'Raccoon Babies'

Linda (200.172.107.251) -

A lot of my friends want to get Raccoon babies for a pet. I think it is dangerous to have a wild animal for a pet.

Comment #1 geri (64.76.34.28) -

Raccoons are not pets in the way that cats and dogs are, no matter how many generations have been bred in captivity. At best, they can be considered a companion friend. At worst, a liability insurance nightmare! They live by one set of rules - theirs. And they change the rules whenever it suits them. They will melt your heart with their loving face. And shed your blood (any anything else you may value) with their razor sharp teeth and claws. If you keep a raccoon caged, all you will have is a caged wild animal, not a pet. If you let it have the run of your house, then it will be the raccoon keeping you as a pet as it does what it pleases to the house and you. And an adult raccoon is quite capable of causing a great amount of damage, to both you and your possessions, in a very short amount of time! I believe wild animals belong in the wild when at all possible.

• More about Raccoons as pets

Comment #2 MissyG (64.136.27.228) -

I agree with Geri here! My ex-father-in-law picked up a racoon baby and took it home. He raised it for a couple of years and it was the sweetest thing. It still ransacked the house regularly and bit his neices as well. Finally he took it out back and shot it, because it wouldn't go back to the wild when he drove it out there. It was still wild, just friendly toward him only.

Comment #3 najdoyza from the mountains -

I've seen raccoons do a lot of damage outside, I cannot even imagine trying to raise one and letting it inside. I had one pair that ate 35 of my chickens in a week and scared all my rabbits underground, not to mention scratched the heck out of my poor goats because the tree the raccons had decided to nest in was in the goats pen. Took us a week to figure out what was going on. ANother week of trying to get them to relocate and finally we had to shoot them. I hated to do it but they were endangering all my other animals.

Comment #4 valerie (72.144.50.23) -

just like anything else it takes generations for a animal to become truly domesticated example horses dogs cats... these weren't tamed from one day to the next with proper care any animal came become a household pet. keep in mind they are still ANIMALS whom rely on INSINCT.

Comment #5 Jamie (67.175.78.249) -

i really don't care what anybody else thinks about racoons. they are by far my favorite animals. we found 3 baby racoons but only 2 lived. they were from the wild so they were truely "wild racoons". one was the sweetest thing you ever met and the other one became a little more agressive as it got older. we had to let both of them go because we couldn't find a vet who would nuter them. if your friend goes threw with this and gets one, make sure it is a baby and has been spayed/nutered. Also as a side note they are ALOT of work!!!

Comment #6 carissa (70.137.2.40) -

if anyone has a raccoon 4 sale please call { 405 246 6610}

well the reason i want a raccoon is because my mom had one she was amazing her name was patches but when i was at my

dads my moms step brother was getting the clothes out and

thats when he found her my mom was realy depressed.

Comment #7 kyle (152.163.100.137) -

I want to buy a baby raccon from a breeders around maryland or pennsylvania, please contact me if anyone know so a raccon breeder somewhat nearby maryland or pennsylvania

thanks-

Kyle

Comment #8 amber (69.133.144.157) -

I really hate seeing people wanting animals like this for pets. They get them and give them away within the year because they can't care for it. Some animals should be in the wild, not in a cage in a house or in a zoo.

Comment #9 dana (64.12.117.6) -

You people don't know what you are talking about. Raccoons are GREAT pets!!!! They are a lot of work!!! CONSTANT WORK!!!! BUT... A LOT of fun if they are spayed and nuetered. Make sure you get your pet raccoon fixed! If not, you are asking for trouble! They are by far the greatest animal alive!! The world should be full of them!!!

Comment #10 hannah (12.196.114.153) -

I was just thinking lately about getting a raccoon. My dad had one when he was really little and he said that it would ride on his shoulder when he rode his bike around town. I think that raccoons are so cute, too. I was wondering though, if there is a good chance that if I got a baby from the wild, that it would have rabies. Please tell me what you think about this.

Comment #11 Amber (69.143.66.165) -

Obviously you haven't even done your research becuase if you did then you would know there is no breeders in maryland they are illegal here.

Comment #12 AMBER (206.114.101.4) -

I HAVE TO AGREE WITH SOME PPL LIKE JAMIE. THEY ARE MY FAVORITE ANIMALS. THE ONLY PROBLEM WE HAD WAS GETTING HER FIXED, BUT SHE WAS SO SWEET. HER NAME WAS WEESHA. SHE CAME RIGHT UP TO A FRIEND OF MY MOTHERS AND HE GAVE HER TO US. SHE USED THE LITTER BOX, ATE DRY CATFOOD, AND LITTERALLY HOPPED IN THE SHOWER WITH US JUST TO APLASH AROUND. SHE ALSO SLEPT ON OUR PILLOWS AND PLAYED WITH YOUR HAIR AS WE FELL ASLEEP. WHEN WE WENT ON WALKS SHE FOLLOWED, TRAVLEING UNDER PARKED CARS. WE EVENTUALLY GAVE HER TO THE MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY TO BE A MOVIE RACCOON B/C THE WILDLIFE WAY STATION WOULDNT TAKE HER. AT THE TIME WE COULDNT GET A PERMIT B/C WE DIDNT HAVE THE LAND REQUIRED TO HAVE ONE AND YOU NEED A PERMIT TO FIX THEM. I HAVE EVERY INTENSION ON GETTING ANOTHER ONE WHEN THE TIME IS RIGHT.

Comment #13 AMBER (206.114.101.4) -

HANNAH...I GOT MINE FROM THE WILD AND IT DIDNT HAVE RABIES. I GOT SCRACHED SEVRAL TIMES B/C THEY HAVE REALLY SHARP NAILS, AND BIT TOO WHEN SHE WOULD PLAY ROUGH. BUT IT IS THE CHANCE YOU WOULD HAVE TO TAKE, B/C I MIGHT HAVE JUST GOTTEN LUCKY. EVERY ANIMAL IS DIFFERENT. GOOD LUCK.

Comment #14 Dave (64.5.174.166) -

I own & sell them I also raise White-tail deer Get your coons fixed and then the agression isn't as bad.There are many Vets now who will Fix them.My deer start at 600.00

Comment #15 racquel (68.88.115.154) -

Raccoons can make a good pet... You have to give them the run of the entire house! One room alone will not work.. He will tear the door down.. He will tear up carpet, linoleum... He will tear holes in walls. He will break anything breakable... and get into everything possible.

also, you must make sure raccoons are legal in your state. If they arent.. and you get caught.. usually the coon is destroyed.

Child proof locks do not work.. raccoons can break them in 2 seconds.. He will get into your fridge.. your oven... all the cabinets... they can open doors.. all doors... and if the lock is up the top.. they keep on pushing and scratching and tearing until they do get the door open!

You cannot keep them in a cage... how sad to keep raccoon in a cage.. ( I dont care how large) its entire life ( 20 years!)

Raccoons love attention... all the attention.. they love to be petted.. only when they want to be petted.. or you WILL get bitten.

so unless you own a "flinstone" house.. and are willing to make a ton of sacrifices.... please dont get one..

I have a 3 year old coon.. concrete floors... He sleeps in the kitchen cabinets.. my fridge no longer works.. neither does the dishwasher or the oven. I have to eat out every day.

We share the towels and he gets to use my toothbrush whenever he wants!

