Home › Forums › Open Discussion › The raccoons are very cute, but they are so bad aren't they?
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June 1, 2015 at 11:01 am #817577
transplantellaParticipantRight now there is a local raccoon we know well, who has just turned over all the trash cans put out for Monday morning pickup.
Thunk, thunk, thunk. Every one of them turned over and trash spread galore. At sunup the crows will arrive to pick through it further and the trash will be all over the neighborhood in short order.
I’ll go pick most of it up tomorrow, what I can find.
She has learned very well how to invade the critter proof trash cans with the crimped lids. Just get them on their sides and pry a corner free. Gold!
Last year we caught her out here digging through garbage she’d strewn all over the sidewalk with three little ones in tow, she was carefully teaching them how to knock the bin on its side and then get the lid off.
4 or 5 years ago we had little, round, green trash cans with a screw-on lid and wheels on the bottom. Never had any trouble with those. One day they disappeared and new square blacks ones took their place. It took the raccoons less than 6 months to figure how to get the square black bins open.
Even for all their trouble, I still like the raccoons. What clever little creatures.
June 1, 2015 at 2:04 pm #824580
BonnieParticipantYes, raccoons are super cute but a few years ago they killed our chickens and just left the bodies. What a waste.
June 1, 2015 at 2:58 pm #824581
datamuseParticipantBuild a better critter-proof trash can, and nature builds a better critter.
June 1, 2015 at 3:54 pm #824582
SueParticipantBack in New York City my dad tried to trap one once in a metal garbage can to move it out of the yard. He heard the “thunk” and knew it was in the can. He went out and opened the can to make sure, and the can was empty. He was baffled as he just KNEW it was in there. Turns out the raccoon was totally spread-eagled in the lid, holding on for dear life. Made a dash for it after my startled dad dropped the lid. Smart little critter.
June 1, 2015 at 9:59 pm #824583
datamuseParticipantHaha Sue, that sounds like something out of a Disney movie!
June 1, 2015 at 10:53 pm #824584
SmittyParticipantWe’ve added a bungee cord and it is currently 4 for 4. Can tipped over, but lid still on every time.
June 1, 2015 at 11:15 pm #824585
transplantellaParticipantSo Smitty, you’re teaching them now how to undo bungee cords? Are you sure this is a good idea?
All it needs is one raccoon to figure it out, pretty soon all the raccoons will know.
June 1, 2015 at 11:35 pm #824586
JeannieParticipantThose raccoons are making me feel inept. They have no trouble opening those accursed square garbage cans. On the other hand, I’ve been known to struggle like a klutz to remove the lid.
June 2, 2015 at 12:18 am #824587
wakefloodParticipantHa! Cut yourself some slack, Jeannie, them raccoons is about as dexterous as you can get. Combined with their attitude, it’s pretty formidable.
I had one that was upset that the bag of dog food on the 3rd floor deck was taken inside that after tearing the screen off the sliding door, he proceeded to push 3 of the 4 heavy planter boxes off the railing. He would have done the 4th had I not interrupted him with a broom.
June 2, 2015 at 1:25 am #824588
datamuseParticipantA friend of mine down in Olympia was feeding them (I know, I know) and now they come right up on his deck and KNOCK ON THE DOOR for dinner!
June 2, 2015 at 1:43 am #824589
miwsParticipantdatamuse, next thing, one of them will be saying; “Dude, why doncha just give us a key?”
Mike
June 2, 2015 at 1:48 am #824590
JTBParticipantNot so bad? Depends on your perspective. They will kill small dogs. They are a species vector for rabies. Otherwise, they don’t go after humans. They will get into buildings and cause varying degrees of damage to the property. Living on an urban scavenger diet has caused many raccoons to develop chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.
June 2, 2015 at 2:04 pm #824591
JoBParticipantthey are tough on ceramic birdbaths… too many racoons perched on one edge will bring the bath tumbling to the ground… and with enough velocity to break them to not so tiny bits
the base remained standing and has been recycled to hold a gazing ball..
i am rethinking water options for the yard this winter
June 2, 2015 at 6:53 pm #824592
valvashonParticipantRaccoons are giant, disgusting rodents. Period. The only reason I swerve to avoid them is that I drive a car that is low to the ground and don’t want raccoon guts stuck under there next time I do an oil change or something.
June 2, 2015 at 7:31 pm #824593
HelperMonkeyParticipantI’m with you, valvashon. Anyone who thinks that raccoons are cute lil critters needs to watch the Nature documentary “Raccoon Nation” and you’ll understand just how awful, dangerous, and destructive they are. Plus the little buggers have tipped over my compost bin (thanks a bunch, city of seattle…never had raccoons before you forced me to start composting) twice this week.
June 2, 2015 at 7:47 pm #824594
dcnParticipantThey destroyed two kiddie pools in my yard: one inflatable and one soft-sided pool. Literally tore them to shreds, and even ripped open the beach ball that was in the pool. I have to cover the pool at night now when I set it up in the summer.
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When I lived in North Seattle, a raccoon used to sleep sprawled on the skylight above my bed (probably for the heat). It would freak my cat out.
June 3, 2015 at 6:10 am #824595
tttParticipantRaccons are smart! Coyotes and raccons seem to adapt to just about anything. Survival of the smartest!
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