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The raccoon is a small mammal from North America. It has a plump body. Its cute look makes many people want one as a pet. But raccoons are not a good pet choice. They only appear sweet.

Raccoons have striped tails and black face fur. Their front paws are very flexible, like monkey hands. They use these paws to grab food. They do other things too. Raccoons like living near ponds, streams, or wooded spots. These places have lots of food. They eat many different things. They adapt very well. Now, raccoons live in many cities. They find food by digging in trash bins. They live very successfully.

Many people mix up raccoons with red pandas. They look similar. But animal experts say they are different. Raccoons and red pandas are both mammals. They are both meat-eaters. But they are different species from different families. A red panda is about 60-62 centimeters long. Its tail is quite thick. It has nine brown and white rings. Its body is round. Its limbs are short and thick. Its back fur is reddish-brown. Its belly and limbs are dark brown. The area around its ears is white. It has white spots on its face. Its nose is black. Red pandas usually live in high mountains. They live between 1600 and 3000 meters high. They climb trees very well. Their food is mostly roots. They eat bamboo stems and leaves. They eat bamboo shoots. They eat young leaves and fruit.

Raccoons and red pandas may look alike. Their living habits are different. Their homes are different. Their food is different. This is why they are not the same species.

Care tips for raising raccoons:

Outdoor enclosure:

If you have enough room, give your raccoon a safe outdoor pen. This helps when you are busy. It helps when you are not home. It gives your pet a secure play area. The pen should be very large. It needs walls and a roof. This stops escapes. Many people build the pen from wood and wire mesh. Put enough food and water inside. Include hiding spots. Include things to climb and jump on. Thick branches work well. You can also give toys. Balls are good. Puzzle toys are good. These keep them busy. These improve their life.

Bedding:

If your raccoon stays in a cage sometimes, put down washable blankets. Dog beds work too. This gives a cozy rest area. It makes cleaning simpler.

Diet:

Raccoons eat both plants and meat. You must give them a mixed diet. This includes dog food. It includes poultry and fish. It includes eggs and insects. It includes vegetables and fruit. Give high-fat snacks in small amounts. Nuts are an example. This stops obesity. Always provide clean drinking water. Raccoons differ in age. They differ in size and activity. Ask a vet for the best food type. Ask for the right amount.

Raccoons are messy eaters. They like to dunk food in water before eating. So you must change their water often. Pick a feeding spot that is easy to clean.

Usually, adult raccoons eat two times daily. Feed them early in the morning. Feed them late in the afternoon. But follow your vet's advice best. You can put food in a bowl. You can put food in puzzle toys. You can hide food in their living area. This encourages their curiosity. They will search for food.

Legality:

Before getting a pet raccoon, learn your local laws. Learn your state/province laws. In many areas, keeping a raccoon is illegal. Some places allow it but have strict rules. For example, some states ban bringing raccoons from other states.

[The picture is from Mpls.St.Paul Magazine,the copyright belongs to the original author]

But why are raccoons unsuitable as pets?

Raccoons are social by nature. They do not seem to fear humans. But they cannot lose their wild instincts. Last century, some countries tried to tame raccoons as pets. Germany tried. Japan tried. The Soviet Union tried. All attempts failed. Even raccoons bred in captivity keep strong wild instincts. They show odd behaviors. They are very hard to tame.

In 1968, Germany got a cartoon starring raccoons. This started a big raccoon trend. Many raccoons appeared on the market. Their prices were high. Soon, owners had problems. Raccoons adapt too well. They behave very wildly. Many people abandoned them. Many freed them. These raccoons had no natural predators. They bred quickly. They formed wild groups. Now, Germany has about one million wild raccoons. They cause 50 million euros in losses each year.

The worst case was in Japan. Many raccoons were brought in for taming. They could not be domesticated. Some were abandoned. Some escaped into the wild. They bred fast in nature. They damaged many local old buildings. In Hokkaido, they caused 30 million yen in farm losses.

Raccoons are very smart and agile. Their front limbs are very skillful. They can dig and open many containers. They are good at stealing food. They can pick locks. They can break into houses. This causes much trouble for North American residents. Raccoons are highly intelligent. They usually scout an area first. They check the surroundings for safety. Then they act. They like to stay in one place. Then they move to another. They adapt very well. Raccoons are active outside day and night. If spotted, they escape quickly. In a fight, raccoons are strong. Their bite force is close to a medium dog's. They move in a coordinated way. They move in a flexible way. They can attack and kill pet cats. They can kill small dogs.

In North America, raccoons often enter homes. They dig through trash bins. They steal food. They damage yards. To stop them relying on humans, many areas made laws. These laws ban feeding wild raccoons. This prevents big groups. It prevents mess.

Raccoons can open door handles. They can even pull out bolts. They are very destructive. If you have a pet raccoon, you might find your phone in the sink. Your iPad might be in the toilet. These acts may seem funny. They may seem cute. But the results are often very annoying.

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Risks you cannot ignore:

Raccoons are not large. But they can be aggressive. This is especially true in breeding season. Even neutered raccoons have sharp teeth. Their behavior is unpredictable. This can threaten other pets. It can threaten people at home. Also, their limbs are very flexible. They can grab things with their front paws. They can even stand and walk. Keeping a raccoon as a pet is not easy. ¹Their curiosity makes them destroy things. Their intelligence makes them destroy things all over the house. Even in a cage, they may get restless. They may get aggressive from small space.

Young raccoons may seem gentle. As they grow, they become more aggressive. This is especially true after they become adults. Raccoon attacks are not just "mischief." It is their wild animal instinct. At adulthood, their territorial instinct gets stronger. This is around age 1. They may start attacking their owners. At feeding time, they can be very protective. They might even bite people.

Raccoons bite differently from dogs. They often "chew and drag." This makes deep wounds. These wounds infect easily. Their saliva has many bacteria. These bacteria can cause swelling. They can cause pus. They can cause infection in the wound.

Also, raccoon attacks are not rare events. Some owners got hurt after their raccoons became adults. One person's wound needed 12 stitches. A vet said raccoon aggression shows their wild instinct. It is like adult tigers. Tigers sometimes attack humans.

Also, raccoons can carry rabies. Health departments in the US and Canada tell people to avoid wild raccoons. A bite could spread rabies. A scratch could spread rabies. Without quick treatment, it can kill. In 2006, New York City found 35 raccoons with rabies. This was a serious public health risk.

Raccoons are so destructive. They are so aggressive. It makes sense they are not popular pets. But they are not good as home pets. They are quite popular in zoos. They are popular in animal parks. They are popular in special pet cafes. People can see them there. People can touch them there. They avoid the troubles of owning one. If these places can stay open, it is a good option.

Source:

[1] hel-pful:“Care For A Pet Raccoon”

Reference:

[1] Thesprucepets: “Pet Raccoons: What You Need to Know Before Keeping One”

[2]WbMD: “Can I Have a Pet Raccoon?”