Raccoon survives massive electric shock

Reuters via Yahoo news ^ | Thu May 18, 8:46 AM ET | unknown

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

It's not the volts that does it, it's the amps.

A common static spark may have 22000 volts but extremely low amps.

[Redcitizen]

Well there was this black Zot mark across its eyes...

[Lucky9teen]

has been impounded by vets as an illegal import.

Did it come across the border illegally? Will they deport it?

[Osage Orange]

I said Rocky ya met your match........

Doctor it's only a scratch...and I'll get better...just as soon as I'm able.

[Joe 6-pack]

It could be pointed out that the raccoon is illegal, but I suppose there's no need to pylon."

What makes you think I'm interested in current events?

[hispanarepublicana]

(long, painful groan).

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

"It's not the volts that does it, it's the amps.

A common static spark may have 22000 volts but extremely low amps."

Watts that you say? You say that it's the Watts.

I was about to post much the same thing. In this case, it's just a way to sensationalize the report -- often it's also a sneaky form of propaganda. For instance, every article on Tasers says they "shoot 50,000 volts" -- or some other gibberish. This either demonstrates the reporters' ignorance of science, or their duplicity -- or both. 50,000 volts just sounds so much more sensational than 15 Watts, or 1/10 Ampere.

Electric fences are another high-voltage source that have zapped many people -- and probably raccoons. Why not have headlines about farm boys surviving 11,000 volts from pi**ing on their electric fence?

[baker_girl]

Oh the poor thing..

[texas_mrs]

We actually had a 'coon as a pet summer before last, and JUST LAST NITE she was back on top of our roof looking thru my daughters window! I have some of the funniest pictures of her when she was little.. I have never loved and hated an animal so much all at the same time.

[martin_fierro]

Crispy critter

[Redcitizen]

I hear tell that barbeque sauce or A-1 will help it out a lot!

[Redcitizen]

No, they will give it guest worker status so it can occupy lower level ecological niches.

[speedy]

Thanks for badgering us with this shocking story. And isn't it ironic that there are no Cypress trees in Cyprus?

[Joe 6-pack]

"...isn't it ironic that there are no Cypress trees in Cyprus?"

By that same token, my spell-checker insists there is no "T" in "China."

[hispanarepublicana]

no Cypress trees in Cyprus

And no syrup in Cairo.

[Joe 6-pack]

Do you ever go offline?

[freedumb2003]

Over the past 40 years, their numbers have increased 20 fold.

What, they're here illegally? ;)

[bannie]

Who would bother to smuggle in a raccoon???

[Rennes Templar]

"What makes you think I'm interested in current events?"

That's revolting.

[hispanarepublicana]

Yeah.....those purses and shoes aren't gonna buy themselves!!!!