I own no personal items.. such as makeup, hairspray.

You will find raccoon hair all over me, my clothes.. everything.

the cleaning is constant.. and actually does no good to clean anyway..

but I bought him.. and Im responsible for what I tame.

He is with me till the end.

but.. I will NEVER have another one.

Comment #16 racquel (68.88.115.154) -

also... It is best to have them spayed or neutered. If not they become very aggressive during mating season. My raccoon plays very aggressive.. I have the scars to prove it.. They usually only bite the mommie. ( which really sucks!)

He is usually pretty sweet to people who come over.. If he does not like you.. he will lay his ears back and blow air out his nose.. ( and snot!) so stand back!!!

someone mentioned feeding their raccoon cat food... NOT GOOD!

Its way too fattening and has too much protein.. Raccoons that live in the home need a low fat diet. Maximum Nutrition is a good brand.. also Purina One w/ yogurt... the healthy weight formula.

baby coons can be fed cat food.. they need the fat when they are babies. but overweight adult can have heart problems and other problems.

Vaccinations are not a must if you the coon stays indoors all the time.. My coon was vaccinated as a baby but not since.

although occasional worming is still necessary b/c you can carry roundworm eggs in on the bottom of your shoes.. and raccoons love to dig the stuff off of the bottom of your shoes and eat it.

When we play.. I use thick welders gloves. He isnt meaning to be such a meanie... but he bites so hard. He also loves to sneak up behind me sometimes and bite me.. so im always looking over my shoulder.

He weighs 35-40 lbs which is about average for a house coonie.

I am also a wildlife rehabilitor... and I really love raising the baby orphans and releasing them back into wild..

If any of ya'll are from oklahoma.. baby coons will be here soon.. I could use some help!

I hate 18 babies last year.

you can play and love all them all you want.. until they are weaned... thats when they start getting into everything anyway.. :)

Comment #17 Sunny (68.94.147.24) -

Racquel-- I live in OK and would be interested in helping you rehabilitate some babies.. Where are you located?

Comment #18 Kami (144.96.153.47) -

I have an orphaned female baby coon. She's very sweet, and is beginning to eat on her own. My question is, I'm sure I need to worm her. I've been reading about Roundworm that coon's carry and it scares me. What should I worm her with? I was thinking kitten wormer, is that Ok?

Comment #19 HEATHER (166.217.194.25) -

I FOUND A BABY A COUPLE DAYS AGO AND I AM HOPING IT STAYS ALIVE I WOULD JUST LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ALL I NEED TO TO KEEP IT ALIVE IT SEEMS ALRIGHT AND HE ALREADY LOOKS LIKE HE IS GETTING BIGGER HE IS SO CUTE TO......

Comment #20 HEATHER (166.217.140.14) -

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO KNOW ALL THE RISK WITH HAVING A BABY RACCOON LIKW WHAT ALL THE CAN CARRY AND HOW DANGEROUS IT IS FOR ME ALSO HOW SOON I CAN ITS SHOT AND ALL THAT KINDA STUFF....

Comment #21 hannah (65.198.107.164) -

How much do raccoons cost?

Comment #22 Roger Hampton (207.70.191.118) -

Friends just dropped off a baby raccoon at my house...well...the coon passed the ferret test...that is, they did not try to eat the baby.I gave it some warm milk, and the baby lapped it up, also gave it some Ferret-Vite, a supplement for Ferrets, it LOVED it.Cute little F'er...Any one got any feeding tips???

Comment #23 tigger from ohio -

how do i find out how old a racoon is?

Comment #24 henry (67.142.130.43) -

someone please help me im freaking out about this what should i do. About 2 days ago i found my dog freaking out barking at this baby raccoon that my bigger dog prolly got ahold of at some point. it had hurt its back foot but other than that had no flesh wounds. now i have it in my screened in porch, its just an infant but its getting its streght back really well and its super tiny so im nursing it back to health but i dont know what to do cuz if i keep it i dont know how well ill be able to make it happy but if i raise it till its big enought to go out and defend itself then i hear that it wont work andit ont be able to adapt back to the wild life.( one morething im also paranoid about rabies) i have no clue wht to do somone wanana tell me it would be so awesome if they did

Comment #25 SAUNNIE THOMPSON (65.71.189.66) -

RACCOONS PROBABLY DO NOT MAKE GOOD PETS IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING SUBSERVIENT TO OBEY YOUR EVERY COMMAND. THEY DO HOWEVER MAKE FANTASTIC COMPANIONS AND FRIENDS. I HAD A BABY GIRL FOR ALMOST 6 YEARS AND SHE WAS THE LIGHT OF MY LIFE. WE SHARED THE HOUSE, THE SHOWER, OUR DRINKS, THE BED, SOMETIMES THE TOOTHBRUSH IF I FORGOT TO PUT MINE UP. I LOST HER 2 DAYS BEFORE MEMORIAL DAY AND MY LIFE IS NOT NEARLY AS BRIGHT. NOTHING WILL REPLACE HER BUT GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, I WILL HAVE ANOTHER COON. THEY, RE JUST LIKE KIDS, AND REQUIRE MORE ATTENTION THAN A PET-AND, JUST LIKE KIDS, THE MORE TIME YOU SPEND WITH THEM THE MORE THEY RESPOND TO YOU. YOU CAN NOT IGNORE THEM LIKE A CAT OR DOG.

Comment #26 Lee from Montevideo, Uruguay -

I think you have just given a great definition of what a good pet is... raccoon, dog, cat, iguana, shark (well maybe not), or anything else.

Comment #27 Chris (74.129.2.212) -

I currently have my forth and fifth raccoon pets. We had one named Poppet when I was little. About 8 years ago I was driving down the road and there were 5 kits playing in the road near their mother which had been run over. I was only able to get one of them, the rest went down a storm drain. The next day I went back and found three more of them had been hit.

He was an amazing pet. He made wonderful friends with our three year old lab. They'd play together in the yard and the coon would ride around on the dogs back. Raccoons tend to bond to one person, so he didn't care much for my wife - but he was okay with her. Unfortunately, he met with an untimely end during the divorce.

Recently a friend of mine found four kits in a barn he was tearing down. I took two, but lost the runt after a few weeks. I still have the other which I named Earl. He's about 13 weeks and as I type he's curled up on the couch next to me. I've had him since about four weeks, before his eyes were open.

I also have a female about 4 months that I got yesterday. The mother was trapped by the home owners before they discovered she had kits. I'm going back today to try and get the other four. She's amazingly docile for having been just plucked from the wild yesterday. She was very hungry and the fresh cherries and grapes I think won her heart.

Coons are very independent and stubborn but they CAN be trained. Training doesn't make them like cats or dogs. Generally if given their own space and enough attention and training, they will essentially leave your stuff alone. They need lots of toys, and when they're messing with something that isn't theirs - take it away and give them something that is.

It's important to never EVER hit or spank a raccoon. They will respond with more of the same. For this reason, it's important to teach your coon manners. Never let them climb you like a tree. It's tempting when they are a baby because it's cute and makes you feel like the coon is more attached to you. However, after their an adult, many people don't take well to being climbed by a 50lb adult male and react badly. Their reaction can RUIN your coon. Once hit or swatted, they'll remember it forever.

