Some of us have noticed that the raccoons in our neighborhood have been more aggressive than usual lately.  There were at least three raccoon raids on chicken coops in the last month (three chicken injuries, one chicken fatality).  Just Friday morning a raccoon had another one of our neighbor’s little dogs by the neck before it was chased off (the dog and chickens were slightly injured but all appear to be ok). From the sound of it, it didn’t seem like the dog attacked the raccoon first.

I’m hoping you can help us out.  I realize there isn’t much we can do at this time of year because raccoons are attracted by our vegetable gardens, fruit trees, and ripe compost.  In that sense they are a part of our way of life.  But anything people can do to discourage their hanging around and avoid dispelling their fear of people would be helpful.  One thing we can do is clean up the fruit that falls off our fruit trees.  Put kitchen scraps in secure compost bins rather than in open yard waste heaps.  And if any of you are intentionally feeding the raccoons, please refrain from doing so.  I know some people leave cat food outside.  If you must do this, please just try to do so in a way that minimizes the chances of attracting raccoons.  Perhaps only put out a little bit of food at a time?

For any others out there who have trouble with raccoons and aren’t afraid of them, I’ve found that just chasing them out of your yard repeatedly works (if any of you saw me running down the street in my underwear, that is what I was doing).  After a few times they don’t come back.  Here is a link to Animal Control’s raccoon pamphlet.

I actually like raccoons, but especially with the dog attack they have crossed a line that I haven’t seen them cross since I’ve been in the neighborhood.  I’d like to somehow get us back to the old status quo so that we don’t have to “learn ’em the hard way.”