My Cockatiel & Parakeet Raccoon Tragedy

I am beyond heartbroken; so horrible I cannot get over. I have professionally had several raccoons trapped couple months ago and am vigilant about safety of my birds, which I've rescued and hand raised for 30 years. 10 days ago, I arrived home around 10pm EST and went about tucking everyone in with nightly kisses & evening ritual of turning the music box on so all 5 of my babies know they are safe & sound. I have two 'tiels, Eliot & Sparky, I personally raised from eggs; a green cheek conure who is Eliot's lifemate (cutest odd couple attached at the hip), and two rescued parakeets I just recently took on. Have had every kind of parrot through the years, as a foster or otherwise.

But Eliot - was sooo very special. I knew immediately something was wrong when Eliot & Mandy were not in their normal sleeping place (they have always snuggled together in a drawer). Panicking & running through the house, there was a trail of feathers all over the living room. Kiki (new 'keet) was missing too. I found Mandy cowering in a corner and other 'tiel Sparky nowhere in sight.

All lights turned on, I flew open my french doors to my huge porch - still nothing. Starting to cry and knowing something happened, there is when I saw -- and I knew that a raccoon had actually slid open the window to my living room (which I ALWAYS lock), from entering the porch. My babies are never alone on the porch, even though it is completely secure, very high up, etc... because my property contains a 1/4 acre natural pond filled with albino catfish and my precious KOI as well. I have been a vigilant protector - in Michigan, where other threads have also spoken of raccoon laws, not relocating, but killing, etc...

What I saw, I will never, ever, ever forget. I can say I'm hardly able to function and need help on this board to try and set my brain in some kind of order. My Eliot -- 13 years young, with another 10 in him at least, was carnage on the porch floor. I mean he was skinned, on his little back with his feet gone, and I believe his head gone too. Feathers were quite neatly in a circle around his red body. OMG - I screamed, could hardly look. I live alone and called a sister just screeching oh my god, oh my god - not my Eliot. It was dark out and I couldn't bear to pick him up. Called everyone in my neighborhood - especially couple hunting friends - no one home or all were asleep. To say I was freaking out is the mildest understatement. You'd have to know how incredibly close Eliot's bond was to me / and vice versa. He was rejected as a baby by two other tiels and during his little life he had three tiny surgeries on his behind because his tail feathers would get impacted. I have pet health insurance on all my animals - if that give you an idea of my care and concern.

So then, trying to head count - took a minute to realize that the door was torn off of my HUGE cage INSIDE MY FREAKING HOUSE - and Kiki was no where. Grabbing Mandy the conure, frantically search everywhere - I found Sparky in another bedroom hiding under a piece of furniture - and the other parakeet luckily still sitting in the big cage.

There is a question here so please bear with me; and please be sensitive to any sort of slams about my error in not locking the window that night. You have no idea how unable I am to function in my home after this crime scene.

Unable to find ANYBODY who could come to help me ( now after 10:30pm), all I could manage to do was cover Eliot with a towel, knowing that I could get help to figure this out in the morning and have one of the guys examine his body so I could understand if he died quickly, or was tortured to death. OMG - my second mistake. The next morning when help arrived to remove the towel, I couldn't look - but yes, you experienced folk already guessed it - he was gone. Just feathers left - and then a trail of feathers leading out a hole in the porch screen and to my second round of horror -- blood and another round of Eliot's feathers right in front of my car in the driveway.

Notwithstanding Kiki, who was missing -- there was a patch of his blue feathers on a living room chair. It seemed like a big patch. I could not look - five friends arrived the next day to search, clean up, look for Kiki, try and console me - and figure out if it was a coon or a weasel.

If you've hung with me this long on this story, please before I ask you my question, let me just share that two days before this incident, my 6.5 year old rescued Abyssian guinea pig (who was Sparky's odd-mate - they ate together and played - cockatiel & guinea pig) - wasn't right that Sunday morning to I rushed her to emergency vet - only to hold her while she was euthanized - taking 15 minutes. I hadn't even cleared out her (Snowflake) cage yet -- and while we're being sensitive to responses, the day be fore Snowflake died, my sister learned she has a year to live (and 3 days after this raccoon carnage, my sister went into ICU & is on life support now). I know this isn't the forum to solve problems, and I'm not alone in life's pain. But when I saw Eliot,
my super humanized, special boy, reduced to a meal - I cannot move past the horrific image in my head. And now trying to help Eliot's lifemate, and Sparky losing his guinea pig buddy - all this in less than 7 days. I'm so sick to my stomach. I can hardly work or sleep. It's all so much, but it's Eliot's carnage image I can't seem to process at all.