All of that being said, if I'm able to find those other kits today - I'll have some soon for people who may want them. I'm not looking to make money off them, but will have them spayed or neutered, get their shots and wormings... and I'll want to be reimbursed. I figure if I have it all done myself - I'll know it's done.

Comment #28 Jeff from Chi-town -

coons r really cool i had reaised four from babies and they where all ok for the most part except for one but the other three where awsome. u just have to realize that they ARE WILD ANIMALS and that they are not like cats or dogs but do get into things and stuff as for biting poeple remember they ARE WILD ANIMALS and do command a lot of respect sadly its not the peersons fault but they might not know how to handle these animals. Plus Raccoons are one of those animals u want to keep caged until u take them out to play with them

Comment #29 nicholle (70.121.211.150) -

I am not an armature when it comes to pet raccoons. I have a 2 year old female that I got from a breeder. I was given a male that was a rescue but was found in an attic as a baby, he has a disability in his hind legs that is why they did not release him to the wild... Today I was changing their water like I do 3 times a day and my male bite me twice to the bone, I know when they are in play time and they bite all the time, but they never break the skin, now my female is acting crazy. She is very upset, making crazy noises and is attacking the male. I do not know what to do. The male is staying away from her, hiding in his bed. All she does is pace. Is it possible that she is mad that he hurt me? Please I need some advice, I am afraid to set the male free because he does not know anything but human feeding.

Comment #30 steve (68.13.0.219) -

nicholle, sounds like she s in heat.

Comment #31 Tammy (204.117.52.40) -

I have a 4 week old female raccoon. When can I get her a rabies

shot?

Comment #32 steve (68.13.0.219) -

tammy , probelly you should worm it first, around couple months old, then parvo and distemper shots then rabies.

Comment #33 tammy (204.117.52.146) -

Steve,

I live in TX and probably cannot ask vet? What kind of wormer

should I use.

Comment #34 alexis pearce (205.188.116.141) -

i have been looking for a baby coon for a long time now and i had one the nabors where hunting and found him laying on the ground and didnt no what to do with it soo they gave it tooo me and it waz very sick and under wieght it didnt even have it eyes open yet i cryed cuz i had it for 3 days by then i miss haveing one sooo i would love to have one i have been web site to web site trying to find one i will not pay over $50.00 sooooo if i get one i will pay that much

Comment #35 sophia (65.19.19.54) -

what should be in a healthy diet. from nursing a baby coon to feeding an adult.

Comment #36 Missy (72.2.207.252) -

BOTTLE BABY RACCOON KITS FOR SALE $200.00 - $250.00 EA. CALL (507)789-0100 OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE: WWW.AWESOMEEXOTICS.COM SERIOUS ENQUIRIES ONLY! MUST BE LEGAL IN YOUR STATE! SHIPPING, VISA/MASTERCARDS ACCEPTED!

Comment #37 jule jamison (12.179.22.183) -

i am an illinois wildlife rehabber who is looking for a female raccoon who has had an injury of some kind thus making her non-releasable. I had a coon like this who was the joy of my life, and I am able to care for these properly. Raccoons are my favorite animal and i would give her only the best care. Preferably no more than 2 years old. the one i used to have had a forelimb that had suffered a permanent injury.

Comment #38 Eric (71.224.12.94) -

We have a 3 to 4 month old male raccoon. He can't use one of his back legs. We would consider giving him away to a very experienced and caring raccoon owner.

Comment #39 Chad (75.200.88.117) -

I would love to take you raccoon for you! I have delt with them for years now and have just started looking for another. If you can email or call me anytime! My uncle is a vet so ill im always sure to keep then extra healthy.

Comment #40 chad (75.200.88.117) -

Sorry i didnt notice that i failed to include my email address. It is chadrgreene@yahoo.com my cell # is 615-504-9953. Thanks!

-chad

Comment #41 SUSIEG (68.207.98.67) -

I DONT AGREE WITH ALOT OF YOU.YOU CAN RAISE A BABY RACCOON ITS EASY YOU JUST FIND RACCOON BREEDERS GET A BABY RACCOON AND TREAT IT WITH LOVE AND IT WONT TURN ON YOOU

Comment #42 marla kirby (205.188.116.206) -

They need to be at least 10 weeks before the vet will give them the rabies vaccine. Up to that point they get parvo, distemper and wormer.

Comment #43 Gary T (69.19.14.34) -

If you get scrached, licked in a cut, or bit, you may get rabies. If the racoon is out during the day, and it likes you, then it has rabies. If you get rabies from a racoon, there are no symptoms until it is to late. The best thing to do is take the racoon to the vet and have them draw blood to find out. Racoons are the #1 animal in the world that carry rabbies. The bite is not the thing that gives you rabbies, its the siliva that gets into you. I am a doctor and you are messing with risky buisness.

Comment #44 Hank (76.31.33.182) -

I have a Raccoon for a pet, her name is Tazy, she is approximately three years old. I got her when she was a baby abandoned by her mother at 4 weeks of age, she was the size of a small kitten and she would fit in the palm of your hand. I had to bottle feed her for approximately three weeks before she could be converted over to dry dog food. She is very intelligent, house broken, comes when you call her and is the most mischievous 3 yr old running around the house. There isn't any thing she can't get her grubby little hands on. In other words the best pet I ever had. If your looking to own a Raccon as a pet, you have to teach her like you would a puppy. She was very easy to train and she very intelligent. She has full run of the house and is very much like a dog. She is much cleaner and smarter than any dog I've had in the past. I guess I got lucky with my pet coon. She has had all her shots and was spayed at four months of age and I hear if you obtain a Raccon, get them spayed and or nuetered with in six months, the sooner the better. Regardless of what some people think owning a raccoon has been a great experience, and is allot of fun.

Comment #45 ron mason (69.183.255.91) -

raccoons as pets. Well let me say one thing about raising a wild

animal.raccoons are nothing like a cat or dog.. My raccoon

orphaned raccoon came to me and i never went looking for a

raccoon for a pet. My family helped with bottle feeding among

other tasks associated with little creatures. This wild animal

has given me more pleasure than any domestic animal i have

ever known. He fallowed me everywhere and i played with him

all summer long for hours!! he was 16 lbs and 8 months old. no

one could imagine what this little guy has given to me !

on october 22 2007 he stayed out all night which was the only

time this happened since i known him.It was clear to see

he was in bad shape. I bathed him and did whatever i could to

keep him comfortable. at 938 pm he slipped away I think i cried

less when my father died.My wife and kids miss him so much

we think he must have fallen from a tree and had internal damage

We will truly miss him goodbye boon ! (tear)

Comment #46 ron mason (69.183.255.91) -

Oops my email was overlooked it is ink2me@aol.com OH BY THE WAY I WOULD TAKE ANOTHER RACCOON IN A HEARTBEAT!!I live in Connecticut on 20 acres with a river and my boon loved to catch whatever he could. I realize he can not be replaced but i miss him soooo damn much !

Comment #47 KB from Kentucky -

I know it's probably to late in the year to find one, but I am trying to find a baby raccoon to buy. I realize my chances are probably slim to none (until spring, but just in case someone knows where one is for sale in or near Kentucky, I would love to buy one. I would be willing to pay a hefty amount for one!! Does anyone know of any raccoon breeders in this area that might be having babies for sale in the spring? Any info. would be appreciated. Thanks!

