also call Florida Wildlife Care's 24 hour hot line at (352)371-4400.

I found this Dr. Jungle site and see all the posts of raccoon lovers. I found a baby racoon at the park where I go for bike riding. When I saw her she counld't walk ,so I brought her home and looked at the webpages about raccoons. I tryed the bottle feeding and then a spoon fed diet. She was so lovable and I am very sad. I worried to much and brought her back to the park, I went back to the place I put her the following day and she was dead. I am heartbroken for my poor efforts in care now that I remember her and think what this meant for her. Thanks to all the post from the raccoon lovers and the encouragement, I know from here on.

I am a licensed rehabber in Calif. Raccoons are by far my favorites. They are cute, affectionate & very endearing. I would love to keep them all but I know that isn't the best for them. I have been trying to get permission for an educational raccoon for our group so have done a great deal of homework & have decided I will be chosing another mammal. Raccoons are social, they bond quickly to the caregiver (they miss "mom"). They are insecure as babies, but as they age, they become more independent. With that, the adorable playfulness & curiosity becomes more aggressive & destructive (this is their nature & what they need for surviving in the wild). Their teeth are sharp & so are those claws! I wear shabby Levis just for them climbimg my legs - which is "painfully cute" when they are little. I watch in fascination & photograph them for hours. At around two they become unpredictable in their behavior. They do like things on their terms afterall, & have displayed aggressive behavior when least expected so most rehab facilities will not use raccoons due to liability. If one bites, it is destroyed to check that it is free of rabies. This has happened to people who just had them as pets & family or friends have been bitten. To have a pet euthanized due to old age or infirmity is heartwrenching enough - it would be unbearable to have an animal I took out of its elements destroyed in its prime when it wasn't necessary. Neutering does not stop all aggression, males are normally less agressive than the females in captivity. Things I am personally aware of have been: 1) pet raccoons will kill other small pets up to small bunnies, including birds, 2) help themselves to fish in tanks & koi ponds, 3) jump on the back of a dog & ride it when really angry, act out against their caregivers, etc. & 4) can demolish & destroy the inside of a home in no time. There are exceptions, of course. Caging or tethering them would break their spirit - they are nature's clowns who never stop exploring...besides, they only get meaner. I am grateful to ALL who try & save them. They do need special formula & diets that aid in their development. People food is not what they get in the wild as babies. Like any species, they need the proper nutrients just for them. If you are going to keep one, at least contact a rehabber who will help you out & get you the right information. Rehab centers are full of adult raccoons that people have tried to raise & don't want anymore & they can't be placed. When weaned, my raccoons go to another rehabber with a state regulated cage to grow bigger & "wild up" before being released. I cry while driving them there, I cry when I leave & when it comes time to release them I will be crying again. I know it's best but they really get into your heart - any hand raised orphan will be imprinted & it is very important that if they are going to be released they go to a rehabber that can try & get them back to the wild in a way that they will have a chance to survive & live their lives out as they were put on this earth to do.

On July 1, I placed 2 male raccoons with a licensed rehabber. They were 3 months old and ready to live outside, but not on their own. I felt responsible for their care due to a series of unfortunate circumstances six weeks earlier. They hated taking KMR from a nipple, so weaning was accomplished over the first few days. My guys thrived on a mixture of KMR (Kitten Milk Replacement) baby rice cereal, applesauce, plain yogurt and finely ground puppy chow. After I had moved them into their own room, all I had to do is call out "chow time" to get them to come running and climb up into their cage. That cage was never closed after the first week we had it. Instead, it served as their personal dining room and napping place. I used old t-shirts to provide them with a hammock for naps. A small construction mixing tub from Home Depot was their wading pool where they could fish for raisins. Raccoons make no distinction between drinking and bathing water and both were disgusting by the end of every day. Climbing practice was provided for in a number of ways, some provided by me. Once they had practiced climbing trees outside, I gave them a long 3-4 inch wide branch to get up and down from their cage. By the week before they left, one had started climbing up brick walls on the outside of my house. Both had made it 8-10 feet high in some overgrown shrubs out back and were very good at staying hidden. They had also demonstrated some very fierce defensive behavior. They were usually very affectionate and did, when inside, understand and obey the word "no". They also came when called, most of the time. I still miss them. But as long as I have to work for a living, raccoon care is way too much to handle.