Finally my question (sobbing)...I've looked all over the net to learn how raccoons go about attacking their prey - and I can't seem to understand what IT did to my Eliot. I am so emotionallly distraught over my guilt for not locking the window - and my God what all my bird went through hearing his screams, running for their lives within their safe haven, where I AM suppose to protect them!!! I need to know how he was attacked. can anyone shed light on whether his head was immediately bit off - so possibly, he didn't suffer? Or another thread I read talked about how a wing was torn off a bird. This was not just a bird, to me.
Eliot was with me and Mandy every moment of every day. I feel as though I have lost a shoulder - he is missing from me.
And his mate, Mandy, won't leave my side.

For 30 years, birds have been my kids - I don't have any human kids. For all you parrot parents out there, I know you can only imagine the pain I'm in, and the guilt I feel. It's for all animals too. I want nothing to suffer; but never in my life could I have known, that with all the careful attention to detail for my pet's safety, that this could happen to Eliot.

So please, any help on his final moments on earth -- have you seen if a raccoon is like some predators who kill instantly, or with something small like a small chick, which is about Eliot's size, what happened to him? I never even found Kiki. My God did he swallow him whole?

The next day I bought a small weasel trap, and put out my raccoon big trap right on the porch. I caught the ******* - and he was huge. I asked the Michigan DNR the law for sure, because I have used professionals before. So my friends took care of the situation after I had a good long look in the eyes of the rotten creature who was probably still processing my Eliot in his stomach. I'm sorry to be so graphic. I'm so unable to even live here in my nice little home that I've worked for 10 years to dedicate to my birds, my pond, and gorgeous outdoor birds & butterflies from gardens I've created. All I can see now, is like a crime scene. I know that hawks will pluck birds' feathers painfully off before eating them. Please - I so need to understand how raccoons eat their prey in hopes of forgiving myself someday, and being able to heal. Bevause right now, I can't sleep, or eat, or hardly stand to be in the little safe haven I had created. And please, don't say it's just a bird'. He was a beautiful, smart, affectionate, funny little hero who loved life - and gave me far more joy than I could ever have given him.

In your opinion, what happened in the attack? One thing I think for sure is that I interrupted the scene - probably when my garage door opened - or I may have been attacked, and most certainly the other birds. I'm hoping that he was instantly killed - but somehow I don't feel that. Any honest raccoon experiences - please share with me. I'm unable to listen to my friends who say, "oh he died instantly." I'd like some answers from people here who have dealt directly with this awful creature.

Thank you for allowing my long post. I just ask to be careful with criticisms - I'm at an all time high of stress and really need honest answers to move forward. So thank you - and I apologize for being repetitive & lengthy. If you'd like to see one of my funny videos of Eliot & Mandy together on YouTube, here's the link:

I am so very sad. I can't believe he's gone. Thank you for listening and/or seeing what he was like on the video.

So sorry for the loss of your friend.

Oh man! So sorry for your lose! I know the pain, and it is always hard. I cry whenever I lose any animal or dear companion. I wish I could help with the Coon ordeal. But I have no experience with coons. Well, I did lose a chicken and it had it's head tore clean off.

But on the window being locked. It happens, even to the best of us. We are only human. Of course.

And on your dear Elliot. I don't he think he suffered. I asked my mother, she said the coon would put him out in a few seconds.

I too am so sorry about the loss of your beloved Eliot and Kiki. I would imagine it went quickly and poor 'ol Eliot didn't suffer.

I must share a loss that I too suffered when I lost a beautiful cockatiel to my own dog. He was beautiful and so smart, he would sit on my shoulder and take my necklace a mouthful at a time, and pile it up next to him while he was sitting there. It would eventually fall back down and he would patiently start all over again with his game. Gosh how I loved him!

I had his cage door open to let him climb out on top of it for a little excercise, he had done it hundreds of times before without any problems. Well, as bad luck would have it, my doorbell rang and it was my Polish neighbor from across the street who talked forever. I knew if I invited her in she'd never leave so I slipped out on the landing thinking that way I had more control of the length of our conversation.

