Asked on May 25, 2012
Racoons - more wildlife
by
Sherrie S
+74
Well we just added more wildlife today. These are young and there is no mama around. Will these racoons bother my fish pond? Any other problems I should be aware of.
Oh look one racoon
whoops, 2 racoons
How about a close up?
74 answers
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If the water is shallow enough for them to wade in it they will try to fling the fish out with their paws....then eat them. How deep are your pond edges? Could a raccoon stand on the side and reach into the water?
Walter Reeves
on May 25, 2012
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Walter, I just measured the rocks and they are 6-12" around the pond. The pond is only 2' deep. I have been lucky with all the wildlife around here. The only time I lost fish was when the heron found my pond and ate every fish. I then added a lot of deterrents like a fake alligator, 2 cement statue herons, owl that moved and water that blasted anything close. The one thing that finally worked was a 12' high tiki umbrella. Don't ask me why.
Sherrie S
on May 25, 2012
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I think if they have plenty to eat they will usually just wash their food in the pond unless there is another pond close or create one. Racoons will wash just about everything they eat! But they also are very curious and the fish will draw their attention! They seem tame and are very dangerous even if you decide to put food out for them, but never think even if they come up and take food from your hand they are tame! Have just lost the fear of man. I would call humane society and have them moved to another location.
Micky D
on May 25, 2012
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Micky D, I have 3 water areas in the backyard for wildlife. One birdbath, one quite large waterfeature and a 3rd that is on the ground where ducks, turkeys, sandhill cranes and many other type of wildlife take a drink/bath. They used the third one today. I don't want to lose any fish so hopefully the racoons will use the other water features. The pond is much closer to my home.
Sherrie S
on May 25, 2012
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Let me second what Mickey D said: NEVER leave food out for them! Raccoons are one of the most common vectors of rabies...... and one that acts tame today may come back tomorrow with nothing but mayhem on its mind.
Walter Reeves
on May 25, 2012
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If you feed them, they will never leave. As cute as they are... they are messy. We had a whole family and they came out all hours of the day and night. They loved eating our cats food. And washing up in the water dishes. They ever came when I called my cats!
Shannon at Fox Hollow Cottage
on May 25, 2012
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I feed many large & small birds with bird food. I normally don't want to kill any animal that I see in my yard including a bear that visited very recently and left on his own. I don't want problems so if this animal will just go away when I don't feed him/her I will be pleased. This is a residential area believe it or not.
Sherrie S
on May 25, 2012
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For sure you don't wish them to declare your home theirs. I've friends who've lost their entire pond population to raccoons! I'm an animal lover too, but this is one animal I would not encourage at all to return. You could have traps put out and have them released elsewhere.
Becky H
on May 25, 2012
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I am paying attention to all of these postings and am hoping the racoons just go away. This is stressful for me. I don't want to hurt anything & I don't want racoons to destroy things I love.
Sherrie S
on May 25, 2012
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wow! what a dilemma!
Bernice H
on May 25, 2012
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They are so cute.but can make a mess. but cute
Ladena S
on May 25, 2012
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In Indiana, where I live, racoons and pond fish don't mix. They are messy and don't mind getting their paws wet to get the fish. I am only speaking from my experiences. You may be lucky and they won't bother your pond.
Jan T
on May 25, 2012
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look how cute
Shelley L
on May 26, 2012
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Wal-Mart has critter food to attract such fun critters- squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, deer...
Bhall
on May 26, 2012
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They are kind of cute when they are little like that. But beware they grow up http://www.networx.com/article/help-a-raccoon-chewed-through-my-soffit http://www.networx.com/article/masked-marauders http://kmswoodworks.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/a-vist-from-rocky/
KMS Woodworks
on May 26, 2012
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If those racoons want fish they can go in my backyard behind the weeds and go fishing. Nice fresh fish in a little lake. They did go back that way yesterday. KMS, Rocky was cute, too
Sherrie S
on May 26, 2012
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Ahhh, it all comes back to me now!! I did see this and meant to get back to it and then couldn't find it!! Now, let me see if I understand my "assignment" correctly. YOU want ME to name your racoon Trio, which you are now trying to discourage after finding out their real reputation?? Got yourself in trouble didn't you!!
Susan S
on May 26, 2012
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Susan, it is a racoon duo not trio but yes I still need you to name them. I am not encouraging nor discouraging them since I learned that they eat poisonous snakes and other bad things. So for now we will coexist.
Sherrie S
on May 27, 2012
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LOL - not one to give up are you? Ok, so we have twins not triplets - and you want a creative name. Thinking . . . . . thinking . . . . . Uh, Sweetie, I'll have to get back to you on that!!
Susan S
on May 27, 2012
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Correct Susan S, I don't give up, nor do you.