My husband and I have three raccoons at present. The oldest is Bandit who was a rescue from Tampa, FL. He is almost three years old and is absolutedly spoiled rotten. He has his own house and loft bedroom. We just lost a female raccoon named Tootie Bug that was epileptic. My husband found her one night coming home. Even though she was only with us for a brief time, she still remains alive in our hearts and was one of the best blessings ever. Recently we acquired a male and female that are approximately four weeks old (their mother was killed) and are currently being bottle fed. They are too precious. We encourage anyone who thinks of having a raccoon for a pet, to conduct lots of research, prepare to be committed, patient and dedicated as they require lots of attention. And above all else, have your raccoon vaccinated and neutered/spayed as this adds a quality of life that is unexplainable and removes a lot of the aggression that can otherwise be displayed. Thanks for letting us share - Carrie and Ross Jantti - Florida

I have a male pet raccoon named Bandit (of course!) Me and my boyfriend bought him from a raccoon breeder when he was two weeks old. His eyes werent even opened yet! He is litter box trained and very tame. We even got him neutered, microchipped, and rabies vaccinated. He is the best pet I own (I have 8 other pets: 3 sugar gliders, one dog, two conure birds, and two mice) I live in Illinois and all we need to own him is a permit from the Department of Natural Resources. He is very sweet and loving and playful. He has him own room with a queen sized bed and he is very spoiled! I love him so much and cant imagine my life without him.

Raccons r cool. u guys rock with all the animals that I love.

I once had a pet racoon named Renovie. I got him as a pup when a friend of mine found his dead mother by the side of a tree and 3 pups up in a nest. I also had a dog at the time, a cockapoo male, but they got along OK and even slept together. He would use a litter box like a cat, and would eat all kinds of things that people eat, and also what the dog ate. He liked to eat dry dog food by taking a piece in his paws and dipping it in the water bowl, letting it soak a while, and then eating it. He did not damage anything, but he could open any cabinet and would go in there and root around, and once in a while you would find him sleeping in a large speghetti pot. I only kept him for about a year though, because as he matured he really wanted to be outside all the time... he literally climbed the curtains. I would take him for walks with the dog, both on seperate leashes. The dog would visit the bottom of the trees and Renovie would climb them. I had people actually pull their cars over and ask me what kind of "dog" that was! After a year, I saw my friend again who had given him to me and he said that he would take Renovie to a farm he knew of where the people would feed him and let him run around in their protected wooded area. That seemed like the right solution so I had to let him go. I missed him though. He was a good pet. Perhaps a female would not have been so anxious to go out and roam, but I doubt it. They are after all, wild animals and that instinct is very strong in them. In the year I had him, he went from about 2-3 pounds to a little over 25 pounds in weight so they grow very fast and are always kind of hungry. Having a pet racoon is like having an animal that is a cross between a cat and a monkey. They are very curious and intelligent animals. At least as smart as a very smart dog. They figure things out and can use their hands very effectively to solve problems and open things. They will reach into your pockets and pull stuff out to have a look. I used to keep some "snacks" in my shirt pocket so when Renovie would sit on my lap he would reach in there and get something to eat. If his little "stash" ran out he would complain about it and poke me in the nose with his nose and paw my pocket so I would put more stuff in there for him to pull out. He seemed to like the act of getting the snack out of my pocket as much as actually eating it. Like a dog, he knew his name and would come when you called him, making a little chittering sound like the cooing of a dove. Anyone who ever had one would have to say they were good pets and worthy of respect.

I have 3 wild raccoons that visit me every night. I give them bread and sometimes teddy grahams. My favorite is "Sweatheart". We have built a trust over several months of visits. I will place a piece of bread on my knee (while sitting) and she will reach up and take it with her paws. she then will sit next to me while I scratch her back and neck (She really enjoys this). When she is done she will go on top of my house for a rest. I know that they are wild and not pets, and I take several precautions when I have my visitations. However I would not change this for the world they are quite gentle and curious creatures.

I too have a racoon, named Robbie. He is about 1 year old now and is a fun little guy. I agree that if your not willing to spend the time, money and energy, dont adopt a racoon. I have been bitten,scratched and managed to survive. The only time he bites is when he is startled or in his "got to find a woman" mode. When he was small, he would climb up my pant leg as if I were a tree. This is alright during jean season, but the shorts, boy does that hurt! I would not suggest a racoon as a pet unless you are serious about their care. Because if they become use to people and approach them they might become frightened and report them, and then we know how it could end.

thanks alot, your website helped me alot!!!one day i was at my grandmas house and she dropped me of at my house. i ran up to my room and i heard a chirping noise. i looked down and my (other)grandpa was holding a ferret looking animal. "did we get a ferret?", i asked. "no we got a racoon!" "wow! how old is he?". "five weeks". cool! "his name is mafia".

Hi, I run an animal sanctuary in England and have got 3 female racoons. They are about 4 months old now and delightful. I keep them in an enclosure of 25 by 20 feet. And feed them 3 times daily on ferret and cat food. They have had no medical problems yet fortunately but I take all my animals to the vet regularly for check ups. They are great to keep as they are not aggressive and are not threatened by my cats or dogs. One of my dogs is quite fond of them. They occasionally bite but only playfully like a cat would do.

