Raccoons in Alberta

Found ruffled grouse feathers in the loft of my shed this spring along with racoon scat. Another reason to terminate with extreme predjudice. I met a young lady who wrecked her car and badly hurt herself by swerving to miss a racoon. I told her people I know swerve to hit them, not miss them. She was not amused.
 
You really want to keep the 'coons from patterning on your property. Moms learn where the food is, and the little ones follow her. Then when they have their little ones, they follow her. Break that cycle when you see it. They are a pest in the city because their only predators are cars. Toronto has big problems with the little christers breaking into supposedly animal proof compost bins.

As for diseases, they are a known vector for rabies. You'll have to check out the provincial distribution maps to see how much risk you have to consider.

As for taking up residence, don't let them den up anywhere! Their turds are not necessarily toxic like radioactive waste, but if they are carrying diseases, you're at risk. The bigger issue is their destructiveness. They get in the attic and will make a mess you'll have a hard time cleaning.
 
Lots south of Lethbridge, they make great pets! Most farmers & ranchers shoot on sight. They are a bitc# in the corn. One guy I know live trapped 17 at his house in Lethbridge. He released them miles away, with 3 returning. I don’t know if proteted here but I do know they are shot a lot. I have not seen any north of Red Deer.
 
a j cave said:
Lots south of Lethbridge, they make great pets! Most farmers & ranchers shoot on sight. They are a bitc# in the corn. One guy I know live trapped 17 at his house in Lethbridge. He released them miles away, with 3 returning. I don’t know if proteted here but I do know they are shot a lot. I have not seen any north of Red Deer.
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Skunks make great pets as well. :)

Grizz
 
kjohn said:
Raccoons are in the same class as skunks. Some told me that rarely if ever do you see carrion birds eating at a dead raccoon. I've also read that there is something in their feces that is deadly to dogs. Some people think they make cute pets. I think they look great flattened out on the road.
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I like them better as hats.
 
I couldn’t tell you about Alberta, but out west .... we have millions in the cities. I see them often at night .... once at the end of my bumper accidently (wouldn’t believe that an animal that small could cause so much damage). They eat people’s cats and dogs ... I found skulls of pets in my Dad’s shed and two dead raccoons that holed up in there and later got trapped and starved. Their poop can destroy buildings (the Japanese have them as an invasive species and they destroy temples with their scat).

But .... it isn’t the end of the world ... just a nuisance

Just watch your pets
 
I have chickens and as a result I shoot lots of racoons. If they get into a flock they kill all they can catch and then usually only take away and eat 1. Usually I throw them into a fence line and in a day or so the turkey vultures find and eat them.
 
Southern Alberta has always had raccoons, but in the last few years we've seen the odd one up near Swan hills at the farm. Also interesting when I picked up a hide from a tannery last year I was told that there had been an increase in raccoon hides from more northern places that never had them before.
 
KotKotofeich said:
That's what you do to someone you hate. Just release a bunch in the driveway :p
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HAHA speaking of that
I live trap skunks here in the little town I live in
there is one miserable cuss that comes into the local restaurant every day for coffee and an argument with whom ever her can get fired up
well while he is at the local coffee shop I turn the trapped skunks loose under his bar or grain bins once I even let one loose under his house
HaHA its a great joke to pull on the miserable old coot
 
cant_rope_the_wind01 said:
HAHA speaking of that
I live trap skunks here in the little town I live in
there is one miserable cuss that comes into the local restaurant every day for coffee and an argument with whom ever her can get fired up
well while he is at the local coffee shop I turn the trapped skunks loose under his bar or grain bins once I even let one loose under his house
HaHA its a great joke to pull on the miserable old coot
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Image unrelated

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