Jenny Simonds included that photo with the pix we posted with her account of last Saturday’s Friends of Lincoln Park work party; this wasn’t another scene from said party, but rather from her L-Park-area neighborhood. Probably a LOLcat-style caption in there somewhere.
I honestly feel racoons are becoming a huge problem in West Seattle. The population near our home in Pigeon Point has become completely out of control…
Exactly Austin. People are concerned about raccoons? Why, they’ll kill a cat? Its called the predatory food chain. Cats that become victims of raccoon attack are more likely to be killed by humans in cars than raccoons. Why do human parents of cats let their cats out?
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Concern because raccoons kill/eat the Koi in your fancy backyard fish pond? Once again, food chain. I think the term is “like shooting fish in a barrel”. Its easy pickings for a raccoon. That just seems obvious.
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The wildlife in our area isn’t there to be “a problem”. They are there to do what they do – be an important part of our ecosystem.
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Until experts deem that these populations have grown too large and something needs to be done, just leave them alone. Consider your impact when leaving easy food sources outside for them, be it garbage, cats, fish or otherwise.
To fulfill the LOLcat caption need…how about this?
“Nightime Ninja Manoover…ur doing it wrong.”
I agree with Austin and Johnny. Leave the little guys alone, I have always said, we have already taken away so much from wildlife – we should learn to live WITH them.
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Humans would have a better understanding of what these creatures have to deal with if we had a natural predator. One that not only takes our homes from us, but sees us as pests!
LOLCat Caption:
“C’mon guyz, cant see in her windoes fum her anywaze.
I agree that we need to live with them (and they are quite cute), however not everyone seems to treat them as “wild”. We have someone in our neighborhood (N.Admiral) who is feeding them and allowing them to come into her house, even though being warned by animal control not to do so. We now have raccoons that are not afraid and walk up to you brazenly mid-day (thought they were mostly nocturnal?). They come through our back yard and tear up, literally my son’s toys. They ate his scooter handles, literally slashed a big bouncy ball (hop pop), and devoured his swimming goggles. Tried to get to his bike helmet but fortunately we saw him that time and scared him away. We have been really good about putting away things we thought he’d be tempted by, and park bikes, etc by the back door though he keeps surprising us. He goes to the neighbor for food and to our yard for a bit of play…. !
Does anyone know if I could legally kill a racoon who I catch trying to kill my koi ? :(
WSBlover, though I can understand your grief and frustration about the fact your Koi have fallen vistim to a raccoon, your comment is infuriating.
How about trying to relocate your Koi or put up a wire mesh around the pond and take steps to solve the problem rather than killing an innocent creature that is JUST TRYING TO FEED ITSELF!
In nature, the food chain not negotiable. The bigger eats the smaller – that’s just the way it is.
wsblover. I think you’re funny. Maybe you’re stirring the cauldron for the humor, or maybe you are serious. I can’t tell.
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Raccoons have worth simply because they are one of the many fascinating and interlocking segments of nature.
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If raccoons have killed your Koi, I’m sorry for that. But you’ve got to consider your accountability in the matter. I think it would be too bad for you to kill them over your outdoor fishbowl. They’ll keep coming because you’ve put the Koi there.
What those of you who are willing to live with raccoons don’t seem to realize, is that like rats, and other “wild animals” living in the city, raccoons are carriers of more than they’re fair share of disease, that can affect both humans and our pets.
And that these raccoons and other wildlife don’t really live in the park, and make a neighborly retreat there for shelter.
They do a major amount of damage to homes and other property, in search of shelter.
Many times this inhabitation can put those living or working in these building at risk, in many ways.
Do a search on raccoon roundworm parasite, and think about having 20 pounds of excrement in the insulation of your attic.
Think about ventilation, what if your chimney were to be stuffed with nesting materials, and exhaust fumes backed up into the interior?
