There might be no more fun and charming animal than the raccoon. Or slightly, there are many cute ones, so long as you are not the one to endure their attention!
Raccoons are known to interrupt into garbage cans, outbuildings, and sometimes even homes of their limitless seek for food and nesting sites.
Extremely intelligent and able to intricate and skillful problem solving, raccoons could be certainly one of the animal pests that could be very difficult to regulate without resorting to deadly measures.
They will also be surprisingly large, and lots of of them are mean! This raises one obvious query: are raccoons dangerous to humans?
Yes, raccoons are considered dangerous to humans. They pose a threat to each our homes and pets, may cause a fairly serious bite and potentially carry the rabies virus.
They definitely look cute and cuddly, and who can resist that black mask they’ve, but you would be smart to go away raccoons alone wherever you encounter them.
Even raccoons that hang around near cities and suburbs cannot be trusted and behave unpredictably.
Good-natured help may cause a nasty bite with accompanying infection. There continues to be so much to study raccoons, and particularly about their interactions with humans. I’ll let you know all about it below.
Overview of raccoons, temperament and habitat
Raccoons are mammals native to North America. They are known for his or her distinctive black masks around their eyes and bushy tails with black and white rings.
Raccoons are often present in forested areas, but are also quite common in urban and suburban environments.
This is because human activity and habitation provide raccoons with easy food sources slightly than true habitat loss.
Speaking of food, raccoons are omnivores, feeding on each animal and plant matter. They also readily eat human and pet food that’s left behind or present in garbage cans.
Raccoons are lively mainly at night and are quite agile, capable of climb trees and swim proficiently. This makes them especially a nuisance within the early morning!
Raccoons are also known, or slightly infamous, for his or her intelligence and problem-solving skills.
They are known to make use of tools equivalent to stones to assist them access food, and may open complex locks and latches or negotiate obstacle courses to get to food or shelter.
This is a seek for the latter than will likely be seen when raccoons invade houses and other structures as they search out nesting sites.
Female raccoons often give birth to litters of two to five young and protect their young.
Family units or close-knit groups of females living together are sometimes found, although most sexually natural males remain solitary unless mating.
Because raccoons are so brave, invasive, and adaptable, this often brings them into close contact with humans, sometimes with unlucky results!
Do raccoons protect their territory?
Generally not, although raccoons will fiercely try to guard their young and the breeding area.
This is one of the vital common reasons raccoons attack humans; humans attempt to dislodge or relocate the raccoons, and captured creatures go on the offensive!
Do raccoons behave aggressively towards one another?
Yes. Male raccoons, especially those not yet sexually mature, sometimes form groups to hunt and forage together.
They may act aggressively towards one another in areas of competition equivalent to food supply. Female raccoons with cubs may also be very aggressive towards any male, as males often commit infanticide.
Are raccoons a threat to humans?
Yes, but often only when humans invade their nest or young, when a raccoon is trapped, cornered or injured, or when raccoons have turn out to be so brave that they are not any longer afraid of humans.
The latter is very likely for raccoons that live full-time in a neighborhood or city.
Have raccoon attacks on humans been recorded?
Yes, they were. Although rare, it’s believed that several dozen people could also be attacked and bitten by a raccoon every year, not counting incidents related to skilled pest control or wildlife removal.
Most of those attacks result from intrusion, although rabies isn’t excluded.
Fortunately, there has only been one known case where an individual died from a raccoon attack, and that was because of rabies.
What will cause a raccoon to attack an individual?
Basically three things:
- the person cornered a raccoon or posed a physical threat to a raccoon or its cubs. In these cases, the pet will attack defensively and should fight back viciously as an alternative of abandoning its kittens.
- the animal is trapped or injured. Raccoons do not know that humans could be attempting to help and so they attack out of fear.
- the raccoon has lost its fear of humans for one reason or one other. The most typical reason resides around and amongst people in built-up areas, and particularly people feeding them.
This is dangerous behavior because it will possibly make the raccoon lose its fear of humans more quickly and be more prone to act aggressively when confronted or refused to eat.
Another possible reason for the raccoon to lose its fear is rabies. Raccoons can transmit the disease, though not as often as commonly thought.
They also die quickly when contagious, so the specter of rabies from raccoons is minimal. However, should you are ever bitten by a raccoon, it is vital to hunt medical attention and get tested instantly.
Are raccoons strong?
Not really. Raccoons are strong enough to climb and run, and robust enough to deliver a fairly mean bite, but they aren’t physically dangerous in comparison with a human.
Can raccoons bite?
Yes, and they’ll when called upon! Biting is the one sensible technique to defend a raccoon. They are literally very capable chewers, with teeth adapted to crushing and tearing food.
And meaning they could be dangerous when provoked or cornered, although they’re generally more of a nuisance than an actual threat.
What does a raccoon attack seem like?
A raccoon’s attack consists of a charge, or sometimes a mock charge, followed by a bite of any a part of the enemy that’s inside range.
Raccoons are quite fast on the bottom, so should you cannot move fast (say since you’re below deck), the raccoon will get you before you’ll be able to get away. They will then repeatedly bite and sometimes scratch the goal…
As all the time, be extra vigilant when you have to get near a raccoon, and double your caution if one is behaving erratically because it could have rabies!
How to react to a raccoon attack?
The best defense is to run and avoid. If possible, back up slowly and avoid eye contact before the raccoon starts to charge.
If that is impossible, protect yourself with anything you’ll be able to put between you and the raccoon, equivalent to a coat or broom. Raccoons aren’t very large or strong and are easily defeated with a solid shield or weapon.
In the worst case, you could have to step on the raccoon to kill it. Don’t dry it to catch it without sturdy mitts and mitts: they squirm and have loose skin to assist them avoid being caught by predators, allowing the raccoon to roll over and get to work in your hands as an alternative.
Do what you’ll be able to to avoid being bitten and run away at any time when you’ll be able to.
Will a raccoon eat a human?!
Yes, at the least in the event that they found the body. No raccoon could be mad or desperate enough to attack a human for food. But they’re scavengers and eat meat, so the raccoon will probably bite your body should you die.
Can humans get diseases from raccoons?
Yes, and quite so much! The most severe and dangerous is rabies, and raccoons carry this virus.
But raccoons can even spread other parasites and diseases like salmonella, roundworm, leptospirosis, distemper, and others.
So it is vital to watch out when coming into contact with a raccoon, as even contact without bites or scratches can leave you vulnerable to infection.
