[rlmorel]

I know they are considered vermin, but...there is something about both raccoons and squirrels that I find kind of appealing. Squirrels cannot cross a road without getting squished, but otherwise, their survival skills are impressive!

[9YearLurker]

They no doubt think of us as vermin too, but largely have adapted to being our neighbors.

[telescope115]

We always think that raccoons are so intelligent- for a time I left our cat carrier outside, with food in it, in the hope of luring our cat back home. I left the carrier door open so Charlie could go in. Instead what do I see but a big FAT raccoon trying to get at the food. It was trying to break into the end of the carrier opposite the open door. All it had to do was walk around to the front, walk in and get the food. Instead, it dragged that carrier for a couple feet, trying to claw its way in. Finally, it gave up and walked away.

I thought they were smarter. This one clearly wasn’t, but it was pretty fat, so it was getting food somewhere. Probably a relative of the ‘coon in Virginia.

[dangus]

I’ve seen definitions of vermin which could include any animal (such as “animals which are injurious to human interests, such as agriculture or disease containment”), but I’d argue that vermin typically excludes carnivores, which includes members of the families of cats, dogs, bears, seals, weasels, skunks, panda, mongooses, and yes, raccoons; ... and also ungulates, which includes antelope, giraffes, deer, cattle, pigs, elephants, manatees, horses/zerbas/asses, rhinos, hippos, and, oddly, whales.

[dangus]

I’ve seen definitions of vermin which could include any animal (such as “animals which are injurious to human interests, such as agriculture or disease containment”), but I’d argue that vermin typically excludes carnivores, which includes members of the families of cats, dogs, bears, seals, weasels, skunks, panda, mongooses, and yes, raccoons; ... and also ungulates, which includes antelope, giraffes, deer, cattle, pigs, elephants, manatees, horses/zerbas/asses, rhinos, hippos, and, oddly, whales.

UPDATE: OOPS. Elephants and manatees are not ungulates in spite of their diets.