|
| |
|
PERMITS |
Before buying a raccoon, please check with your state to see if
you need a permit or if they are legal.
Every state has different regulations. For the safety of the
animal, it is best to ensure he/she is legal.
Otherwise, You will have a difficult time finding a vet. Most
vets will not treat an illegal raccoon.
It is not fair to even ask a vet to treat a raccoon that is illegal.
If a vet would treat an illegal
raccoon, you are putting their job in jeopardy.
Also,
most states will confiscate an illegal raccoon and kill it,
topped off with a fine. |
|
RACCOON COLOR VARIATIONS |
Raccoons come in different colors.
(These are the only colors that I know of at this time)
| Albino |
Blonde |
Cinnamon |
white |
| Black |
Brown (common color) |
Platinum |
|
|
|
BUYING A RACCOON |
PLEASE make sure you understand the proper needs of a raccoon
prior to buying one.
Have you done extensive research? Are they legal in your state?
Have you talked with raccoon owners?
Raccoons are generally destructive. They can rip your carpet
up, scratch up doors, Open cupboards and pull the contents out of your cupboards.
If you get bored with your raccoon, or find out what a mess they
make,
YOU CANNOT RELEASE THEM INTO THE WILD. They are dependent on you and
will have a hard time fending for themselves. Chances are really
good, a released raccoon will get shot or hit by a car.Prior to buying a raccoon, please make sure you have done extensive
research. This also means talking with other raccoon owners. A
raccoon is NOT like a dog or cat and should be raised with a lot of
knowledge and understanding of a raccoons disposition.
If you are still considering buying one, then read on:
The average cost of a raccoon is anywhere from $100.00 to $300.00
Make sure you buy a raccoon from a reputable dealer. You should
get one at a very young age. I recommend getting a raccoon that is
still on the bottle.
This helps with the bonding process. Please remember to check
the legality of owning a raccoon in your state.
Look for the most calmest raccoon in the litter.
DO NOT TAKE A RACCOON FROM THE WILD. Captive born raccoons are
generally more docile than a raccoon from the wild. Also, you will
not know the background of a wild raccoon.
|
|
Diet |
Babies on the bottle, should have powered milk with high fat
content. This can be bought at a farm store or pet store. KMR is
also a good formula to use. (mostly when they are very young)
NEVER give them whole milk. You can later offer them some
fruit when they are ready to eat. (depending on their age)
Raccoons are generally easy to bottle break. At least mine
was.
When they are off the bottle and ready for food, raccoons will eat almost anything.
Introduce their food slowly. Start with fruit or something soft. You
can mix a little milk with it.
Some raccoons bottle break easier than others. Larry (my
oldest raccoon) decided he didn't wantthe bottle any more, in
just one day. George(my youngest raccoon) wanted his
bottle, and took longer to break him. I kept trying different
foods that he really liked. raw eggs was one of them.
MAIN DIET Raccoons:
| Chicken |
Chicken Giblets |
Turkey |
Deer Meat |
| Dry cat and/or Dog food |
Can Cat food |
Fish (gutted) |
Liver |
| Organ Meats |
Raw Eggs |
*Minnows |
Fruits |
| * Minnows can be put
in their play water. They love fishing for them. |
The most common food for a
raccoon is cooked chicken or fish (beef and pork is not recommended)
FISH: If you catch fish for your raccoon, make sure the fish is
gutted to check for hooks.
This is how I make their food:
Mix together:
1. Dry cat food (sometimes mix a little dry dog food)
2. Can cat food (depending on how many coons you have to feed, use
about 1/4 -1/2 can.
Mix together, add a little olive oil or similar. then mix again.
You can also add some syrup on top of their food or treats.
Add one of the meats mentioned above. If raw, you just add
give them a piece of chicken with the bone. if cooked, remove the
bone.
My raccoons get both raw and cooked. They don't get raw everyday,
except for the giblets.
Raccoons are really not big meat eaters, they don't have to have an
all meat diet.
Also, raccoons don't always eat their food all at one time. they
like to scavenge for their food.
You could try putting a couple dishes with a little of their food
split up.
It is important to have water next to their food. They like to dip
their food in water.
DO NOT FEED YOUR RACCOON CHOCOLATE.
Fruits is also good to feed a raccoon. Some will eat more fruit than
others.
However, Raccoons also have a
sweet tooth.
The following is what my raccoons get alternately in
conjunction with their main course.
(They sometimes will get bored with the same food everyday)
| Corn on the Cob |
Marshmallows |
| Nuts |
Dog Biscuits |
| Hard candy |
Marrow dog bones |
| Watermelon |
Sponge cake with syrup or
honey |
| honey, syrup or fruit
over ice cubes (do not any sugar-free syrup) |
Raccoons must have a dish of water next to their food.
They will dip their food into the water prior to eating.They do make a mess. you could put cardboard sheets under
their water and food dish
to make clean up a little easier.
The water dish must be cleaned once or twice a day.
I generally have several water dishes for my raccoons.