Think about the fact that raccoons are small dog sized predators, wild animals (like on Nature, not like in Bambi), and while they may look very cute, I can tell you from personal experience they are very dangerous creatures, capable of inflicting serious injury… even the little guys.
PDH makes a great point, wild animals need to be treated as wild.
Just like in a National Park, they do not need human assistance to subsist, and indeed any feeding is more likely to create a problem.
I think back to a bear lecture given at the walk in campground in Yosemite National Park, the Ranger said, “In human wildlife conflict, the wildlife always looses…”
That’s incredibly profound.
She went on to say “…historically, and even now, we have and continue to create most of this conflict, by altering their natural behavior.”
Bears were the main focus of that discussion, but raccoons, coyotes, and even songbirds, have had their natural behavior modified by living in an urban environment, and it often creates conflict… and again from personal experience, it never ends well for the animal.
BlogLover, The answer to your question is a little gray, depending on who it is that’s interpreting the law… so I’ll say yes and no.
The law states that an animal posing a threat, to health or property, is a “nuisance”.
And the law allows one to deal with nuisance wildlife, whether it be the homeowner, land/property manager, or a professional Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator (NWCO).
Now we get to the interpretation part… Johnny doesn’t think your koi have “value”, as your personal property, and obviously doesn’t see their loss (or that of any other domestic animal) as a nuisance.
I on the other hand, knowing about the health risks they pose, coupled with the loss of property, fully and respectfully disagree. :)
I tend to agree with Michelle’s comment though, some steps need to be taken to mitigate the loss, as much as anything, because even if these raccoons are removed, you’ll still face the risk from raccoons filling that “niche”.
Johnny mention population levels, and I can assure him that experts at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), have already determined that the population of raccoons far exceed that of the carrying capacity of the land, and what is healthy for the raccoons.
One of the hardest parts of this overpopulation, is that disease is often the force that balances things back out.
In fact, we are now seeing near high level, with the rebound from a massive die off, in the late ’90s.
In point of fact, the WDFW requires all raccoons trapped in the greater Seattle area, to be euthanized.
Relocation, is not humane, it places that animal and those already occupying the release site at risk.
Studies show, without proper rehabilitation, most trapped animals don’t survives the stresses related to being trapped (even in cage traps), let alone the adjustment to a new and often time hostile territorial environment.
Johnny, The natural balance of the food chain is broken, in the urban environment.
Domestic cats don’t belong, giving or taking.
Koi don’t, starlings, grass carp, and many other “introduced species”.
Historically, there are very very few introduction, and even re-introductions of non-indigenous species, that have proved positive, and in fact many are some of our biggest human disasters, and crimes against our Mother Earth.
I for one, am not going to stand idly by, watching the circle of life wobble like a merry-go-round, flinging creatures off into extinction…
Nor will I help speed it up, by encouraging unnatural behaviors, or supporting non-indigenous species.
The way I see it, the best thing we can do is to remove those who don’t belong, protect and restore what habitat we can for those who do, and leave them alone, to behave naturally, when we can and they do.
I’ve also seen a lot more raccoons lately, and too close for comfort. I’ve started trimming ivy way back on some trees I realized they’ve been hanging out in (for days? weeks? years?). I prefer them in the greenbuilts than backyards because yes, the few times I’ve accidentally left something out it’s been ripped to shreds.
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Now the idiots that feed them need a serious talking to because that is putting both the coons and people at risk. I’ll admit that if I find my neighbors are feeding them I’ll get much more aggressive in chasing off and hosing down the critters so they keep an appropriate natural fear of people (although I’ll have to keep my escape routes more in mind from what I’ve read).
I wrote the first comment that I guess upset people. I’m not rich or fancy and I don’t have fing koi in my yard. The lady across the street feeds them nonstop because they are so “cute” and now there are twice as many every few months. The population has more than tripled in the one year I have been at my home. They are becoming extremely aggressive and out of control BECAUSE they are being fed by humans. I agree that they are a natural part of the ecosystem, so let them NATURALLY find food.