Comment #48 Hybredwaters (216.81.26.182) -

Raccoons Arn't pets. But they can be a companion. We had a wild raccoon(full grown) come up to us a few weeks back.. we fed it and everything. he was tame as can be. couldnt pet him though. man he was cute.

But wild animals, born in capivity or not DONT make good pets. They make good companions but NOT PETS. I have 4 high content wolfdogs. Amazing animals. But They dont make good pets.

Comment #49 hybredwaters (216.81.26.182) -

i know two raccoon breeders, fox, coyotie, squirls...ect

Comment #50 bob hargis (205.188.116.206) -

my coon is tenyears old. she was probaly 1 day old when they found her floating on a log in a lake after a flood. wefed her with a eye dropper for the first week, that worked well. her mother was a heating pad. she liked that.she was a house coon until she disconected the dish washer.she has always used a litter box and never the floor. when i moved her to my office she called all of her coon friends i guess because the phone was always off the hook. finaly i bilt a 24x24 pen in the yard with a tree in it. i put a house on the tree that had two stories. she sleeps up stairs. i put a puppy that was half black lab and half black chow. she would give it baths and play with it.when the dog was grown thay would play in the yard and if he thought you was a threat to the coon he would get you.a lot of children come and play with her and brush her. she has raised 5 puppys now takes care of them just like they were hers. she wieghs 24 pounds and is very tame. you have to be smarter than the animal that you are taming, horse, dog or coon.

Comment #51 kentuckykitty from Bluegrass -

"carissa (70.137.2.40) - if anyone has a raccoon 4 sale please call { 405 246 6610}" I saw this. Did ya ever find one carissa?

Comment #52 BJ- proud coon mommy in Pa (206.251.26.248) -

I just wanted to give you alittle of my "raccoon" Experence and knowledge. First I want to say that frankly the worst thing you can do for a PET raccoon, one you plan or want to handle, play with, show to people, ect. is to make it a big pen to live in. My husband is a coon hunter and his grandfather has had three pet ones over the years. I am the current proud mommy of a 2 year old UN-NUETERED male. We have three friends that have also had pet raccoons over the years. So we have learned from experence on this. Most people think a big pen is better for them, it's not. All it does is cause them to revert to their "wild" nature. If you want to make them a big pen to play in the yard in, WITH supervision, maybe something with a kidie pool, ropes to climb ect. That is great. But even one bought from a breeder still has it's natural instinks. If you take that creature and put it in a large cage or pen with many of the thigns it would have in the wild, only handle it once in a while, it will begin to act like a wild raccoon.

I have had my coon that I got as a wedding anniversary present since he was alittle over two months old. He IS from a breeder, which is something alot of people ask me. I raised him from before his eyes were open. Spending atleast 6 hours a day with him when he was little so he would bond with me and reconize me as his "mommy". He lives in the house. At bedtime, when I am not home or when we have guests over who may be afarid of him, he stays in a 4x4x3 cage in our living room. This keeps him out of things that he could break or get hurt on. But when I am home and I am a stay at home mom/ artist so that is a hell of a lot, he is with me or playing with the dogs. I have to agree that it is safer for both them and you if they are caged when you are not spending time with them. It protects them from getting hurt as well as you and also protects you house.:)

He is litter trained and word trained. He listens to no, up, down, come here, mommy's (I use this when he has something I want he is not suspose to have), not so rough, bad and my favorite give mommy kissies. HE goes for rides in the truck, walks on a leach and to family picnics amd once in a while over the summer to the farmers makert with me. The last two are probably his favorite cause everyone feeds him.

He has never bitten anyone besides me and he has NEVER bitten me hard enough to break the skin. Frankly I worry more about his nails when they need cut then I ever do his teeth.

As I said he is un-neutered and will always be that way as far as I can tell now. My vet says that if he has not gotten mean his first 2 mating seasons he probably never will.He has never gotten what my husband calls mean (as I sais he is a coon hunter he knows what mean is). But in mating season he gets crabby and doesnt want to be held as much or to play with our dogs as much. And he gets growely over his food.

I trust my Baby completely. We mock fight as play and if he is being bad I just reach down and grab what ever part of him a can get hold of him and pick him up. As I said he has never bitten me unless you count chewing on my thumb like he is still a baby, he does this all the time when we are watching tv and he is falling asleep.

HE can be very distructive when you don't keep an eye on him and I would never say let them just roam around the house and not keep an eye on them. I can also say I would never lock him in a room of his own and let him there. A play room where he would be while I was there with him, yes. But never just a room for him to distroy and that is just what he would do.

I NEVER let him out of sight. But that is more for his protection then to gaurd the house. I guess you can say I treat him like a toddler and it works. There is just too much he can get into that could hurt them, even things a simple as stuff he could choke on. Pretty much if you have ever given birth to a baby you know you have to "baby proof" your house. Well you kind of have to do the same thing with a coon but they get into so much more and you can never make it completely coon proof no matter what you do.

The best advice I can give is that they are like having a baby, they take alot of time and special care. YES they are "so cool" and all, but they are a huge resonsibilty just as any pet. And they are a life long commitement of that. Educate yourself about them, talk to people who have had or do have them as pets. And if you don't have atleast 2 hours a day to handle one don't expect it to be friendly, so don't get it.

As I write this my Baby is sleeping on my lap like and oversized house cat. I can honestly say he was one of the best gifts I have ever been given. And if anything were to happen to him I would deffently get another one, as long as it was still being bottle fed when I got it. I really feel that has had alot to do with how he turned out.

Comment #53 Holly J (67.41.234.47) -

The only message that i seen in all above that is close to the truth bout coons is RACQUELS #16, But coon's can be trained somewhat to the word NO. my male does listen and abide by it, but looks at me like (gosh, not agin)and my male doesnt bite me, but is so protective of me and will bite anyone that comes around me. And Yes I WILL NEVER LET BANDIT GO. AND I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER

Comment #54 Holly J (67.41.234.47) -

P.S. never cage a coon. It will turn aggressive

Comment #55 Holly J (67.41.234.47) -

Ok, I am not finished yet. Bandit will be two in march. He weighs about 54 lbs. he is the neatest pet i have ever had. If i had to do it all over again, i would have to say i wouldnt. HE is a WILD animal. He doesnt like my husband or my daughter. He does have complete run of or house, and you can tell. He has 2 shelves in or pantry. the top one is his play shelve and the one down is his sleeping shelve. We also have 3 walker coon hounds. they all play with him. We got bandit when he was a day old. they are a very hard animal to keep alive. You have to keep them at a certain temp. and help them go potty, feed them every hour or so keep them hydrated. there is so much to do. worse then a baby. you can train them somewhat, bandit does listen to the word no and does abide by it most the time. they do tear up your home. have the plaster ready, you will need it, change your flooring to the square tile's and keep it handy. we have put metal child locks on all the door, drawers, fridge, stove and dish washer. I think the most rewarding thing he does is given me kisses, He stays in his pantry all day till i get home from work, then he comes down and will not leave my side. Then at bed time around 7 he goes to my pillow and kicks back till i get in bed, then he goes in his bed box, which is at my head on my end table, and lays down to sleep. he is so sweet to me, no one else. He eats alot of junk food. Can ANYONE help me on how to change him over to dog of cat food, THANKS

Comment #56 kenzie cooper (209.183.51.47) -

I want any kind of raccoon. baby would be best but i am desperate. if you have any info on were I could get one (in Texas) please email me at ... pinkdice1308@yahoo.com thanx

Comment #57 lj (65.42.86.215) -

..you people who want to own raccoons are...sorry....but you're idiots....get a cat...or a dog....they are being euthanized every day in every city in this country...& people who claim to be "breeders" of raccoons are actually "killers" of the mother raccoon & steal their babies to sell them to you people.....dont be fooled !!!