Sherrie S
on May 27, 2012
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your yard must be fun to just sit with a camera!
Pat S
on May 27, 2012
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YES MA'AM!! I hear you loud & clear. Working on it . . . . . . working on it!!!
Susan S
on May 27, 2012
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Pat S, it is so much fun seeing the wildlife. We usually have to run and get the camera but are still able to get good pictures. Susan S, I'm afraid you have a full time job now so please do it as well as you can. Who knows what will show up next that needs a name. You make me smile.
Sherrie S
on May 27, 2012
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We once had 22 raccoons that came to our kitchen door nightly. We didn't know what we in for when we started feeding them bread cubes. They attracted roaches because of the crumbs they left behind. They were so braisen that they would come to our back yard when we were sitting out enjoying an evening with friends and family, and approach without fear..they wanted their nightly meal. We had to quit feeding and turn our lights out early in the evening to discourage them. It was a nightmare.
Patty S
on May 27, 2012
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Patty S, I put all food, shelter and water areas in my backyard. No feeding/water at the house. I have two acres so I can enjoy the wildlife without being upset with their ways. 22 racoons would bother me, too.
Sherrie S
on May 27, 2012
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Ok, Ms. Sherrie - here's the scoop: Baby racoons are called kits and sometimes cubs. If there had been 3 as I initially thought, we could've called them Eenie, Meenie and Miney !! When I was doing my research - one guy said he just called 'em rascals!!! Below is an excerpt I copied that gives a little bit more info on these cute little imps!! As to water, fish & these guys - I've always heard they "wash" their food because they don't have enough natural saliva - but then I also just read that that's a myth. OK, so much for that!! If you have goldfish or Koi in a decorative pond they can wipe out your population PDQ!!! "Baby raccoons require a special diet and can suffer serious damage if fed the wrong formula. Therefore assistance should be left to the rehabilitators. Baby raccoons readily accept human parents but at about 5 months of age they become aggressive and mean. This is one reason raccoons don't make good pets. " This is all I got for 2nite!!! To be continued . . . . . . .
Susan S
on May 27, 2012
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Looks like mischief to me!
Janie B
on May 27, 2012
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Susan S, You get A+ for research and naming rights. Thank you so much.
Sherrie S
on May 28, 2012
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Oh gee - I'm just sooo thrilled!! Really!! I think we just got our "names" for your guys - how about the Rascal one - told you about that above - and then we'll use Janie M.'s comment and call the other one Mischief. Sooooo - there ya got it. Will you endorse Rascal & Mischief, the kits 'n cubs??
Susan S
on May 28, 2012
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You bet I love the names. I just read that you love yellow roses. I just happen to have a few small yellow ones which I will post just for U.
Sherrie S
on May 28, 2012
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Awww, you really are a doll - think I told you that once didn't I?? Of course don't think I don't see through what you're trying to do - torture me w/yellow roses!!!
Susan S
on May 28, 2012
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Susan S, I don't want to torture you, I just want you to name my wildlife. The yellow flowers are small and not exciting. After the rain quits I will send a pic of the small YELLOW roses. Trust me.
Sherrie S
on May 29, 2012
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Oh that's right - you're in not so sunny Fl. so I guess you got blasted by the Hurricane!! Hope you came thru it ok and your wildlife didn't float away!! I'll look forward to the pics of your pretty YELLOW roses!!!
Susan S
on May 29, 2012
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WE are jealous of all the rain Sherrie S. has gotten! Good Lord! Is it ever dry down here! I think we picked up an 1 1/2 today (a start), but we need at least 6" to moisten the ground.
Becky H
on May 29, 2012
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Somehow the precipitation just doesn't get spread around evenly does it Becky!! Feast or famine - it's either too much and you end up w/flash floods because it comes down so fast & furious the ground doesn't get a chance to absorb it or everything turns to desert!!
Susan S
on May 29, 2012
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Susan S., you noticed that too huh?!
Becky H
on May 30, 2012
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Uh hun!!! ;~ )
Susan S
on May 30, 2012
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Susan S, sunny Florida really needed rain because we have a drought. Beryl was just a tropical storm, not a hurricane. It just rained and got windy here. We still need more rain.
Sherrie S
on May 30, 2012
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Coons can be very aggressive! Call your animal shelter (Humane Society Shelter) people and see if they have live traps. Then if you catch them in the traps, call them and they will come get the trap and the coon or you take the trap with the coon inside back to the Shelter, they will either release them somewhere or euthanize them.
Micky D
on May 31, 2012
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Micky D, many animals can be aggressive. I'm not making pets of them but I will let them live unless they threaten me or other helpless wildlife. So far, so good. I have been here over 15 years and these animals have been here before and they left on their own accord.
Sherrie S
on May 31, 2012
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Sad to find either Rascal or Mischief dead in my backyard. I haven't seen the remaining one & hope he is ok. Wonder if the possom did that.
