Raccoon babies (kits)?
Question:We have had a raccoon problem for four months. Last night, we finally caught it ! But! We can now see that it is a mother and that is has been nursing her young. My question is, are we in danger if we go after her young, who are in our attic? Is there any way of knowing how old they are? I am not sure for how long they nurse. Husband took the raccoon more than 35 miles away, and I think the protocol now is to take the young to a wildlife rescue? Any thoughts on the best way to approach them (if we can reach them) would be great. Thanks!
Answers:
It will depend on how old the young are.We have raised several litters of raccoons and they are so much fun. If you can get them before their eyes are opened or shortly after their eyes are open you should be able to raise them and set them free.if when they are old enough you teach them how to forge for food. The last ones we raised ended up staying in our pole barn even after they were full grown, the females have a tendencey to stick around, I could go into the pole barn and chatter for her and she would come running. We fed them graham crackers with pet mild and made it into a mushy mix, at that time we had a kennel and I could get the rabies shots and vaccinations for them, when they got older they would eat purina dog chow also gave them apples and fruit, even bought them a childs swimming pool which they had a ball in, they played with our dogs and had a good time.
I had one that would climb my pant leg and get up around my neck and sleep for hours. If they will let you get close to them chances are they won't be afraid of you, start by offering them food out of your hands and if they take it several times they will learn to trust you and should be ok for you to handle. If you are unsure put on a pair of heavy leather gloves like a welders glove before picking them up. In all of them we have raised I've never been bitten by one, but their toenails do get sharp if you handle them enough you can trim their nails like you would a dog. They are so curious about everything and anything shinney catches their eye, so if you can raise them watch your earrings and necklaces. If you are unsure whether or not you can raise them check your yellow pages for a trapper that will trap them and take them somewhere to be raised and turned loose.however if you can raise them yourself it will be a fun experience. The last two that we raised were a male and a female, my husband built a cage for them and we would let them out in the yard with us when we were out and they would follow us everywhere, the male did take off and was gone for about five months and one nite we seen him out trying to get back in the cage so we went out and opened the cage and he went right up the ramp and went in, but he was never as tame as he was before he left, but the female remained tame, she is the one that stayed in the pole barn after she was over a year old. When we sold that property we told the new owners that they had a raccoon in the pole barn and that she was tame and don't be suprised if she jumps off the hay mow onto you, she expects you to catch her! Luckily they liked animals and thought that was pretty neat.that has been years ago and I'm sure that this little female no longer exist, but we sure enjoyed raising them.
Good Luck
Please take them to a wildlife rescue.I had a family member who tried to raise raccoons and did so for many years...yes it is great fun UNTIL the raccoon gets older and still wants to play and this can be not so fun when it is pulling your hair or kids want to play with it and it decides to bite or even better rabies of course in many areas the government will give you a hefty fine..when the raccoon is finally separated and can not fin for itself or thinks all two legged creatures wish to play with it as it has been taught from birth it can end up dead
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