Was it a surprise that there was a news story about the same type of problem in Bellevue this morning on King 5 News? One person feeding racoons equals many many more racoons!
Nice post Jeff. Very thoughtout and all encompassing.
The only point I have an issue with, is the point you make drawing a connection between lack of home maintenance & the infestation of raccoons in chimneys and attics. Any homeowner can install a spark arrester, rain cap or otherwise to prevent infiltration by birds/raccoons in chimneys. Also, the infestation of raccoons/squirrels into a homes attic space would also show a lack of home maintenance. Yes, they can find a way – but aware homeowners would not have that problem. If you don’t take care of a property, the raccoons and other wildlife certainly will invite themselves in.
I recall a recent story about a homeowner shooting and killing a Flicker for pecking at his home and being a nuisance. Thing is, eliminating that animal didn’t erase the food that is in that persons siding/home. The Flicker isn’t pecking for the fun of it. Animals have a limited energy supply – they don’t do things for the fun of it or to annoy homeowners. If the homeowoner would have eliminated the food source, the animals will stop working that location. I still wonder if he has the problem with other Flickers – because the bugs (what they are after) are still there. My point is, I think its wrong to blame the animal for their actions, when in reality, the humans actions (or lack of actions) are just as much or more of the problem.
And, I do think Koi have value. I never came close to saying that. If I chose to own Koi, I wouldn’t put my Koi in harms way. Just as my cats stay inside. I don’t walk down dark alleys either. Common sense to me.
And last – I can’t remember, for the life of me, anyone coming down with a sickness born of raccoon. Even the rat, with the diseases they carry and which are so prevalent in our city, aren’t making headlines from spreading disease. I just don’t think we need this fear too – there are enough already.
Michelle and Johnny, sorry for hurting your feelings. I was half joking with my comment. I would never kill an animal. I never put koi in my yard. I was just wondering if wild animals can be brought down in city limits. Don’t know why but I was just curious. Watch what you assume.
I take responsibility for my comment and will word things a little more carefully in the future. Without seeing the persons body language or hearing voice inflection it’s hard to interpret comments one way or the other on blogs, just please don’t assume the worst.
No worries wsblover – just good old debate. I intended no venom in my posts and I read none in yours. I have no hurt feelings!
To restate, I did like your post from several back. You made some very good points.
Johnny,
I made a point of drawing a connection between maintenance & wildlife “infestation”?
That most certainly wasn’t my intent, as I don’t see that connection.
There are many reasons why animals choose our properties, as places to call their own.
I have found raccoons, squirrels, bird, bats, and rats living in exceptionally well maintained homes… often times the maintenance staff or homeowner isn’t trained as to what to look for or that they need to be aware of animals trying to inhabit their property.
And just as often, by the time they do notice, it’s too late, and they already have a problem.
How often do you inspect your home for holes your thumb can fit in?
A colony of bats can produce several hundred pounds of guano in a short time, and all they need is that thumb sized hole… and THE DESIRE to go in it.
And while I totally agree that homeowners should take steps to prevent conflict, like chimney caps… take a walk around your neighborhood, and see how many chimneys are wide open.
A raccoon kit, born and raised in a chimney, will look for a chimney of her own, when the time comes.
Once animals behave unnaturally, it’s extremely difficult to get them to revert to their natural behavior (chimneys are warm and dry, and a really really great place to live… why go back to a cold damp stinky hollow log, and all the risks associated with it?)
We no longer live in the woods, for a reason, and we’re not alone in seeing the benefits.
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The Northern Flicker, is a protected species, and if someone shot one they committed a crime, perhaps several.
I already said I agree that steps should have been taken, to mitigate the problem, before it got “out of hand”.
And I also see that the flicker may have been doing him a favor, but it’s just as likely it’s pecking was an attempt at home building, as it was a search for food… both are important enough to expend energy on.