Sherrie S
on Jun 06, 2012
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Oh.........that can be rather unnerving, at least until you discover the source of their demise.
Becky H
on Jun 06, 2012
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Awwwww, I'm so sorry to hear that! I'd grown rather fond of our critters!! Shall we schedule A "WAKE"??? I have no idea if possoms kill racoons - hmmmm, hope not!! But it does make you wonder what happened to what you thought was a healthy animal. Could it have gotten hit by a car or truck?? :<(
Susan S
on Jun 06, 2012
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Susan S, I don't think he was hit by a car. Seems they lived in the backyards. We're on a cul-de-sac where there aren't many cars. We have a lot of wildlife, some of which I probably haven't seen yet. A wake is impossible today because his body is gone.
Sherrie S
on Jun 06, 2012
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Well, I guess it'll have to be a Memorial then!!! Gee, what happened to "the body" do ya think?? You don't suppose somebody might have poisoned it do you?
Susan S
on Jun 06, 2012
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Since the body is gone I must assume some nasty animal took it. In this neighborhood I don't think anyone would hurt the wildlife - my neighbors are a lot like me (happy to have the wildlife).
Sherrie S
on Jun 06, 2012
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HMMMM - mysterious!! RIP little guy!!
Susan S
on Jun 06, 2012
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hungry neighbor dog perhaps
KMS Woodworks
on Jun 07, 2012
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@KMS - yeah but racoons are pretty darned feisty critters - I'd think they could take a few swipes w/those long claws and rip a dogs nose pretty good! Of course these were youngins and maybe a HUGE dog would have the advantage!! Who knows??
Susan S
on Jun 07, 2012
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it totally depends on the age of the little guys and their skill sets in defense. When I was a younger lad I worked at a wildlife rehab place...the young coons were quite defenseless....but momma could be a real bad ass
KMS Woodworks
on Jun 07, 2012
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For sure!!! Momma "ANYTHING" becomes enraged if they think their young is being threatened!! If you're still hangin 'round on HT - I've been wondering about your place in NM with all the wildfires going on. I know this thread isn't the place, but we don't have a space to ask "off topic" questions. Anyway, that was my first thought when the news started reporting all the fires out there and how they're spreading so I just hope your cabin isn't even close!!
Susan S
on Jun 07, 2012
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Most of those fires are well to the sw of our place
KMS Woodworks
on Jun 07, 2012
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WHEW!!! I'm sure glad to get that off my mind- I'd been wondering all this time if your place was in any danger. While the fires are very destructive, they will also have a great deal of benefit too and lots of new growth will get to spring up! It's amazing how Mother Nature uses a disaster to repair herself!!
Susan S
on Jun 07, 2012
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KMS, I don't think was a dog. Where was their mama - they were really young to be running around by themselves? Do you think my big hawk could do that? He is here watching everthing from a big tree. Susan, we finally got rain and lots of it for the last few days including today. I am delighted.
Sherrie S
on Jun 07, 2012
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Bet that made you real happy!! Unfortunately, sometimes by the time it does rain everything is so dry & parched it's beyond redemption!! Our weather this week has just been a 10 ++++++!!!! Lo temps - like hi 70's or not above 80 and NO HUMIDITY!! It's been heavenly to open windows and have a breeze - especially @nite. We get a cross breeze from bathroom window across to bedroom windows!! Sure makes for gooooood sleeping weather!!
Susan S
on Jun 07, 2012
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Sherrie S., isn't all this rain quite lovely?! I think we've picked up 3" in the last 3 days w/more on its way. We've desparately needed it here, so I'm quite enjoying it! It began pouring here just after I'd planted 5 new shrubs and transplanted 3 pineapple plants. They're getting watered in!!
Becky H
on Jun 07, 2012
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We could use some rain...rain in the arid west is always a good thing...but right now we are into our pollen season....we call it the yellow wind...rain even a little here keep the pollen at bay.
KMS Woodworks
on Jun 08, 2012
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Becky H, South Florida has had flooding for the last month. I am so happy to get rain. My little lake is almost dried up. I can't tell what's left of the lake because of the tall weeds. KMS, I'll try to send you a little rain but we need to keep most of it for Florida.
Sherrie S
on Jun 08, 2012
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Sherry, you may have to call animal control to remove these guys! But if they find a quiet place that they can ravage ... they will. Fire crackers come to mind. or even walking out when you see them and don't be friendly. Dont let them think they can live in harmony as close as they are to your home!! I thought the same way yrs ago, till they got in my attic, destroyed my garden and my mother had a couple visit regularly till she noticed her big goldfish pond was empty!! Good luck! They are cute but a real bother and can be expensive replacing what they tearup!! MIcky
Micky D
on Jun 08, 2012
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Micky D, I wouldn't want any wild bird/animal in my attic/home and currently there are none. I've had the wildlife here for 20 years and the Koi pond for over 8 years & and all the fish are OK. My yard is full of wildlife & I don't try to control it unless it really becomes a serious problem.