I am new to this but i wanted to share my experience. I have a three month old raccoon that I just love..I got Coby when he was eight weeks old. I never would have thought that he could be sooo smart and cute at the same time. I have a three year old pitbull and they play as if they were born together. I had a hard time the first week because he would not eat anything the vet told me to feed him. I started to experiment and finally I came up with a recipe that he loves. (i prepare this at night so that it is ready for the next day). 2 cups of kibbles and chunks dog food, 2 cups of water and four scoops of JUST BORN kitten milk with colostrum ( made by Farnam) its hard to find but has great balance. I feed Coby four times a day, but he will let me know if he is hungry early. I finally have him trained to potty outside, I take him out when he wakes-up, he does his duty and then plays for a couple of hours. I also found a flea control product that is safe for raccoons..made also by Farnam called bio-spot, strip-on for cats and ferrets. I put it on Coby when he was 9 weeks and he had NO side effects. I hope that this will help other new raccoon parents. Nicholle

Hey Guys, I thought I would share my experience as a caregiver of two raccoons. My first was a little female. One afternoon, after getting home from work. My wife and I found our Cocker Spaniel sitting at the front door waiting for us. As we approached the house we could hear the cries of a small animal. Nestled between his legs was a baby coon, her eyes were still closed. We took her in and checked her for injuries and found her to be healthy and strong. My wife and I have raised several animals from infancy and knew that raising her would require a lot of dedication. We already had feeding bottles and syringes and most everything needed to feed her. Time has taught us that mammals do very well on a mixture of warmed evaporated milk, natural honey and water. This needs to be given every two hours until its eyes have opened, or at about the age of five or six weeks. At that time strained baby fruits can be added for extra nutrients. Once the pup is strong enough you can add mixed baby cereal. I hear from other people that they wean their pup at about eight to ten weeks of age. But I have found that you can provide a bottle as long as it will suckle it. Believe me they will let you know when its not wanted. You will find that your pet will be truly bonded to you for the rest of its life. We bath our coons on a regular basis and found that they look forward to the cleanup. Our raccoons enjoy their time with the dog and cats but really look forward to spending time with us. They are very loving and love to cuddle. But given the opportunity to wrestle, they will play just as hard as we play back. Raccoons are very intelligent and can learn basic commands and words. Do not be afraid to say NO. Even though they use their hands with great dexterity they tend to lick and nibble. This is one of those times for the NO word. Also as soon as they start eating solid foods you need to help it get over aggressive eating habits. I have found that if you hand feed them and make a game out of carefully taking the morsels back, that you will be able to retrieve anything you do not want chewed up without any problems. Our female is about eight years old and the male is about four years of age. I am not sure that either one of them have an aggressive bone in them, but when in public we have to be careful. Both have worn a harness since they were about eight weeks old and have learned to walk on a leash. When in public or the vets they wear a mussel just to be safe. They are both registered and get their shots each year. Coons are not for everybody. They require a lot of care, patience, and attention. But the time invested is rewarding in itself.

We were lucky enough to be able to raise baby raccoons and then set them free in the wild, which meant, I was there Mommy and took them off to the woods and the brook to learn to forage for themselves. One of them, named Roxane, used to come back all the time for a fun into the toilet *lol* and lots of hugs with purring. She was the greatest. The male, was a bit wilder and would bite and be very restless in captivity. I can see how as pets some raccoons would be very cool but also could be dangerous. They are cute of course.

HI MY NAME IS NIKKI AND ME AND MY FRIEND ANESSA RAISE RACOONS FROM BABIES. WE HAVE TO GET RABIES AND OTHER SHOTS OF COARSE AND WE CAN TOTTALY RELATE TO YOU! COONS R GREAT PETS BUT THEY R STRICT BOUT THEM. WE HAD TO SEND LETTERS (OR OUR MOM DID LOL) TO SOME PLACE ASKING IF WE COULD RAISE THEM. THEY SAID THAT WE COULD AFTER WE SEND 3 LETTERS!! WELL YES ME AND MY SISTERS R TWINS AND WE HAVE ALWAYS LOVED COONS. I REMEMBER ONE DAY WHEN WE WERE TAKING A WALK AND I SAW A DEAD RACOON ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SO I WENT UP TO IT AND I PICKED IT UP. IT WAS STILL ALIVE JUST HURT AND TOO WEAK TO MOVE. I ASKED MY MOM IF WE COULD KEEP HIM AND WE RUSHED HIM TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM. WE HAVE HIM 2-DAY YET HE IS REALLY OLD. THO HE IS MISSING A LEG SO WE COULDNT LET HIM FREE THATS Y WE GOT 2 KEEP HIM. THE OTHERS WE HAD 2 ASK 4. BUT HE IS VERY VERY OLD. HE IS 14 YEARS OLD THE DOC SAID. HE WAS BOUT 2 WHEN WE FOUND HIM AND IT HAS BEEN 12 YEARS! BUT YEA COONS R THE *BEST*

I have a racoon we raised from when it was a baby. we let it go out side it climbs a tree and sleeps in our attic then comes down and we feed and play with it. it hasnt started getting mean yet and its a year and a half.