But I had forgotten about leaving the cage door open.....

It was less than 5 minutes when I came back inside and then I saw my Lhaso Apso behind the recliner and my bird lying lifeless alongside of her. I yelled at Heidi and scooped up his wet body (she had licked him) and saw that he was gone. I cried for days and blamed myself for a lot longer.

It wasn't your intention to leave the window unlocked, just as it wasn't mine to forget about him being outside his cage and sitting safely on top of it. He must have flown over to the door to get closer to me and that's when Heidi got ahold of him.

Try not to be so hard on yourself, it was just an accident and one that you'll never, ever again repeat. BTW, glad you got that raccoon, he would be a constant problem for you if you hadn't.

I am so sorry for your loss. Please try and take comfort in knowing they had the best lives they could have had and knew love.

I'm sorry for your loss too. I know exactly how you feel. I had (note, 'had'), two English budgies, sweet and very tame. I live in the city and have a roof deck at my house, just outside my loft bedroom. I put the budgies outside often during the day, and tend to leave them out there till just before bed. Well, three days ago I was exhausted. It had been 100 degrees outside and was still very hot in my house. No central AC in this old house... We have racoons in the city and although I had never heard such a story as yours, I never felt comfortable leaving them out there at night. Not really sure why... But I was in bed, about to fall asleep when I remembered they were still out there. In my bleary exhaustion I thought, well, just this one night. It's hot inside after all. I drifted off. I was awoken by a noise outside. Immediately I thought racoons. I looked up and our cat was crouching down looking out the french doors to the deck. He looked freaked out. I jumped up, flipped on the light, and there were two racoons scurrying away. I shooed them away. I noticed the bird cage had been moved, but was thankful (I thought) that they hadn't knocked it over and got the birds. At this stage I still had no real reason to believe they would harm birds, and had never read stories such as yours online. So I picked up the cage and suddenly noticed there were no birds in it. It took a moment to realize that the front of the cage had been carefully removed. This took some cleverness and dexterity as it is not easily done, even by a human. Then I saw the blood. And the feathers. And that's all that was left. I could tell exactly what had happened. The one bird, Lello, was killed in the cage. Ricky had flown free, possibly winged, and then attacked and killed and eaten on the ground a ways from the cage. Blood, feathers and nothing else. Not a trace. I know they were not carried off because I saw the racoons myself clearly and no birds in hand or mouth. So I can only assume they ate them in their entirety. Horrible horrible. Just horrible to think of such sweet pets to be eaten alive like this. These were my daughter's birds. I'm a grown man but I cried. So I do feel your pain. I'm going to lie to my daughter and tell her they got loose and flew towards the amazon. And yes, I do feel responsible. It was entirely my fault. And of course theirs...

Now I love animals and have always liked the idea that racoons exist here in the heart of the city. (Toronto). I've tolerated them in my garbage, they've been in my house and not left a mess, just carefully moved a few things around. But now... Now I want to frikkin kill these bastards. It's illegal I know, but this is different. I'm worried for my cat, I'm worried for the neighbours baby. (Have read a story online about racoons attacking a child...) So, here's the deal. I am going to hang a chicken leg in the same bird cage, same spot. Got my baseball bat ready. I'm going to put some cans on top of the cage (the punishment has to fit the crime...) When the cans fall I jump out of bed, flip the lights on, grab the bat and run. The deck is such that they will be trapped and would have to run past my legs to get away. Only they're not going to get away. So their bloody corpses will go into a garbage bag and nobody will ever know.

I know some of you will be saying, No! No! Cage them, have the removed and released. Actually they have to be released in the same neighbourhood. So forget that, they'll be released into the great beyond. Those f*ckers are going down.

I am sorry for the loss of your wonderful pets.

I am very sorry for the loss of your beloved pets. You may wish to consider professional mental health counseling if you are this distressed over the situation. It sounds as if you are an emotional wreck right now, and the inability to live in your home or eat or sleep because you view it as a crime scene is pretty intense. If it were me in that situation, I would talk to someone about medication and counseling to help you cope. I don't say that lightly, I am serious! Getting professional help during a time of crisis is completely normal and helpful!!

