Daytime Raccoon

[Iowa Roo Mom]

Ok, so I'm not one to jump right on the "Rabies" bandwagon, it is never the "first thing to come to mind". However, this raccoon has got me a bit concerned. Wednesday afternoon, my mom called me and asked me if raccoons come out in the daytime. My initial reaction was, "Not normally, is it a baby?" You know how sometimes those baby raccoons can get a bit "confused", so to speak. Well, she tells me it's not. So I ask her if it looks sickly. She says "Not particularly, he's just eating the birdseed under the birdfeeder". I told her to stay inside, just in case, until I get home- at this point I was less than 5 minutes away. Keep in mind my roo was free ranging, and we have an outside cat. By the time I got home it was gone. The neighbor had drove by and scared it away. I'm thinking, "Ok, it still has a natural fear of humans- a good sign."

Skip to yesterday. I was on the porch at about 1:30PM and I look up to see this blasted racoon under the birdfeeder again. My rooster is less than 20 yards away, and who knows where the cat is! This raccoon is paying attention to nothing but the goodies it has found on the ground left by the birdies. So, I grab the video camera and tape it for a minute or so, then head outside to see if it'll spook. It did.

I plan on posting the video when I get home, but I was wondering- what steps should I take now? Obviously I am going to shoot it, simply because day or night, rabid or not, I don't want any more durn raccoons around. My question is, should I send it's head off to be tested for rabies? Would they even do that seeing as how no one (or no pets) have been bitten? Any ideas on how far to go with this? I would probably just shoot it and bury it, but I'm curious to see if something is causing it to go against nautre? Any ideas?!

 

[jadeflower999]

My mom used to cut the heads off every skunk that came in the yard and send it off for testing at the University of Minnesota. (She was a little phobic about rabies) Here's a link for testing sites in Iowa: http://www.idph.state.ia.us/adper/rabies.asp

Good luck! Hope you get him!

 

[deerman]

Alot of raccoon come out during the day. coons that have rabies will come out during the day. But not all out during the days have rabies. Raccoons out during the day will have a hard time catching free range chicken.

 

[CMV]

Call your local Fish and Game Dept. and ask them if they want to test or not. They know the prevalence of diseases in your area so let them be the judge. Don't aim for the head.

 

[jhm47]

If it hasn't bitten anyone or anything, what's the use in testing? I would not waste the $$ of testing if nothing has been bitten.

 

[Hillbilly Rooster]

They have babies in the spring time and they get to kick there kids out sooner than humans so that maybe it.

You also have to watch out for distemper which runs in coons. You can tell it you can walk up on it if there is something wrong but beware if it attacks you may just want a pistol. When they bite it hurts.

 

[briana1975]

My Aunt that lives here in West Michigan has a racoon that comes out during the day to eat her bird seed too. She feeds the darn thing now. It always acts fine she says not sick. It has been coming around for almost 2 years now.

 

[jjthink]

I have inquired about this in the past. More and more raccoons are out and about in the daytime now, as food sources have become more scarce and they are trying to adapt. I am told they are less agressive in the daytime and indeed even can appear to be slow and awkward. This does not mean they are sick. I had a daytime raccoon walk right past a hen last year - within a couple feet - it took absolutely no interest in her and the funny part was that she followed him! I had to grab her and explain that this is not advisable

JJ

 

[Hillbilly Rooster]

I see them huning all the time in the day time but there is something wrong. They lay on there backs and act like they are eating something really weird.

Neighboring house said that he was walking in his woods and 3 walked right passed him and did not stop. That is not good.

 

[chickendude]

I say a dirt nap is in order. When you remove the carcass be extra careful not to get bodily fluids on you. Use a shovel to pick it up and maybe spray the shovel with a bleach and water solution when you are finished. I just can't see taking a chance with possible rabies. A raccoon out during the day is positively not a normal situation. Good luck and be careful.