OK, folks, I need your help. Since there is no specific forum for problems with urban wildlife, I'm posting my question here. Here it is:

What should I do to protect myself and my dogs from aggressive raccoons? The reason that I ask is that it is mating season, and the raccoons around here are getting quite nervy. On one occasion, two of them menaced my dogs and I as we unwittingly stumbled upon their mating ritual. As soon as I realized they were there, we crossed the street, but from their behavior, I was certain that they were going to come after us and attack! It was very disturbing. My one little mixed breed wanted to go tear them a new one (she has been in a scrap with a raccoon in the past, which resulted in a nasty bite to her thigh). My Lab seemed perfectly content to just ignore the whole situation, and was amazingly calm under the circumstances.

The second incident was last night, when I was walking just the Lab, I heard the raccoons squeaking from out of the darkness. I couldn't see them, but I could tell they were close, and coming in our direction. My Lab calmly decided that was the time to take a dump, but I desperately wanted to just get out of there.

Normally, they don't really bother me. Raccoons tend to just go about their business and ignore people. Under normal conditions, I think I could just puff myself up and act meaner than they are and get them to back down. But lately, they have been very assertive and scary, and I want to avoid confrontation if at all possible, as I don't think they would back down. It's almost like they're being territorial right now, because of the season.

This might not seem like a real serious issue, but it has become a stressor for me. Any help would be deeply appreciated.

Any thoughts?

Try pepper spray (bear repellent, etc.). You should be able to get it at any store that supplies hunting and/or camping equipment.

I belong to our local naturalists club and hike a lot. Usually wildlife is gone long before you come upon them, but to animals in mating season lust wins over common sense. Raccoons can be very aggressive in certain situations and if cornered will fight. Raccoon males have territories of about 1 square mile, females smaller ones that may overlap the males. A male raccoons territory generally expands during breeding season. You're probably seeing some of the same raccoons during your walks.

You don't have to spray it directly at them, but in the air above their head so it irritates their eyes and nasal passages. It will soon wear off and any guilt you may feel should be negated by the fact that raccoons are well known rabies carriers and the damage inflicted on you and/or your dog through a bite can be quite severe. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Too things to remember in this situation. First is that Raccoons can carry rabies which while your dog is most likely vaccinated against it you are not. Secondly raccoons in a urban environment are not as leery of humans is those in the wild or a rural setting.

If it was me I would contact animal control and have them set traps for the raccoons and then have the animals transplanted away from the area.

Also never let your dog chase a raccoon into the water... all are expert at drowning dogs.

Just my 2 cents... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

This is a better location for this thread.

I have to agree about calling your local animal control officer and having them removed. Since they are out and about and behaving rather bullishly I would not wait for something to happen. Rabies shots for humans are very expensive post exposure and if the raccoon gets your dog and you are as little as a day or two past due you will be forced to put your dog in quarantine or worse. They can not test a live animal for rabies.

I speak from experience, I spent six months of last summer running a rabies quarantine for 9 horses. Sadly if all the shots had been updated on time none of the horses would have had to be kept seperated and quarantined for more than 30 days. DO NOT ever let that vaccination go overdue. I never realized the amount of trouble that could be caused over a few days lapse. None of the horses after the inital horse that died from it came down with it, but it was a long scary six months waiting to see what might happen. This ultimately closed the farm for good.

Learn from others mistakes, not the hard way....
If I see a strange acting fox on the property now I take care of the problem. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I read an article a few years ago (and have actually seen the same story on Amazing Animal Videos) about a raccoon chasing a little girl down and attacking her...the family dog (a GSD I think)came out and fought off the raccoon which turned out to be rabid which is why it was chasing a human down unprovoked.

We have raccoons in my area however they generally steer clear of my yard. Oscar (a rottie/lab mix) has occassionally killed several large raccoons...for this reason I do NOT dare miss any of my dogs rabies shots.

Thanks for the tips, folks! Unfortunately, our county animal control does not do wildlife removal. I would have to rent a trap and try to catch the things myself. Kind of tough to do, when they roam the entire neighborhood (Caniche, I think you're right that it's the same ones we've been running into). If they were coming onto my property, it would be doable, but I don't want to encourage it, especially with my high prey mix on the premises. The vet bills are just not worth it, and she's due for her rabies shot in the next few days. Guess it's pepper spray for me! I was thinking pepper spray, but wasn't sure if that was the best approach or not, but it sounds like the most doable suggestion so far. Thanks again!

P.S. Tammy, being chased down and attacked is exactly what I am afraid of! These things are ornery this time of year, and they don't travel alone!

Had same Raccoon problem. Animal control will not remove them, but you can. A lot of local police & animal contol have these traps to use. Unfortunately, in Minnesota & Wisconsin these are considered problems and it is illegal to release them and must be disposed of. Very sad. Our Unniversity has an animal release program. Check your local university (might not have an agicultural campus like us). But if they do escape your live trap, be sure and be over 25miles away. or they will return.

Also, day old fish will bring them to your bait.

JParker,

The scene you describe sounds like some Stephen King movie.LOL Maybe a shotgun is needed. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Maybe someone could find and dig up Old Yeller and clone him. He did a nice job with the racoons.LOL

Seriously though, pepper spray would be good but I'm not sure if anyone could spray a bunch of racoons fast enough. Interesting situation.