Sherrie S
on Jun 08, 2012
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Sherrie, something I've come to realize since moving to Florida is unless you live here, you just don't get it. As long as 'our' critters are happy and well, there is no reason to worry about them. As long as our homes are kept in repair with no open doors for them to move in with us and do distruction, what's to worry about? I've learned so much about coexisting with and planting natural and native. My cousin has a rescue in Jupiter and I have a new respect for all the crittters. I too don't want to sleep with any, other then my dog, but always amazed now to see something outside and get a photo if I am fast enough. The other day was a very long snake (in the rain!) Enjoy!
Pat S
on Jun 08, 2012
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Pat S, I agree with you 100%. I'm really afraid of snakes but realize that some are good. Sandhill Cranes eat snakes but they watched my friend kill a rattlesnake & they wouldn't go near it. Kinda shows how nature works.
Sherrie S
on Jun 08, 2012
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they will eat your fish
Frances B
on Jun 14, 2012
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You can also put some type of cover over your fish pond like chicken wire or some kind of metal mesh covering where you can still feed and enjoy watching your fish. Something that they cannot get there paws thru or mouths to catch the fish.
Pat M
on Jun 15, 2012
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Pat M and Frances B, I have a semi-large Koi pond that has been here over 8 years. The only thing that ever ate my fish (when I first got the pond) was a big heron. Maybe the racoons get enough fish in the little lake in my backyard. I have no problems with any of the wildlife which is abundant.
Sherrie S
on Jun 16, 2012
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YES they may see your pond as the local.. all you can eat fish shop..
Rita Wozniak
on Jun 21, 2014
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@Rita Wozniak nope, raccoons must have other things to delight them because they don't eat my Koi. I have a 17" high stone wall built around the pond and fishing line that may or may not stop the Heron. I had mesh covering on the pond but I really disliked it.
Sherrie S
on Jun 23, 2014
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They are so cute, but can be a very serious and expensive problem. What ever you do, just make sure not to feed them, and having fish in your pond is a food source for them. They are very smart, and will find away to eat every fish you have and when they are all gone they will start tearing things up around your home and your neighbors homes as well. I used to have a problem with them coming up onto my back patio and eating my dogs food right in front of the patio sliding door. They were not afraid to see me or my dog, that is until we installed a doggie door next to the sliding door. Well lets just say, my dog didn't like sharing her food with them, next time they showed up, out the doggie door went my dog and the chase was on. They moved on after ~ two weeks of trying to sneak back into the yard, with out any luck because of dog patrol...lol My neighbors fish were all ate by they same racoons. Good luck :)
Tyia Padilla
on Jun 28, 2014
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@Tyia Padilla I haven't had any problem with the raccoons eating my Koi. I have security cameras outside so I know a Heron did all the fish eating. I've seen the raccoon walk outside the pond and I've seen a bear checking it out but ONLY the heron caused me to lose Koi. I don't feed wild animals & I bring in bird feeders every night after seeing the bear eating 10 lbs of bird food from 2 feeders.
Sherrie S
on Jun 28, 2014
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If the fish are small, they may go for it. Be aware that racoon feces frequently carry a parasite that is harmless to them, but potentially fatal to humans if inhaled or otherwise passing into our system. If you find any, be sure to use a mask and gloves when removing it. We have one that likes to make deposits on top of our sunporch.
Deborah Sale-Butler
on Sep 19, 2015
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Call animal control!! They need special care until they can fend for themselves in their natural surroundings!!
Susan N
on Sep 19, 2015
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These are babies and like all babies, they are very cute! Without their mom to teach them how to be raccoons, they will be much more likely to become pests and worse, become prey for coyotes, hawks, etc. Since they are out during the day (see the shadows), it tells me they're already not behaving like raccoons which are nocturnal. Yes, they will eat the fish in a pond and when they get older, they can be quite vicious toward people. I hope that by the time this posting gets read, animal control has been called and these little guys are being sheltered and appropriately cared for!
Susan N
on Sep 20, 2015
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We have wildlife control that does NOT relocate. For that reason and because we live near a densely wooded area my neighbors and I tolerate the animals and don't leave food for them. So far none of the wildlife has caused any of us problems except for one day a neighbor left an open garbage can and we found trash all over. Since I have outdoor security cameras I caught the culprit on camera - a mama and baby bear.
Sherrie S
on Sep 23, 2015
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Have you heard the phrase "crazy as a pet coon"? There is a reason. They can become aggressive and destructive.
Margaret
on Jul 24, 2016
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