...i rescued an infant raccoon from "death by vicious alley cat"....i totally see the attraction...he was such a newborn he could hardly walk...i finally found a rescue place...but of course it wasnt open until the following morning...i put him in my tub w/ a towel..but he cried until i hung my arm into the tub..i had to sleep on the bathroom floor to keep him happy..when i woke up his tiny & very human-like hand was grasping my finger while he slept....i was instantly in love....his little hands even have finger prints like us : ) .........but i knew the only way he would be happy was outside & "free"....we had one wonderful night together before i drove him to a wild animal rescue where after making sure he was healthy they raised him w/ his age group of raccoons & released him into the woods if he was fit to do so...& he was !!!

.....in your hearts be honest !!!...if you take away the obsession of needing to own this sweet yet wild creature....you know this the only place a raccoon will truly be happy is outside...do the right thing and forget about this notion....& i beg of you to get a pup or kitty on death row at you local shelter....these guys need you raccoons dont !!!.....dogs & cats are very social & responsive to human love & are part of the family unit....my lab mix was a free pup on the way to the pound 14 years ago & its the best decision i have ever made !!

..thanks for reading all this..i dont mean to offend...its just a really bad idea...and a shelter pet only takes a fraction of the care a raccoon will. >^..^< ////

Comment #58 Holly J (67.41.191.108) -

L J ,

you are right, now that i have had mine for two years, i would never give him up. but they, when you try to keep them as pets, they need you literaly 24 hours a day. and like i said before. You can never cage a racoon, they will turn mean. so be pre paired for a lot of repairs. They are worse than a baby. and they need you 24 hours a day. i have to take mine with me everywhere. he needs attention

no i will never do it again. it is a 15 year commitment

Comment #59 Lance Lacroix (71.218.201.189) -

my bday is comming June 23rd and i always wanted a pet raccoon.I've heard from people that raccoons make he best pets in the world.I love having wild animals as pets.I've made friends with many wild animals.I've made friends with wolves otters bears and others.A raccoon wold be the best gift and pet i've ever got.So please give me one as a gift.Send me your phone number and I will contact you.If I get a raccoon i'll be soooo happy.Thank you!

Comment #60 Gina (70.243.181.39) -

I don't know how old this forum is, today is feb. 11, 2008, but I was a breeder of wildlife for a very long time. I am in Oklahoma. You have to have a breeders license and your pens and coons have to be inspected often. Game rangers can come and go as they please, also the FDA can come and inspect for illness and cleanliness if you are shipping out of state.

A really good breeder will spend time with you and tell you all about the trouble you are getting into when you purchase one of these little guys.

Males make the best pets, if you have a receipt from a breeder most vets will nueter your raccoon. Without the proper documentation they could loose their license.

Most females should be sold as breeders only.......I know some of you will disagree and some females turn out quite sweet. Don't take the chance.

If you teach raccoons the rules of the house and never let your gaurd down or overlook something because it was funny the first time they are easily trained. Start out with a water bottle and shoot them directly in the face with a stern NO! Never give in.

This won't work long because as they grow they will learn to love the water bottle and be thrilled to catch it in their mouth. As they get larger and harder to handle use a ruler, trust me these guys are tough...........remember they can kill a dog in seconds so don't go over board and beat them but on slight lick to the end of the nose with a stern NO! They do learn the rules of the house.

My pets, including one male bobcat lived in the house. They knew not to get on the furniture or to chase my kids just to make them yell. They never bit my kids or my Australian Shepherds who were there to protect my kids and the other animals we had.

They love playing with long haired cats, they will comb them for hours. They will pick ticks and stickers off of your dogs, they are a joy to own as long as YOU follow the rules you set down for them.

I NEVER sold to anyone that had children under 12 years old, no use taking chances and they need to be old enough to understand the rules.

Bottle feeding is a long process..............get them at about three weeks and you will have to feed them about every three hours for a month then not as often. As they grow they can hold it on thier own. My pet female kept her bottle until she was over two years old. I don't recommend this but she was my first.

Never feed raw meat, use top quality dog food. They do not need water to rinse their food in they just like to see it disappear. Water them seperatly. If you want to see something funny give them a piece of bread at their water bowl. As it disappers they look so confused.

They love ice cubes for treats and peppermint.

I myself sold with the agreement that if it didn't work out they could return them to me and I would find it a new home. If that were possible they got half of their money back, if not it would remain with me.

The point is, if you really want one of these awsome creatures understand there is danger involved. They are powerful, they have nice teeth. Never let your gaurd down around children with them. They may not even mean to bite so hard but they can. I think, how many of you out there that are so against us having raccoons yet you have pitbulls and rottwiellers and other dogs, for that matter any dog that can do as much danger. Just be careful!

When they bite as little ones grab the bottom jaw when they bite down and hold on to it. Yes, it does hurt some but say NO! and continue this and they will be less likely to bite.

Raised with your dogs, cats, kids the are smart and funny. No birds...........they love birds just not to look at.

Have fun, be safe! I am in Oklahoma if you are looking for a breeder contact the dept. of wildlife in Oklahoma City and they will send you a breeders list so that you can buy one legally.

I no longer breed as we moved out of the country and into a near by city.

Thanks

Comment #61 Jennifer McAllister (66.69.95.78) -

I have been looking for a pet raccoon for the past year or so if anyone has one or knows anyone in Texas that has any I would love to get a raccoon and please all of you out there that are against this I respect your opinion but I have a background in raising exotic animals so I do understand the risk and the effort it takes in raising one so thank you!:) Anyone who knows where I can get a baby raccoon please e-mail me jennimac2777@yahoo.com Thank you for your help....

Jennifer

Comment #62 amana (97.101.79.145) -

honestly i've hand raised many animals and my raccoon Sierra is still my greatest campanion. Yes raccoons can be very vicious but all they are doing most the time is throwing a temper tantrum just like any animal they are unpredictable and have a bad attitude but if you really get to know your raccoon, respect it, know when they are getting irratated and keep your distance and they make great campanions.... not pets because they will do what they want

you will get bit and they are very time consuming and never go near them when they are eating or if the females are in heat

Comment #63 KristinaLovesRaccoons from Indiana -

If you get a raccoon as a baby and teach him/her it is not ok to bite..you wont have a problem..all raccoons have diffrent personalitys, dislikes and likes. They usually like ONE person.I have a raccoon that is a year old. he has only bit me once when i was playing with his food(thats a big NO..dont play with there food) other than that he is very nice and loves his Mommy. I live in a house with 7 others and he has never bit them! hes very nice..i have had other raccoons and never had a problem with any of them biteing. Make sure you get them there shots tho.

Comment #64 mimi dalman (207.200.116.137) -

Hello everyone, I am raising a racoon too he was 8 weeks old when I bought him from a breeder, 1 yrs old in march approx.

he is great.....and he is a one on one pet. He doesnt like any adults, but the kids love him, well march 31st 2008 he bit me hard. I was told his mother had shots, but I've had him a year Doctor said I should be ok, except on antibiotics.