Unfortunately, predators eat prey. That's just what they do. It's not a crime. It's the natural life cycle of the earth. Predators have no concept of beloved family pets. They see a meal, and they eat it. Those who do not eat, die. Sometimes our pets end up as those prey. You can't allow yourself to get overcome with anger and resentment for animals who must eat to survive. Predators of all types have survived for thousands of years by taking advantage of food when it is available. I have had many beloved pet birds killed over the years by dogs, cats, and hawks. We've had chickens killed by racoons, skunks, and oppossums, not to mention the hawsks, dogs, and cats also! I don't have children either, and my pets are my babies. It's a horrible thing to witness and to deal with, but you have to deal with it the best way you are able to, and move on.

Last winterI had to protect my Miniature Horse from a pack of coyotes that moved into my farm when she was lame and disabled. If we own animals, particularly prey animals, this is just what happens. I never allowed myself to feel ANY animosity toward that coyote pack. They were only doing what coyotes do. I had to lock my horse in the barn securely for days until the pack moved on. Then I had to make sure she was never alone, but was with the herd at all times so the alpha mare could protect her, if the coyotes should come back. A neighbor ended up killing 8 coyotes 1/4 mile from my house. And odly enough, I felt sad for those poor animals. I didn't want them dead. I didn't feel any hatred toward them. Even if they had killed my horse, I wouldn't have been able to allow anger to cloud my view of this beautiful world where predator and prey hang precariously in the balance. We live on a magical planet where life and death dance around one another daily. We do our best to protect those we love, but when the hedges fail and one of our own pays the price, we HAVE to keep it in perspective. Don't allow yourself to become drowned in guilt and grief. We are ALL vulnerable. Even humans who are at the top of the food chain, are not safe. We never know if that plane ride will be our last, or if our visit to the movie theater will put us in harm's way and our number will be up. We must celebrate the life and beauty that's around us daily, and allow the ugly to fade away.

There is no way to know how that predator ate your bird. You will drive yourself insane trying to figure it out. I have had horrific things happens to my wonderful animals at one time or another over the years. That just happens if you surround yourself in a life of animal friends. If you allow their death to destroy you, you will forget all the wonderful memories. You cannot let sorrow and grief dictate your life. What's done is done. Try to get yourself the help and support you need, keep your head high, and look forward to a new and brighter day.

I'm so sorry for your loss.. but as far as I know.. Raccoons don't torture, weasels do. Don't blame yourself, you gave those birds a wonderful life. If I were you, I'd be planning for a prevention of a repeat of this tragedy. Is there any reason, where you live, that you cannot get a dog? I know that if something similar happened to me (as far as indoor birds, I keep two sun conures and two cockatiels.).. any raccoon entering the house would be met with the teeth of my border collie. It certainly wouldn't be getting anywhere near my birds without risking its skin for its trouble. On the same token, I can trust my border collie unsupervised with any of my pets, because I trained her that way. If the parrots fly and land in front of her, she backs away and goes somewhere else. She even lets them chase her off my bed. She doesn't bother the chickens except for attempts to steal whatever treats they've been given. Again, because I trained her that way. I trained her to know that the birds belong to me and are not hers to play with or hunt.

But that behavior does not extend to animals that don't belong to me. I know that, if she had half a chance, she'd take a piece out of whatever hawk, raccoon, squirrel, possum, or coyote that made an attempt on what she perceives as hers. She's caught small sparrows that fly to low over the yard, and tried to take a piece from a hawk that made an attempt on one of our chickens. That's the behavior I reward (the hawk, not the sparrow.. her 'sparrow present' only got her a grimace and it was thrown away).

If the raccoons are brave enough to actually come inside your house.. I'd say its time to either get or borrow a dog until they learn otherwise. I could let you borrow mine if you want

Broke my heart to read this. So sorry. As a bird owner I understand and grieve with you for your loss.

Oh, I am so very very sorry to hear you lost your baby. Your post had me bawling because I lost a cockatiel, the love of my life, a couple of months ago. I still shed tears when I think of her. It's just incredible how attached we can become to them. I've had many pets through the years but I never had a Booboo.

In truth, now that your beloved friend is gone, finding out details about the death won't help anything. I hope you gave your friend a very special place to rest. Mine doesn't have a real gravestone but her spot is covered with pavers and I've planted one of her favorite herbs by it.