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.
I had racoons coming in my house thru the cat door. She taught the kits that my house was where they come to eat every night.
Trapped them all, sent them off with animal control and they came back (from 10 miles away.) Now they know about the traps.
The best way to catch them is SARDINES. so I loaded the traps with sardines and caught all but one. he seems to have taken off.
Didn't like the final solution, I guess.
Unbelievable headlines are something of a specialty of mine, but this one is real.
They may I spose, but that would be news in and of itself, rabies is not common here, the rare cases were/are all in bats. It has not yet been found in raccoons, coyotes or other wildlife here.
LOL!! I gave up trying to keep the possums outta the grill. Funniest story about that was one night we surprised 'em on the deck, and two of the possums decided to take the shortest route off the deck -- which involved a 15 foot drop to the forest floor below. We heard an audible "oooompf" from them when they hit the ground. Sounded just like a person exhaling air after a sharp drop to the ground.
NOw, being greeted by a sleeping bat in the shower stall one AM ... that was special. Good thing I found it and not the missus.
Greatest. Post. Ever. Ping.
LOL
Snakes in Florida aren't as afraid as they used to be either. You have to throw something at them to get them to move out of your way now (then again - I live on the edge of a mangrove - we see the critters more than most people...)
THis has hollywood movie written all over it.
Attack of the Psycho Killer Raccoons
or...Raccoons on a Plane?? heehee
OMG! That dog has no dignity.
Coons? When coons tried to get on our back porch, Momma just chase 'em off with a broom.
o/~ Raccoons, Raccoons uber alles... o/~
Better run run run run, run run away.
Urban Racoons--next thing you know they will be filing for unemployment, welfare, free housing, and social security.
The same two bats kept coming into the house......until he smashed them, which we hated to do.
LOL!!! Thanks for the ping, Reep.
No, I'm just an HF sorta guy...........(1-35MHz).......
Say WA? Evergreen State ping
FReepmail sionnsar if you want on or off this ping list.
Ping sionnsar if you see a Washington state related thread.
The last time I needed to kill a racoon, I used a Remington 870 12-gauge loaded with #4 buckshot, because that was what I had nearby. In retrospect, a .410 would have been just fine.
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