And he has a cage and a 4x8 shelter, am looking for a very large corn crib, (cage). I dont let him run loose anymore, and he seems content. yes he gets rambunctious, but he is lovable, I dont think he meant to hurt me, he was protective over his toys, one was in his water dish, and I was trying to get it to put water in it.

Has anyone got bitten , skin broken???? everyone tells me to get rid of him, but I tried that one day, and as I was driving away, he came after me running behind the truck, I stopped and he ran right into my arms......what should I do???? I will not destroy him. And as Long as I can take care of him I will.

I have a wildlife license to keep him........

Comment #65 Holly jo (67.41.190.198) -

mimi, my husband has been bit several times, my oldest daughter has been bit, and i had about thirty stiches in me hand. we have learned to love him but never, let your guard down, always respect that they are wild animals,

Comment #66 Holly jo (67.41.190.198) -

It has been about a year since anyone has been bit, it is a learning expirience, alot a people give them up after about two years, is he nuetured? that will help. Bandit tries to get above my husband, to bite, dont let your guard down. if you drop him off in the wild he will not survive, he will not know how, you will kill him. you can see when then are going to bite, they act strange, or different, just get up and move. hint get a broom when they are out of control, dont hit him, just tap it on the floor, for some reason they dont like the bristles. so they run, it is cute. dont take anything away from them that they want, they will bite, learn to respect how they are, and you wont get bite anymore. write me if you want, here is my email. pinkigal1@yahoo.com

Comment #67 Holly jo (207.224.202.84) -

I got the bad bite because he got an ice cube out of my drink, i tried to pick it up. he must of wanted it bad. when i grabbed it he grabbed my hand at the top of my middle finger. he darn near took it off. they have great jaw power. i wrapped it, my ole men took me to the hospital, it took thirty stitches to attach it. Bandit is two years now, it has been a year since he has bitten. don't let your guard down. they don't just come up to you to attack. they attack when you threaten them. learn what yours likes and dislikes, and go with that. if they are doing something bad, take a small broom, tap it on the floor, they will run, don't hit them ever, they will always remember who hit them, they when they have an upper advantage they will bite, most bites are four big puncter wounds. yes they hurt. raccoons have one person that they love and respect, Bandit at bedtime gets on my pillow and lays with me till bed time, then gets into this box on my nightstand. he now is so sweet to me. he gives me kisses, massages my back. it is so great. he is the best animal that i have ever raised

Comment #68 Bill (68.97.166.147) -

looking for breeder in oklahoma

Comment #69 Ashley (1) from Ohio -

wanting any baby raccoon available that may or may not have been spayed or nuetered would be just fine. Thank u

Comment #70 Ashley (72.24.210.194) -

I think that racoons make wonderful pets. I grew up on a 100 acre farm and rescued 10 different baby racoons 6 different times. I raised a litter of 5 from 2 weeks old to adult hood. I bottle fed them and raised them until they did become aggressive due to breeding season at approx 1 year old. I then released them on to our property for safety and security of the pets. They grew to be parents themselves and still came to visit years later when my family moved from the farm they still visit the new owners who love them. Coons make great pets as babies then when they are older I feel that it is only humane to let them roam on their own and become what they are. It is also humane to help them to survive if the parent is killed or has abandoned the babies. I will say that my mother was a Vet Tech and that we knew how to raise them properly so that they would be healthy and know how to survive on there own.

Comment #71 ZACH (67.142.130.34) -

how do you KEEP THEM WARM AND HOW DO YOU KEEP THEM QIUET AND PLEASE HURRY AND ANSWER BECAUSE I HAVE TWO BABY RACCOONS AND THEIR MOTHER GOT RAN OVER BY A CAR.

Comment #72 Holly jo (71.219.43.72) -

Zach, they are hard to keep alive, get a small cat kennel, get a good heating blanket, put it on low in the bottom of the cage, put a small blanket on the top of the heating pad, make sure it is not to hot, they have to be around 85 degree's. then feed them kmr formula, get it at walmart or pet store. get an eye dropper, depending on how old they are, feed them a few drops, use luke warm water to make it, then when they cry feed them, then get a paper towel rub there tummy's so they can go potty, you have to rub softly, they cant go on there own, they need your help, then they will go back to sleep. i hope that this helps, they do need feeding and pottying every few hours.help them go potty everytime they feed, hint, put a little warm water on the towel before rubbing there tummy

Comment #73 gina (69.88.220.6) -

I HAVE A QUESTION I FOUND 2 BABY COONS AND MAMA IS DEAD HIT BY A CAR AND I WAS WONDERING IF THEY CARRY THE ROUND WORM AT A YOUNG AGE THEY ARE PROBLKY 3 TO 4 WEEKS OLD ID LIKE TO TAKE CARE OF THEM BUT VERY WORRIED ABOUT GETTING THE DIEASE I WEAR GLOVES AND FEED THEM BUT DONT KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO PLEASE HURRY AND ANSWER ON THIS FOR A PIECE OF MIND THANKS

Comment #74 Ashley (1) from Ohio -

Hey Gina , um they dont carry round worm but they CAN carry a worm desiese that IS harmful 2 humans. When baby coons are about 2 weeks old and have their eyes open u can go to the nearest vet and get them wormed. I finally got my baby coons last week. And be sure that u do have permit to LEGALLY keep them in a safe enviornment. If anybody has any questions u can be sure to ask me. Glad i could help, and remember if any1 has any questions feel free 2 ask me!!!

Comment #75 Holly jo (71.219.43.72) -

Ashley,

You seem to know about the coon, I have a male. At a year when he went through puberty. he like going after my husband. Then he mellowed out for a year, then last December went through mating season. He started going after him again. I mean bad, He wanted to tear him up. He is two years and 1 month now, will he mellow out if we get him neutered.

Comment #76 Ashley (1) from Ohio -

well Holly jo- i would not say that he will melloy down completely, but he will supside. He will calm down as mush as 30%, (from my studies)i had 2 little youngsters about 3 weeks old and one past away, her name was Tink and she was a female now i'm stuck with my other one Bubba, my lil rowdy rascal. And Holly jo just to warn you if u dont have a permit and you take your coon to the vet to get him neutered, they will call the humane sociaty and take him away, and i dont want you to get heart-broken but, thats a very strong possiblity. i am only 12 so i am not quit sure if that will happen but i got all my info from my parents.

Comment #77 Holly jo (67.41.234.79) -

Ashley, I live in Wyoming, we don't have to have a permit. It is one of the only states that you don't have to have a permit or license. Nice

I had two of them in the beginning, they are very hard to keep alive, one smoky died, it was so hard. Smoky & bandit were a day old when I got them. Now Bandit is over 2, he is so much fun. I would never get rid of him. And I will never get another one, they do bite once in a while, Bandit is never caged. he runs the house, we have a walker coon hound, and two other dogs. then we have two cats. He has two top shelves in the kitchen pantry. thats where he stays till i get home from work, then he follows me arond the house till bed time, then he kicks back on my pillow. we fight through the night over who gets the pillow.He is my baby

Comment #78 Holly jo (67.41.234.79) -

can anyone tell me how to add a picture

Comment #79 Ashley (1) from Ohio -

Holly jo i no how 2 add pics to ur forum. okay... well go to "my pictures" on ur computor and go to one of the files that have the pics you want, then click on it then go back to this site, but dont close out of the pic profile, and then press download. Then u r all set.