They also have a couple large pans of water to play in.
Raccoons love to play in water. So the pans should be something that
they can't knock over.
In their outdoor pen, I use two large "cement mixing pans" These can
be bought at lowes. The pans do not need to be filled full.
I fill then less than half.
I also have a flat log in front of the pans to make it easier for
them to get in. However, raccoons can climb in without the extra
step, but, I just like to make
their set ups as easy as I can for them. Mine seem to prefer the
extra step to get into their pool. Their pool gets changed
everyday. I just dump the water out, and replace it with fresh
water. I have an outdoor faucet and hose in their pen.
(makes it a lot easier to change)
Sometimes I will put
minnows in their pool, and they just love the challenge of catching
and eating them. (best done in their outdoor pen) When
available, I also put a large cat fish from our pond or fish
caught at a lake (must be gutted for fish hooks)
they will share their fish with the foxes. But, foxes don't 'seem to
prefer much fish.
|
|
ENRICHMENT |
Raccoons seem to do better if they have someone to play with.
Mine love my dogs, and will play with them, as long as the dog
is
willing. Even though I have three raccoons, Larry (my oldest)
prefer playing with the dogs.
Larry was raised with Daryl (my marble fox) It is actually great,
that they still get along and are still friends.
Raccoons will play with toys, squeaky toys, kongs filled with
treats is good also. I also will put some treats in a wide mouth
plastic bottle. They seem to like the challenge of getting the
treats out.
Brown paper bags with a little bit of treats in it, keeps them busy for a
little while.
If a raccoon is kept occupied, they are less apt to get into as much
trouble.
Larry loves to be petted and scratched, and he loves kisses. However, I
don't advise this, unless you are absolutely sure
your coon is calm.
I feel it is important to have activity for a raccoon. If they get
bored, they are more apt to get into trouble.
Allow your raccoon to be as active as possible. They need room to
run/walk around.
If you keep your raccoon confined, then plan on having an aggressive
raccoon.
|
|
LITTER TRAINING |
Litter training a raccoon is pretty easy. They need to be
started the first day you get him/her.
When I first got mine, I kept them in a 3x4ft cage at night and a
little during the day.
The cage should be large enough for a litter pan, feeding dish and
bedding.
Put a blanket on half of the cage. On the side where the blanket is,
put a small box for them to sleep/hide in.
The litter pan should be at the opposite side of the cage. The food
dish close to their bedding.
All you need for the litter box is a small litter pan, or small flat
box, line it with newspaper, then put a thin layer of litter.
(no need to fill it like you would for a cat,
raccoons do not bury their feces)
If the raccoon don't use the litter box, put his/her feces in the
litter box. If he/she urinates, soak a little on some newspaper and
put it in the litter box.
When the raccoon is out of his/her cage. put the raccoon in the
litter box every couple hours.
I had a pretty easy time with mine. It didn't seem to take long for
them to figure it out.
As your raccoon gets older. Keep a few litter boxes for
him/her. Keep one or two in the house.
and one or two in it's pen. I use those black cement mixer
pans. They are cheaper than a cat litter box,
and larger. I line it with newspapers, and a thin layer of
litter. |
|
RACCOON'S DISPOSITION |
Keep in mind, that a young raccoon is VERY destructive.
They will chew electrical cords. Plugged in or not. You
will have to know their every movement.
They can be thieves, and will take whatever they can whenever they
feel like it. The will scratch doors, carpets and can even bore
holes in wood.
This is why they need to be watched their every move.
With patience and time, your raccoon should eventually learn some
places are just off limit.
Remember, raccoons are NOT like dogs and cats, they need to be
raised in a different manor, with a lot of understanding and
patience.
If a raccoon is raised properly, it is possible to have a really
great raccoon.
If you do not have your raccoon fixed and do not spend much time
with, you will have a very aggressive raccoon.
Assuming you raised your raccoon properly, and your raccoon has a
lot of activity.
They can be really lovable. (not quite like a dog or cat) but,
for an exotic animal they can almost domestic.
Overall, raccoons are curious animals. They want to
investigate everything.
This would mean, opening your cupboards, refrigerator, climbing.
Since raccoons love water, you should keep the bathroom off limits.
They will play in the toilet, in the bathtub, open cupboards and
pull everything out.
However, keep in mind, that if there is a closed door, chance are,
the raccoon will want to see want is behind that door. If they
want in bad enough, they will scratch the door and carpet.
If you are concerned about your doors, you can put some kick plates
on the bottom of the door. This will prevent the raccoon from
scratching any holes in the door.
Raccoons can understand words, as long as a lot of time is spent
with him/her.
Raccoons love water, so anything is "fair game" to them.
If you have a glass of water or whatever, plan on the raccoon
spilling it.
Some raccoons will climb up your drapes, (mine never has)
Basically, depending on the breeding stock you buy one at, it all
boils down to how your raise him/her.
Also, the environment, enrichment and treatment |
|
OUTDOOR PEN |
I feel it is very important to have an outdoor pen for a
raccoon.
