Meanwhile in Berkeley... City mulls what to do about raccoons

Sac Bee ^ | 8/20/02 | Sac Bee

[NormsRevenge]

Berkeley is so tired of these beggars that some folks want them neutered. That may sound harsh, but the alternative is to kill them.

The beggars in question are the city's increasingly aggressive raccoons. City Councilwoman Linda Maio can't stomach the thought of the traditional solution by workers at the pound. So she's planning to propose a new ordinance in Berkeley (which already has frowned on everything from nuclear weaponry to wood-fired pizza ovens) to underwrite sterilizing the pesky raccoons.

[NormsRevenge]

Sterilize? Why not relocate? To China.

The Berkeley City Council, not the raccoons. ;-)

[gov_bean_ counter]

The Beverly Hillbillys had the right idea.

[muir_redwoods]

Why don't they just register them as democrats and let them vote? They already wear masks so they'll look just like California politicians

[KLT]

With all the crap in Bezerkly...racoons are the least of their problems...
What a bunch of ignorant dirtbags!
Geeze, wonder if the racoons wanted sex change operations if they would stop being a problem?

[Rev. Lou Chenary]

Why not hunt them and give the meat to welfare patients?

Or since it is California they might as well just enact a raccoon tax and run them out of town.

[bfree]

Just cook them up for some goood eatin', Berkeley!!

[Tennessee_Bob]

"They remember. They're smart."

...some folks want them neutered. That may sound harsh, but the alternative is to kill them.

Uh oh - if you're smart, and in Berkeley, you better look out.

[John Locke]

Why not hunt them and give the meat to welfare patients?

You'd save a lot more money feeding the welfare patients to the raccoons. Improve the neighborhood, too.

[NMR Guy]

During my time at UC Berkeley, raccoons were all over the south side. They came up out of the sewer openings at night and wandered around, with the little ones following the mother.

They never really bothered me - why not just leave them alone. I can tell you, worse things than getting raccoon paw prints _will_ happen to your car when you park it in Berkeley.

[Rev. Lou Chenary]

You'd save a lot more money feeding the welfare patients to the raccoons The Raccoons deserve better than that!!

Just think of the diseases!!

[goodieD]

ahem...having feasted on raccoon in the past..I found them quite tasty actually...kinda like a cross between perch and chicken.

BTW, message to Berkleyites..about your raccoon problem.. BOO F'ING HOO.. I hope they ruin your paintjob.

[GVNR]

I see a big business opportunity here...

There MUST be a big market in Traficant's district for
"Jim Traficant Wigs"!
Wellllll, maybe not. The shipping costs might be too prohibitive.

[berkeleybeej]

above is reason 483 why i'm glad i got outta berkeley

[berkeleybeej]

oops - the city council, not the raccoons - i liked the little (and not so little) critters

[Western Phil]

A raccoon, after all, is a raccoon.

There is a glut of these dirty animals over the whole country. Just check the road kill. A few years back after the Soviet Union disappeared and Russia was doing fairly well economically, they were buying our racoon pelts. The trappers kept the population down. During the reign of the evil emperor, the Russian economy went belly up and they stopped buying racoon pelts. Bingo, racoons everywhere eating baby & mother songbirds in their nests. They are harder on the songbird population than feral cats.

[jordan8]

Stuffed Roast Raccoon
 Categories: 
      Yield: 1 Servings
 
      1 lb Sweet potatoes; mashed
    1/2 c  Raisins
      1 c  Bread crumbs
      2    Apples; peeled and chopped
    1/4 c  Butter; melted
           Salt and pepper to taste
      4 lb To 5 racoon
 
  First make the stuffing; mix together all
  ingredients (except raccoon, of course) gently
  until blended. Set aside. Wash raccoon meat
  thoroughly and dry with a cloth. Cut off some of
  the fat, leaving just enough for a thin layer.
  Salt the inside of the coon. Stuff gently with the
  sweet potato mixture and sew opening shut. Bake at
  325°. for about 3-4 hours. When half done, turn
  over so all sides will be browned. Serve with a
  crisp vegetable salad.
 
MMMMM          

[j271]

Let's be honest. It's a raccoon backlash because of years of Berkeley imperialist oppression.

Berkeleyites should ask, "Why do they hate us?"

The wealthy Berkleyites drive cars and live in luxury, while the poor raccoons search through the trash for something to eat.

Where's the compassion? Where's the social justice?

[j271]

sterilizing...raccoons

There's no way we'll accept sterilization unless its done randomly to everyone without regard to raccoon ethnicity.

Otherwise, it's just profiling.

[July 4th]

"I continually find raccoon paw prints all over my car each morning," said Maio, whose car became a target because of some cookies inside earlier.

Hmm...so she wants the government to solve her problem. My advice: lay off the freaking cookies.

[Vicki]

Berkley, Be Compassionate!
Invite the critters into your home with open arms and an open 'frig.