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Raccoons Invade California Enclave
AP ^ | 11/17/06 | NOAKI SCHWARTZ

Posted on 11/17/2006 1:04:55 PM PST by kiriath_jearim

LOS ANGELES -- One balmy summer night, Larna Hartnack awoke to the cries of her dog Charlie and, to her horror, found the Dalmatian in a battle for her life -- pinned by a gang of raccoons that tore into her flesh and nearly gnawed off her tail.

Charlie survived. But recurring raccoon attacks on dogs and other creatures have unnerved people along the Venice Canals, a funky, well-to-do beach neighborhood packed with ardent dog lovers, many of whom are now afraid to walk their pets at night or leave them alone in the back yard.

Communities around the country are plagued by destructive or aggressive raccoons, and many of them routinely trap, remove and even kill the animals. But this being California, the city's animal-control agency is instead urging people to try to get along with the raccoons -- a notion that strikes some as political correctness gone wild.

"What we're trying to inculcate in the L.A. community is a reverence for life. If we have more reverence for life, it translates into all our programs -- for women and infants, the elderly and everybody in our community," said Ed Boks, the head of Los Angeles Animal Services.

"As we develop these programs that demonstrate our compassion for creatures completely at our mercy, it makes for a more compassionate society all the way around."

Wildlife experts are commending the city for resisting demands to remove the raccoons. No-kill policies are rare among animal-control agencies in the U.S., and most apply only to dogs and cats. In Los Angeles, rabies in raccoons is not as big a threat as it is in other parts of the country, and there may be more sympathy for wildlife.

(Excerpt) Read more at newsday.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; US: California
KEYWORDS: raccoons
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To: libstripper; Jasper

Looks like a Catahoula to me.


21 posted on 11/17/2006 1:42:18 PM PST by CholeraJoe (Spork weasels ain't afraid of nuthin' but running out of sardines.)
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To: kiriath_jearim

22 posted on 11/17/2006 1:43:36 PM PST by Cementjungle
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To: libstripper
"OK, you've got me. What breed/breed mix is he? He's a great looking dog."

Plott Hound.

/jasper

23 posted on 11/17/2006 1:44:51 PM PST by Jasper (Stand Fast, Craigellachie !)
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To: kiriath_jearim

One thing I would really like to see: A white guy running through certain parts of L.A. screaming, "The 'coons are coming! The 'coons are coming!"


24 posted on 11/17/2006 1:47:59 PM PST by WestVirginiaRebel (Common sense will do to liberalism what the atomic bomb did to Nagasaki-Rush Limbaugh)
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To: Cementjungle

Cute but mean and bold. And rabid, of course.

I once went camping and woke up to one digging in the pocket of my knapsack (which was under my head because I was using it as a pillow) looking for a totally sealed plastic container of butter I had in the pocket. No fear!


25 posted on 11/17/2006 1:48:20 PM PST by livius
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To: kiriath_jearim

I was camping on the CA coast years back and during the night 2 coons got into some sort of fight. The most awful screeching screams I have ever heard and I didn't sleep too well that night.


26 posted on 11/17/2006 1:50:37 PM PST by the_devils_advocate_666
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To: livius
I once went camping and woke up to one digging in the pocket of my knapsack (which was under my head because I was using it as a pillow) looking for a totally sealed plastic container of butter I had in the pocket. No fear!

That reminds me of a time while camping in the Okefenokee swamp when a whole raccoon family worked together. The babies did a playful dance to entertain the campers while the mom was busy raiding the food boxes. It was a well orchestrated act, and very successful!

27 posted on 11/17/2006 1:51:19 PM PST by Cementjungle
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To: Cementjungle

"Ah, the strawberries! That's where I had them!"

28 posted on 11/17/2006 1:53:30 PM PST by WestVirginiaRebel (Common sense will do to liberalism what the atomic bomb did to Nagasaki-Rush Limbaugh)
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To: Cementjungle

Actually, come to think of it, there were a bunch of baby raccoons hanging out on a tree near our camp...clearly a coordinated action!


29 posted on 11/17/2006 1:59:56 PM PST by livius
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To: CholeraJoe
Plott Hound-North Carolina State Dog

/jasper

30 posted on 11/17/2006 2:01:31 PM PST by Jasper (Stand Fast, Craigellachie !)
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To: kiriath_jearim
If we have more reverence for life, it translates into all our programs -- for women and infants, the elderly and everybody in our community," said Ed Boks, the head of Los Angeles Animal Services.

Gawdamighty. These people really are insane. Idiots need to kill those overgrown rats.

31 posted on 11/17/2006 2:12:55 PM PST by hinckley buzzard
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To: kiriath_jearim

A squirt bottle of ammonia solution will keep them at bay. A super soaker is better for longer range.


32 posted on 11/17/2006 2:16:48 PM PST by Rb ver. 2.0
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To: Jasper

I used to have a Plott. Smartest nose, dumbest dog ever.


33 posted on 11/17/2006 2:17:35 PM PST by Rb ver. 2.0
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To: Rb ver. 2.0
"I used to have a Plott. Smartest nose, dumbest dog ever."

LOL
You must have got the "clunker" of the litter.

/jasper

34 posted on 11/17/2006 2:20:41 PM PST by Jasper (Stand Fast, Craigellachie !)
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To: windcliff

ping


35 posted on 11/17/2006 2:22:56 PM PST by stylecouncilor
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To: Jasper

On second thought, it was smart enough to jump up on my ex brother-in-law who was sleeping on the couch at the time and pee on his face.

He was smarter than I tought.


36 posted on 11/17/2006 2:26:16 PM PST by Rb ver. 2.0
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To: Rb ver. 2.0

thought


37 posted on 11/17/2006 2:26:26 PM PST by Rb ver. 2.0
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To: Cementjungle

I had a momma and kid coon literally pry the boards off where I had repaired the roof after the first break in.

They are not cute, they are vicious.


38 posted on 11/17/2006 2:26:39 PM PST by From many - one.
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To: SierraWasp

Ca.. Ca.. Can't we all just get along...


39 posted on 11/17/2006 2:32:11 PM PST by tubebender (Growing old is mandatory...Growing up is optional)
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To: stylecouncilor

Great picture of the lodge brothers in post #5. Har-de-har-har.


40 posted on 11/17/2006 2:33:40 PM PST by windcliff
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