What's the Right Thing To Do? It is our belief that raccoons are wild animals and belong in the wild. If they were successful as domestic pets, they would have long been treated as such. A problem
with raccoons is that, as wild animals, their behavior can turn unpredictable, particularly when mating age or seasons arise. Some people who keep pet raccoons are surprised to find their beloved cute critter turn
on them and bite or attack later in life. In addition, many states
Is a pet raccoon legal? - Before you would ever consider a raccoon as a pet, however, please check with your local laws and regulations. In many states or areas wildlife, specifically raccoons,
are prohibited to be kept as pets. There are good reasons for that. Many states do allow them as pets and while they are not the most common, some people actually have them in their homes. Raccoons can get used
to living with people, but they will always remain wild animals and never become totally tame or trained like a dog or a cat. Scroll down for the legal status of pet raccoons by state.
Where can I get a pet raccoon? - We are not sure. Some people attempt to keep and raise a found orphaned baby raccoon. If you are dead-set on doing this, it's at least important that you treat the
animal correctly! Many small errors, from attempting to feed it before it's warmed or re-hydrated can result in death. Read our found a baby raccoon page for advice.
I'm going to have a pet raccoon. - If we cannot convince you not to, and it is legal in your state, here are some thoughts on owning pet raccoons.
Long-term Commitment -
When you decide that you want a raccoon to keep you company, you must consider several facts regarding their needs and their nature. They are not domesticated and probably never will be. By taking a raccoon in as a pet, you are committing yourself to anywhere between ten and twenty years of raccoon companionship. Some sources say raccoons live between ten and fifteen years, others say their lifespan may even exceed twenty years. At a minimum, ten years of your attention and care for this responsibility will be required. Having a raccoon as a pet is much more demanding than having a dog or a cat. It is very hard to find someone to care for a raccoon when you are unable to do so yourself. It is cruel to set a raccoon into the wild after it has been a pet all its life because your commitment is lagging.
Health Care -
Finding a veterinarian to care for the animal's health may take a little time. Most vets do not care for wild or exotic critters. Raccoons are prone to carry rabies in the wild. When purchasing a raccoon from a breeder or when raising an orphaned raccoon baby, they are not infected with rabies. However, there are a number of other diseases like distemper found in raccoons unless they get vaccinated. If you keep your raccoon in your home, it may never get the diseases of a wild raccoon. There may be times when the animal is outside. Even in a large chicken wire cage, contact with another animal may happen, especially during mating season.
Raccoons are also known to have roundworms which can be transferred to humans. For the raccoon, round worms can lead to blindness, damage the CNS and even to death.
Nourishment -
This is more or less the easiest part of having a raccoon for a pet. They are omnivorous. They thrive on fresh vegetables or fruits. They will eat cooked meat like chicken or pork as well as fish. Dog food that is high in protein can be used as fill-in feedings. Like most pets, raccoons are very prone to becoming fat. Overweight and obesity in raccoons will often cause them to succumb to heart failure and some if the very same problems obese humans face. Raccoons live up to their reputation of wetting their food before consuming it, especially raccoons in captivity. The mess they make when they eat is a sight to behold.
Sexual Maturity -
The call to mate usually happens within the first three months of the year. There are geographical differences when mating actually is in season between the north and the south. During that time, males will travel quite some distances to find females to mate with. If your pet is caged or kept in the house and prohibited from mating, it may become quite aggressive during that time. Raccoons are not shy about biting when they want their way and this is the time when they will bite even more readily than any other.
Grooming -
You shouldn't bathe your raccoon more than twice a year. Their body oil is very important for their good health. You can let your raccoon splash in a tub full of water in your house or in a baby splashing pool outside in the raccoon's enclosure. He will treasure those times.
After winter is over, a raccoon will lose its fur in tangled balls. Spring arrival causes the fur to thin out and crack. These tangles must be brushed out very carefully with a wire brush or a dog grooming comb. Careful is the operative word here because tangled hair may cause nasty bites.
Socialization -
If you have other pets in your home, there may be constant war. Raccoons don't get along well with other raccoons or other pets. If they live in your house and have free access to household items, you must have the patience of a saint and a bank account that will allow for enormous repairs and replacement of all kinds of items from the computer mouse to toilets that have been crammed with cell phones and shoes and whatever the raccoon found interesting. They also love to chew on wires and pipes which can lead to flooding a bathroom or kitchen floor.
Do They Make Good Pets -
Raccoons are some of the cutest little critters. Something about their shape, their looks and size just appeals to humans. The question of whether or not they make excellent pets does depend on the owner, the situation and the state that is lived in. Because some states won't allow a raccoon as a pet this should be your starting point. From there you have to remember if you decide to keep one as a pet, it will always be a wild animal with instincts you might not understand. Learn everything you can about them and carefully consider keeping one if this is what you want to do.
More Raccoon Information
