They're Baaaack!

[tuvoc]

A few years back I had a raccoon family that came in the house at night to partake of my cat's food. For whatever reason, they stopped visiting. A few weeks ago I noticed that something was getting into the peanuts I'm leaving out for the scrub jays an crows. I caught them in the act last evening.That's mum at the bottom, and her two kits in the tree. I love these little guys, and am excited to have them back in the neighborhood.

Kim

[Junebug]

They're so cute. Great photo!

Please beware of getting too close to mom and babies. Wild raccoons look deceptively inviting, but they have big sharp teeth and can be quite aggressive if provoked.

[Swamper]

...and have lots of rabies, aside from that they really are very beautiful. I love them too.

[Judi]

They are cute but be very careful, they frequntly carry Baylisascaris, an intestinal raccoon roundworm. The eggs are in the feces and may remain viable for years; if injested by humans, the eggs can hatch into larvae in the body, see the following: Division of Parasitic Diseases - Baylisascaris Infection Fact Sheet

My husband was a wildlife rehabitator, but we never handled racoons for this reason.

[Swamper]

Judi, how do..."People become infected when they accidentally ingest infective eggs in soil, water, or on objects that have been contaminated with raccoon feces". I guess I sound stupid but I don't get it. Maybe it's too early in the morning for me.

[Judi]

The eggs are really tiny, if you get them on your hands you wouldn't even know it. Then if you picked a cherry tomato and ate it, or it's hot and you wiped your face with your hands the eggs could potentially be injested. Especially since they live for years, the feces may be decomposed but the eggs still be in the soi;lyou would never even know they were in the soil an could get them on yor hands while gardening. And then there are children--they are always touching things and putting their hands in their mouths.

[Swamper]

Thank you for your patience and your explanation.

[Nic100]

Intestinal roundworm aside - they're amazing. And fantastic picture too!

[tuvoc]

When they first showed up way back when I did some very thorough research on them, so I know all the dangers. Thanks for all the concern and warnings, but they are not pets, just cute, fairly friendly, wild visitors. In fact, they're better behaved than many 'domestic' animals I know. Just for the h---of it, here's a shot of my first bunch.

Kim

[nutgirl]

That 1st picture made my day!!! - Thanks

Maureen