 They love the outdoors, but, also love their owners.
Let them have the best of both worlds.
I DO NOT RECOMMEND PUTTING YOUR RACCOON IN ANY TYPE OF CAGE. (with
he exception when you bring him/her home)
An outdoor pen is very convenient, especially when you are not at
home. I do not advise leaving a raccoon in the house when you
are not home. They can be very destructive. Raccoons have
almost human-like hands where they can open cupboards and
refrigerators. They are very curious animals, and will make a
mess.
The outdoor pen should have several places where they can hide.
Mine seem to prefer being up high.
If possible, build them something they can climb up and hide in.
Otherwise, wooden box with lots of straw should work.
Give them a couple optional hiding places.
The larger the pen, the better. The more room in the pen, the more
exercise they will get.
The pen should be build with chain link. also a top, and bottom. The
pen I have, is shared with my foxes. I bought a 10x10 dog
kennel chain link fence. Then attached to my house, which
gave a pen area of 10x20. A doggie door that goes into the house, a
corrugated roof panels.
|
|
NEUTER/SPAY |
I highly recommend neuter/spay your raccoon before they reach a
year old.
If a raccoon is not fixed. you will have a very moody raccoon on
your hands.
At breeding time, their moods will change drastically.
I have seen and heard of raccoons that were intact, and were very
nasty. They will bite and when they do, I have heard that it
can be very nasty bites. some bites that people
required stitches.
If your raccoon is fixed, you will have a much more pleasant
experience with him/her, assuming you understand their proper needs
and care for them properly.
Remember to have a vet lined up prior to buying your raccoon. Find
out if that vet has experience with
exotic animals, or is willing to research prior to spay/neutering
them. |
|
CORRECTION |
NEVER smack your raccoon. They will not understand.
If your raccoon should show any aggression, tap him/her on the nose
and say "NO".
You could also try scruffing your raccoon with a gentle shake, and
tell him NO.
Eventually, he/she will understand. It will take persistence and
time.
Once your raccoon learns the word "NO" and assuming he/she is
attentive.
He/she should listen when he/she is doing something they should not
be doing.
Mine like to climb on my computer desk. As soon as I say "NO" Larry
will get down.
The good part is, it seems, as they get older, they will calm down a
little.
Of course assuming the raccoon is raised properly and generally not
bored.
Keep in mine, "A bored animal is a bad animal"
|
|
DO' S AND DON'TS |
Do NOT let young children near your raccoon. It is even
best to not let anyone other than the owner handle the
raccoon. If your raccoon should bite or scratch and that
person needs hospital care, then it could be a sad ending for
the raccoon. I have heard this happen many times (even within
family members).
Do NOT take your raccoon for walks in public. You run a risk
of the raccoon biting or scratching a stranger.
This could result in a lawsuit, and the loss of your raccoon.
You cannot put a collar on him/her, even a harness is debatable.
Raccoons can slip through them or manage to take it off.
Also, by having your raccoon in public, you stand a greater chance
of someone complaining.
There are a lot of people out there that feel these animals should
be left in wild.
Do NOT attempt to have their canines removed. This will break
their jaw.
Do NOT take in a raccoon from the wild. (unless your state
allows it)
if you state does, you could have more of a challenge of raising it.
Do NOT release your raccoon into the wild. If you find you
cannot handle him/her anymore,
try and find a home for it, or take it to a rehab center.Do talk to your raccoon as much as possible. This is small
part of building keeping a bond with him/her.
Do pet/scratch your raccoon, they like that, assuming you
have a good natured raccoon and was raised properly.
Do get your raccoon spayed/neutered.
Do extensive research prior to buying a raccoon.
Do check with your state for the legalities of owning a
raccoon.
Do have a large outdoor pen for your raccoon.
|
|
FINAL NOTE |
There are a lot of responsible exotic animal owners out there.
But, the sad part is, there are many people that are NOT. But, there
is also a lot of people that feel all exotic animals should be left
in the wild. Then of course, there are the peta group, that feels no
one should have any animals (even dogs and cats).
We are trying very hard to give information on what it is like
raising exotic animals.
There are people out there that will buy these cute little animals,
then when the animal grows,
these people realize they can't take care of them properly. So
when something goes wrong, the media knows about it. Then it makes
all responsible exotic animal owners look bad.
This in turn, is generating more and more bans state wide.
If you are considering getting a raccoon or any exotic animal,
PLEASE make sure you completely understand their proper needs and
expense. By doing so, this makes life much better for you and
your pet.
I sincerely hope some of this information has helped.
Please pitch in and spread the word to help others.
Thank you for taking the time to read through this. However,
there is still more that needs to be said about raccoons.
Please join my message board to learn more.
Once you sign up, you can post and you can then view all the
pictures.
raccoon topic is under "little critters/raccoons"
http://sybilsden.com/bb/
| This care sheet was written by Pat
(owner of Sybils Den) Information provided was based on my
experience with raccoons. |
|
|
|
Main
Care sheet