You really ought to get that growth on your groin looked at.
Posted on 08/22/2006 8:00:03 AM PDT by presidio9
A fierce group of raccoons has killed 10 cats, attacked a small dog and bitten at least one pet owner who had to get rabies shots, residents of Olympia say.
Some have taken to carrying pepper spray to ward off the masked marauders and the woman who was bitten now carries an iron pipe when she goes outside at night.
"It's a new breed," said Tamara Keeton, who with Kari Hall started a raccoon watch after an emotional neighborhood meeting drew 40 people. "They're urban raccoons, and they're not afraid."
Tony Benjamins, whose family lost two cats, said he got a big dog — a German Shepherd-Rottweiler mix — to keep the raccoons away.
One goal of the patrol is to get residents to stop feeding raccoons and to keep pets and pet food indoors.
Lisann Rolle said she began carrying an iron pipe when she goes outside at night after being bitten by raccoons when she tried to pull three of them off her cat Lucy. She obtained rabies shots afterward as a precaution.
"I was watching her like a hawk, but she snuck out," Rolle said. "Then I heard this hideous sound — a coyote-type high pitch ... It was vicious. They were focused on ripping her apart."
The attacks have been especially shocking because raccoons came within five feet (1 1/2 meters) of cats without any problem in previous years, Benjamins said.
"We used to love the raccoons. They'd have their babies this time of year, and they were so cute. Even though we lived in the city, it was neat to have wildlife around," he said, "but this year, things changed. They went nuts."
In one case five raccoons tried to carry off a small dog, which managed to survive.
The attacks, all within a three-block area near the Garfield Nature Trail in Olympia, are highly unusual, said Sean O. Carrell, a problem wildlife coordinator with the state Department of Fish and Wildlife, adding that trappers may be summoned from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to remove problem animals.
"I've never heard a report of 10 cats being killed. It's something were going to have to monitor," Carrell said.
Meanwhile, residents have hired Tom Brown, a nuisance wildlife control operator from Rochester, Washington, to set traps, but in six weeks he has caught only one raccoon. He and Carrell said raccoons teach their young — and each other — to avoid traps.
Brown said he had seen packs of raccoons this big but none so into killing.
"They are in command up there," he said.
You really ought to get that growth on your groin looked at.
As we are in Olympia. That doesn't mean it's always smart or responsible to hunt in the middle of town.
The moderates can be helpful in identifying the extremists...
Hate them if you wish, but for them, it's not personal. :~)
I like raccoons, they're a cool animal, but I wouldn't encourage them to become tame, they aren't. It's only when people get confused about what they are that we get hurt.
What does smart or responsible have to do with anything when you are being TERRORIZED by PSYCHO KILLER RACCONS?
Sorry... but I didn't accuse you of anything.
They look like stew to me.
;-)
Patch options include:
- behavior modification - flooding - huricane settings - blizzards - voting machines counts - political contribution transfers - Cuban cigars importations - gas and gold price adjustments.
More updates soon!
I've got a crazy raccoon who comes up on the deck at night to take the rocks out of my terracotta fountain. Every morning I have to put them back in. The stupid animal is probably trying to find fish.
Add that to squirrels after my Hibiscus plant leaves, opossums in my grill grease pan, deer eating my sunflowers, & chipmunks eating my cherry tomatoes! A plethora of wildlife I tell ya! Oh well, that's country life!
Ever see the movie UHF?
No kidding God HELP US! ~throws hands in the air and runs in circles!~
Unbelievable headline, you're right. Is it real? I didn't check the source.
They're really african killer raccoons.
OMG
I am going to need therapy.
Yep. Ethylene Glycol is an effective mammalian toxin. But so is rat poision. Neither way causes a 'pleasant' death.
I think the other guy was just pointing out that anti-freeze is an accidental blind-er and killer of dogs, not that YOU do it. Not to worry.
This is the best post ever!!!
It was down for the addition of a new digital clock display:
LOL!
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