Comment #80 Ashley (1) from Ohio -

Holly-jo i have a few questions, does your coon make any cute noises like it did when he was little, when he was a kit???And is he agressive at all??? Cuz he is a boy after all. One last thing i did hear u HAVE to make ur coon the head of the house or else he will get out of hand, is that true??? If so what does that mean?

Comment #81 Holly jo (168.103.184.246) -

Ashley,

Ok, head of the household means, he does what he wants, when he wants. if he is doing something that he wants, don't take it away, they will get aggressive and bite, if you cage them for about a 12 hour period they will start turning mean. they are the boss, you have to respect that. you child prof your house. keep things put up that you dont want him playing with. if they find a pin hole in your wall they will dig in it till it is the size they can go through. keep the putty handy. if he is doing something that you don't want him doing, grab a broom tap it on the floor about tem to five feet from him, he will run, they dont like the broom bristle's. Bandit threw all the cans off the top two shelves in the pantry, those are his shelve's to sleep and play on. they like high spots, so make somewhere he can have up high. they can get really big, mine is 58 lbs now, when he bites it hurts. NEVER trust him or let him by your face, , NEVER, they can rip you apart, they are wild animals. no matter how long they are in captivity, you cannot take the wild out of them, if they feel scared or threatened they will revert back to the wild side.Mine is aggressive at mating season toward my husband, bad, he has bite my husband bad about thirty times, he has even gone after him. my husband has to watch his back at all time, thank god he is tough. after about 9 months, you cant let anyone in your house, unless you put him in a room and shut the door. they do act like guard dogs, a tough guard dog, will bite any company. so no more friends in the house while he is out, you will get sued and he will get taken away and put to sleep. As far as the noises, they go to a growing and a churring, sound like a loud purring. Make sure you keep up on the shots, and get him nuetured,

Comment #82 josh (4.226.144.35) -

wat do u do with a baby raccoon if it fell out of a tree and is real young and its eyes are not even open

Comment #83 Holly jo (168.103.184.246) -

It will die if it doesn't get back, You would have to raise it or call that state animal services, some states will put it to sleep, they are very time consuming to keep alive, they are hard to keep alive, get a small cat kennel, get a good heating blanket, put it on low in the bottom of the cage, put a small blanket on the top of the heating pad, make sure it is not to hot, they have to be around 85 degree's. then feed them kmr formula, get it at walmart or pet store. get an eye dropper, depending on how old they are, feed them a few drops, use luke warm water to make it, then when they cry feed them, then get a paper towel rub there tummy's so they can go potty, you have to rub softly, they cant go on there own, they need your help, then they will go back to sleep. i hope that this helps, they do need feeding and pottying every few hours.help them go potty everytime they feed, hint, put a little warm water on the towel before rubbing there tummy

i hope that this helps

Comment #84 Ashley (1) from Ohio -

Holly jo-

Should Ibe conserned??? My raccoon is about 3 weeks old, and his eyes arent even open so the question is... if he was hand raised will he still have manners, and bond with my friend, because she came over a couple of times and played with him. I play with him almost every day, but mom feeds him because i am at school 5 days a week. And i cant constantly wash my hands because i am allergeck to the soap i use, and my lil baby isnt wormed yet cuz his eyes arent even open.( but his eyes are almost opened, his eye lids are boogering up and they should open soon. So im excited about that!!!)

Comment #85 Holly jo (168.103.184.246) -

Ashlee, your friend can play with him till he is about 8 to 9 months, that is when you are going to have to keep them away. Your friend would have to be around all the time, how old are you ashlee, you are going to have to be very careful all the time watch your face, mine ripped the top of my daughters ear off, they are very powerful, i have had mine since he was a day old. just never let your guard down, right before they bite they will start swaying like a snake, just get up and move, try the broom tapping, they dont like it and will run, we have brooms around our house just in case, you dont have to touch them with it, just tap it. to that is aa while, at about 8 or 9 months, no they dont come after you, our has only bit when he gets scared or feels treatened, or if you try to take something away from him that he really wants, back away when you hear a grunt. about 3 to 8 months, they want to play all the time, they have very, very sharp claws, you will get scratched, try to have plenty of toys that then can play with instead of you, they like small swimming pools with a few inches of water in them, they also like things that they can put there hands in, put a dice in a bottle, it will keep him busy for a long time. they are very hard to raise and keep around, you have to be tough, keep him in a cat cage in your room while you sleep, then they will allways go to bed when you do. keep him on the kmr formula till they are 4 months, when he gets older you can give him a baby bottle with it, and he will feed himself. when he gets older put a puppy potty pad on the floor for him to go potty on, if he goes somewher else in the house, then move the potty pad where he goes, then move it a little bit everyday to where you want him to go, and he will follow it. when he gets older you can get a square box to put the potty pad in, dont use cat litter, they like to play in it, it will go everywhere, you will have to help him go potty till he is about 2 months, then he will be able to go on his own, and to like i said before, i love bandit to death and will never get rid of him now because he will die, but i will never ever get another one. it is a very long commitment. dont ever cage him, only at night with you by your bed

Comment #86 Kim (206.125.133.164) -

We had a raccoon that was getting into our back porch and eating our dog food. After a couple of weeks we noticed that the raccoon had been bleeding and it got blood on the floor. I caught my little dog on the back porch sniffing the blood and i dont know if she had licked it. Anyways ive been freaking out that the raccoon might of had rabies and now my dog my have it. Is this possible? any recommendations?

Comment #87 Holly jo (168.103.184.246) -

Kim, It depends on where you live, The majority of coons that have rabies live in the new york area, up north states, They say it is a myth that every coon has rabies, if you are in the area, then take your dog to the vet, my dogs have been around bandit all the time, vets here have said that he has a great possibility of having rabies, we have been bit and scratched, he doesn't have rabies, Then i have looked it up, they are in the northern most states, new york, maine, area's like that

Comment #88 Ashley (1) from Ohio -

Holly jo I am so depressed my coon that still survived after his sister passed away, he died today, I am very very very upset. I dont even know if I will get another one, cuz you get to close to them and when something happens your heart cant take another chance. The little gouy opened his eyes a few days ago on Wednesday. My mom got the med. for the little guy cuz she felt really bad cuz I ALWAYS complained about how much I wanted to kiss him. But we think that he was allergeck to it, he was winning all night, and I was sleeping on the couch. My dad thought he was winning because it was burning his stomach. And when I woke up this morning my mom told me to feed him but she was conserned, cuz he wasnt crying. So she went to go check on him and said oh F!!! Im sorry honey... hes dead. And I dont know if I should risk getting my heart broken again, and get another coon at the flee market next month. Holly... please help me!