The flicker, has a brain the size of a marble, it’s a stretch to assume he was pecking for the right reason (or even a good one).
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Since 2003, 23 Americans have been victims of the raccoon roundworm parasite, and that number explodes when looking at pets and livestock (and Canada’s numbers are very similar).
In 1997, a Washington woman died from the haunta virus (carried by deer mice), and several members of her family were also sickened.
And countless cases of food born poisoning, can be traced to rodents and insects… if they weren’t a problem, why would the health dept. inspect for, or shut down, an establishment infested with vermin?
I don’t think you remember any cases, because you weren’t looking for any.
Sort of like when you get a car that’s not “run of the mill”, suddenly you see them all over, when you never really noticed them before.
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Animal control, done properly, is a multi-pronged approach… and deterrents, and exclusion, should be followed up by more severe steps, only when absolutely necessary.
BUT, sometimes, some people, see that necessity, when others don’t.
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It’s easy, not to be afraid of rattlesnakes, if you never walk in the desert…
I’m afraid of raccoons.
And I’m more afraid of raccoons, who live in places and at levels far beyond the healthy carrying capacity of their environment, they are even more likely to be sick, and to pass that sickness on to those who, like me, walk in the raccoon’s world.
The WDFW has information, on their “Living with Wildlife” pages, on raccoon toilet removal… their recommendations might give you a more healthy respect, if not full out fear, of the health risks posed by raccoons.
It’s a white suit, rubber gloves, and HEPA/gas mask, type of haz-mat scene.
And whether or not, I can cite precedent, of raccoon born sickness, I still wouldn’t want to have 20 pounds of their excrement in my attic, my yard, or anywhere else where I live or work.
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As I already stated, most of the time, human/animal conflict is absolutely caused by humans… but once it is a problem, pointing fingers doesn’t solve it, action does.
Rarely does that action put the animal at the advantage, as also already stated, the animal almost always looses.
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“The way I see it, the best thing we can do is to remove those who don’t belong, protect and restore what habitat we can for those who do, and leave them alone, to behave naturally, when we can and they do.”
Am I the only one who hates raccoons? They are creepy. They get into my garbage every week. They walk around at night in the bushes making “scary prowler man” noises. And yes, I tie down my garbage can.
On a more humorous note, there is the funniest youtube video about a raccoon taking a door mat out of a house through a pet door. Smart animals!
I just stumbled upon the previous posts regarding racoons. How can I get them out of my tree? There is an entire family (at least 4) living in the tree outside my window. I too think they are cute. But when I arrived home tonight to hear them “fighting” or something that sounded pretty awful in the bushes it scared me. It sounded like an animal was being malled. Since my cat is allowed outside on occasion, I thought he was a gonner. Thankfully, he was in the house. I have seen my neighbor feeding this little critters. What can I do?
Just like feral cats, trapping and killing raccoons is not going to reduce the long term population of raccoons. This is because Nature’s vacuum effect’ will kick in and the remaining raccoons will over breed to fill up the empty spaces left by the ones that are killed.
It seems that a King County ‘trap-neuter-return’ program could be implemented, just like many rescue groups do with feral cats. There would need to be a way to identify the altered raccoons so you don’t trap them more than once—feral cats are ear tipped—and it would need to be an all out effort to spay/neuter at least 70% of the raccoons. Why 70%–because this is where the population will level off: births = deaths. Any spay/neuter above 70% will result in long term reduction of the raccoon population. It would take some community effort, dollars and legislation to put such a program together, but is a viable, long term and humane solution.
Lastly, for those that are feeding feral cats and stray cats. You can still continue to feed them while not attracting raccoons. Just feed them close to the same time every day (they will learn the schedule very quickly) and pull the food after they are done eating or within a half hour of putting it out. Do not feed at night unless you are watching the cats eat and then immediately pull the food.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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