Raccoons?

How do you all feel about raccoons?   If you did end up feeding raccoons for a time would you feel bad if you had to suddenly stop?    Turns out my ex-neighbors were regularly feeding significant amounts of food (like 8 cups per night)  to raccoons as well on purpose.    One one side they are truly wild animals and never were pets.  On the other these particular raccoons are no doubt dependent on this free food.    All I want to do is feed Oscar but now feeling conflict.    I'm thinking of trying to wean them by leaving less and less food out overnight for them over a week.   What do you all think?

I've never even seen a racoon (not a lot of them in Queensland ) but I have pretty strong ideas on feeding wildlife. 

When I arrived in my new home there was a pecking on the door, and there, lined up, were three magpies.. mum, dad and the kid, waiting for their food.  I just don't do it and told them so, very politely.  Every now and again they'd come back and try their luck, but I'm sure they managed.   I provide bird baths, water for the lizards in dry weather, and grow 'food' trees (again, this is for birds) but don't feed. 

I think your idea of gradually cutting down is a good one, as it will encourage them to go elsewhere.

But see what others (who actually know about racoons!) think.....

Thanks Mani for your thoughts - what an image three magpies knocking at the door wanting food!    All this has me kind of flummoxed because I'd never really worked out how I felt about these things before.    I do have a bird feeder up and I wonder how is that any different?    I like your idea of naturally supporting the wildlife without throwing off the balance too much.

Another issue too is that as long as I leave extra food out overnight for raccoons as well as Oscar this prevents me from narrowing the feeding window time enough to interact with Oscar and/or trap him.    I've already learned if he has the option to eat in the middle of the night, that's when he chooses.  

The prevalence of bird feeders in some areas has actually changed bird behavior, some researchers say.

Raccoons are neat to look at...but they they can spread diseases to your cat, even kill them, and are extremely stubborn and opportunistic.  Yeah, I'd probably wean them off the food over a couple of weeks.  They will probably find someone else putting out food for their dogs.
 

mrblanche said:

The prevalence of bird feeders in some areas has actually changed bird behavior, some researchers say.

Raccoons are neat to look at...but they they can spread diseases to your cat, even kill them, and are extremely stubborn and opportunistic.  Yeah, I'd probably wean them off the food over a couple of weeks.  They will probably find someone else putting out food for their dogs.
 

Click to expand...

I totally agree with this. Last January we had the first rabbis outbreak in out area. It was because some neighbors a few houses down, were feeding Raccoons. The stray cat's they were also feeding had to be caught & put down, & rabies was confirmed. 

MrBlanche, that's interesting about the bird feeders.   This all does make me look at my bird feeder in a new light.   We can't exactly TNR the birds and raccoons!  

Angels mommy, that's terrible about the rabies outbreak.   It makes me wonder what happened to the other ferals - this neighbor used to feed four ferals and three disappeared over the last few months.  It's sad how much harm can be done by someone thinking they are being kind by feeding the animals.  Outcompeted by raccoons or rabies?   Looks like weaning them off the food is what I'll do - stopping cold turkey could make them angry and dangerous and don't need that!

Yea, it is sad. They thought they were doing something good by feeding them, but it created a very bad situation!

Once you feed raccoons, they will come around ever after.  If one of them is a mama, the babies will be conditioned to come back even after they are on their own. And they will bring their babies around, and so on. I use bottle rockets to chase them off.  It doesn't hurt them, but the explosion close keeps them away for several days. Of course, if you live in the city, this option doesn't exist.

catspaw66 said:

Once you feed raccoons, they will come around ever after.  If one of them is a mama, the babies will be conditioned to come back even after they are on their own. And they will bring their babies around, and so on.

Click to expand...

So do Magpies!  It took about 5 years for the generations to just give up.

I didn't realize that birds were like that, too.  Come to think of it, butterflies are that way, also.

I would not be feeding those raccoons. They will find other food sources. For Oscar, only put food out in the morning. Take the food up by dusk. The raccoons will learn quickly that it is time to move on. I also have many raccoons that come to my feral shelters looking for food. IF I forget to take the food up, and the water is muddy, then I know they finished up the cat food overnight. For me, I do everything I can to discourage the coons from coming around. But they always come by to check.

Feralvr, you know I would never have started feeding the raccoons - I'm just trying to figure out how to finish what my ex-neighbor started humanely.   She told me a couple of days ago a mother is coming there with babies.   So now I get to be the bad guy who cuts off the main food source from them.   I swear all this feels like some kind of karmic test and I'm not sure I'm gonna pass.    Catspaw66....so your comment applies I guess those babies are imprinted on this spot now too.    I feel bad for the new neighbor who moves into that apartment - imagine their first night there when they hear hear the raccoons scritching about on their patio!   That won't be for two weeks at least from now.  And Mani, 5 years, wow, so people in that apartment for years will be affected by this.   I'm doing the weaning thing now, so in a few days it will be zero food for raccoons.   

In good Oscar news, I saw him again today running at top speed away from the food bowls when he saw me coming.   At least he's eating

You might let the new neighbors know that the racket on their patio is not burglars. Even though they are wearing masks.

Bastfriend said:

Feralvr, you know I would never have started feeding the raccoons - I'm just trying to figure out how to finish what my ex-neighbor started humanely.   She told me a couple of days ago a mother is coming there with babies.    

In good Oscar news, I saw him again today running at top speed away from the food bowls when he saw me coming.   At least he's eating :cat:

Click to expand...

OH, I know you didn't start this raccoon feeding BUT, I am saying, that I would not continue what the neighbor was doing. That's just me, though. Believe me, those raccoons will find food and are extremely resourceful.

YAY on spotting Oscar!!

Feralvr said:

OH, I know you didn't start this raccoon feeding

BUT, I am saying, that I would not continue what the neighbor was doing. That's just me, though. Believe me, those raccoons will find food and are extremely resourceful.

YAY on spotting Oscar!!

Click to expand...

Hi Feralvr, I hope you and your ferals are well today!    I hear you about the raccoons, sounds like you've had a lot of real life experience with them.    I'm just soft-hearted what can I say, it's part of how my ex-neighbor got me into this.   Still I'm weaning the masked bandits (lol to Catspaw66) - only a couple days more to go.     I saw Oscar again today, apparently he's less afraid of cars than people.   He was in the parking lot and looked to cross in front of my car - I stopped and he sauntered right across like he was on a cross-walk.   If I had been standing there, not in a car, he would have bolted like a flash.   This was my first good look at him in the daylight and he looks thin but healthy and not as big as I'd expect him to be as a full grown male.   Fingers crossed that he is not female!

AWW I do think those "masked bandits" are cute too. More vibes for Oscar AND that he is not a she. :cross: AND that he stays clear of those cars. :cross: