Raccoons

[kwhites634]

Sadly I see them during the day. But usually at night. They have even walked into my house. But they ran when I yelled. So my hens are supervised as much as I can manage.

Being nocturnal, coons generally aren't seen during the day. If they are, there's a good chance they're sick (as in rabies). Give them a wide berth, particularly if they display any aggressiveness.

 

[beginnergirl]

Being nocturnal, coons generally aren't seen during the day. If they are, there's a good chance they're sick (as in rabies). Give them a wide berth, particularly if they display any aggressiveness.

Thankfully, I believe there are no confirmed cases of rabies in raccoons in Oregon. It is more common here in bats. At least not recently. Good advice to give them a wide berth. I've seen some very aggressive ones on our roof where I used to live when figs were ripe. But I should have said I see them early in the morning at daylight. But am wary for my hens.

I've never seen any in my yards here.

 

[microchick]

We were told by our vet once upon a time when we lived in IL that 70% of road kill raccoons in IL, done by a University of IL study, were rabid.

We have seen raccoons at all hours of the day and night. All get dispatched whenever possible.

Even when I was a city dweller, I had an elderly neighbor call me once telling me that she had a raccoon in her front yard and it was acting weird. I went over and as soon as the animal saw me, it charged me. Sure enough, it was drooling and acting uncoordinated. I took refuge on top of the lady's car and called the police who notified animal control. They came and took the animal away.

Since then I live by the motto that the only good raccoon is a dead raccoon.

 

[rides2far]

They can also be sick with distemper & be out & about during the day. We had one on our roof & it turned out to be distemper.

 

[enola]

Think of them like preschool age children... Curious, smart, hungry. Can and will climb fences and trees, even buildings, pull, rip, tear, claw fencing, dig under coops, open latches, escape traps.

SMART buggers, everywhere. They hide extremely well and you would probably only see evidence... Torn feed bags, garbage cans, footprints in mud, especially...

Water, they LOVE water. They have to "wash" everything they eat, so look for footprints around mudholes.

Best bet is always locking up at night and predator proofing to deter a kid

Raccoons washing everything before they will eat it is a myth.

 

[shortgrass]

Raccoons washing everything before they will eat it is a myth.

True, they aren't actually "washing" it...just looks like it. They are actually FEELING the food particle better so when they find a similar item later, they can distinguish by touch.
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/blogs/why-raccoons-wash-their-food-before-eating

 

[microchick]

Just an added thought.

The same Veterinarian told me that Raccoons were killing dogs in the area. I asked him how and he told me that the raccoons were going in the water and the dogs were in hot pursuit swimming after them. The raccoons were grabbing onto the dog's heads and climbing on top, forcing the dogs head underwater and effectively drowning them, easy peasy.

I know there are a lot of people that think of raccoons being cute little animals and yes, that they are when they are babies. Unfortunately, they grow up.

 

[enola]

Many, many good coon hounds have been drowned in just that manner. That is why coon are hunted with a pack of dogs. Another dog can pull the coon off of the dog he is attempting to drown.

 

[bobbi-j]

Raccoons are fascinating animals, but are definitely vicious if cornered. They bark, snarl, growl and bare their sharp, pointy teeth (which they will use, given the chance). Seeing a raccoon in daylight hours does not necessarily mean it's sick. A couple of years ago we had a mother raccoon and her 4 babies out by the coop the day after my broody was killed in the coop in the middle of the day. I believe it was this mama, feeding her babies. They are opportunists and will feed when they get a chance. My vet told me that raccoons were more of a concern with rabies in the eastern half of the US, while skunks were a more common vector in the western half. They do carry more than rabies, so it is a good idea to discourage their presence when possible.

Beginnergirl - do you live in an urban or suburban area where the raccoons are more acclimated to people? That would explain them walking into your house. Especially if someone nearby is feeding them on the porch or back step, as people are occasionally inclined to do.