Comment #89 Leah Fisher (207.255.175.31) -

Hi! I live in NY and am looking for a young raccoon, preferably litter trained already. 716-244-3801 or le34ah56@yahoo.com please contact me! I am willing to drive or pay for shipping. And let me know what price you want for him/her. Thanks

Comment #90 Holly jo (207.224.202.151) -

Ashley, I am so sorry. I know how it feels, Bandits younger sister Smokey died when she was about 8 weeks. They are one of the hardest animals to keep alive, what State do you live in, they say that you cant give them any meds till they are 6 months old.. How old was your baby. I will explain how hard they are to keep alive. out of the 5 brothers and sisters, My Bandit is the olny one that lived, out of the batch right after ours, there were 6 and all of them died, i had to get up with bandit every HOUR for the first MONTH then every TWO hours till he was 4 months, they said that is what there momma's do You feed them then help them go potty, then they go to sleep, then in a couple of hours they cry again, you feed them , help them go potty , this goes on for 4 months. They are hard to keep alive, you have to have alot of commitment. Bandit went everywhere with me, to work, to the movies, on our shopping day. I had a heating blanket that i would plug into my ciggerette, outlet in my car, They cry cause they are cold, hungry, or need to go potty, they do it more than a real baby does, and you have to be there. Ashley, I cant tell you what to do, But If you can keep one alive, they get desaterous, and you will get bit once in a while, please dont get one if your family isnt tough, and dont get another if you cant handle it and have to CAGE it in the future. our Bandit is not locked up. But we put up with alot of walls being tore up, and he bits once in a while, it HURTS. I am the type, we dont believe in caging animals, Yes we regret it all the time, BUT, I do LOVE him to Death> I will give you my email, I can send you some pictures, WRITE me, pinkigal1@yahoo.com

Comment #91 Ashley (1) from Ohio -

Thank you Holly, but my dad and I went to go burrey him yesterday. I cried sooo munch cuz I relized... theres nothing we can do except say good-bye. I wrote Bubba a song on be-half of his death. We loved him sooo much and my heart shattered. I dont think I'll love any other coon like I loved Bubba. He was about a month and 1 week old when got the meds. Our docter, docter Noll, has 2 coons so he understood how muchwe needed it. He said we would have to give him one dropper full every two weeks. But on the bottle it said 1 or 2 drops per 6 oz. He was only about 4 ounces. My stupid cows were bothering his grave so my dad said I coul lock em' out of that field. I gathered up about 10 medium sized rocks and put them on top of his grave. My dad tapped a stick into place for him too. Then I found a nice flat rock and painted his name Bubba, then I painted a heart with a raccoon paw print on the heart. The painting tells a true story about him. How he touched all of hearts. Then I picked a lite puple iris and layed it in front of the painted stone. I will email you a pic of it if I can.

Comment #92 baby joe (205.188.116.206) -

we find 3 baby coon in the top of are house we here something for 3 days crying and went to look and it was baby the mom must of got hurt or die we are feeding them kinnen milk and two of them die and we have one and he is doing good what alse do we need to know we how to make him puped but when they get biger what do they eat where do they go to the bathroom are they like a cat do they use a litter box im going to keep my little man if he makes it i just need to know a little more about them thank you please help

Comment #93 hellen (71.66.105.124) -

any body who has a coon you better have a permit or you could get a fine of $400 or more so all you people better get one and get one pretty fast.i had 3three baby coons and this lady called the cops and we got the coons took from us and we got a fine!

Comment #94 Holly jo (71.219.47.126) -

Hellen, & Baby joe

I don't have to have a permit, I live in Wyoming.

BABY JOE, you need to keep him warm until he is about 4 to 6 weeks

then you can feed them puppy food then dog, they do get big, mine weighs 59 pounds now, , you need to child proof all cabinets and drawers, as far as kitty litter, they do go potty in it, but they play in it, makes a big mess. we use a big square box with puppy pads in it, but they are not like a cat, you cant put them in the box and expect them to go, What u need to do is notice the first place they go then put a towel in that spot, then every day u need to move it a little further to the place you want then to go, until they get bigger they cant get into the big square box. we kept bandit on the towel till he go older then we exchanged the towel for the box, To one thing you need to know they can bite when they are playing, it hurts, when they get older they are VERY STRONG, they can scratch to, if you try to put it in a cage when it gets older, they turn aggressive, our bandit runs the house, the only time he goes into a cage is at night when we go to bed, it is at my head on my night stand, they are usualy night creature's, but you can adjust that, To you have to rub its belly with a warm wash cloth to help him go potty till it is about 3 to 4 weeks old, what state do you live in.

Holly

Comment #95 trish bioletti (71.243.65.68) -

Just last night we discovered two baby raccoons on our front doorstep. We watched them for hours for the mother to come collect. She never did. We live in downtown boston and were concerned about them getting run over by car etc.

We took them in fed them, barracaded them in a confined area. Turns out confined area wasn't too confined. Now we can't find them.

Local pest control is saying $400 dollar minimum.

Any advice?

Our plan is to wait until tonight and watch for them to come out then simply leaving them in the back yard which was our plan all along.

Comment #96 darlene (71.28.229.122) - Fri Jun 13 16:03:33 2008

my friend found a baby racoon her and her husband loves it she was thinking about getting the coon fixed so she could keep it would that keep the coon from getting mean plz email me back so i can tell her thanks

Comment #97 Wayde Forster from New York - Sat Jun 14 06:22:58 2008

Neutering your wild raccoon will not keep it tame! Get your rabies shots now, raise the little guy, then be prepared to turn him loose when he turns on you. That will be an experience you will never forget. BTW-it should be interesting to read next year how many of these people have died of rabies. Only a small percentage of coons carry it, but how do you know which ones?! That's a fool's bet, as losing means dying. Ignorant morons.

Comment #98 Holly jo (67.41.235.146) - Sat Jun 14 09:06:10 2008

I have had my coon for 2.6 years. he has had all his shots, the state regulations board said the only rabies that they have found in coon is up New York, Maine area, our bandits runs our house, he does what he wants, if you can learn to respect that they are wild animals you should be fine, ours is not in a cage, Yes he has bite when he gets taken away from something he wants, It HURTS Be prepared,

Comment #99 Holly jo (67.41.235.146) - Sun Jun 15 08:35:34 2008

To, on the neutering or spay, During their mating season, our male would go after my husband to tear him up and he did a few times. Well during that time after we got him neutered, he does not go after the male humans in the house. so it did mellow him out. i don't know about the female coons

Comment #100 Penelope the raccoon (66.66.172.45) - Tue Jun 17 15:19:59 2008

I am the best pet anyone could have.I do not ransack houses.

I am a trained raccoon if u just tell me no loudly I'll listen.

I also pee in a litter box.

dont I have proper etiquiet

Comment #101 diane (24.172.212.166) - Fri Jun 20 09:23:48 2008

i have a baby raccoon that was abandonded. she is about six to eight weeks old. i need someone experienced to take her. i know nothing about raising them and i do not have the time to give to her to raise her. or looking for someone that would be interested in raising her. i live in ohio. i do not want anything for her, just someone to give her a home.

Comment #102 diane (24.172.212.166) - Fri Jun 20 09:25:21 2008

to earlier message, i forgot to give number at work until 5 330-539-6111 or at home 330-392-3539 or cell 330-219-4514. please someone help i am desperate for someone to take her. i have no idea how to feed her or care for her.

Comment #103 Cindy from Oklahoma - Thu Jun 26 00:02:42 2008

Hello everyone,

I have sat here for the last 10 minutes reading all the comments written here and even though I have been a licensed breeder for Raccoons in the state of Okalhoma for 9 years now I am still amazed at all the myths there are out there about Raccoons and how many still believe them. Like Gina I have had Raccoons in my home and have them outside. First let me say that the only way you can get rabies from a Raccoon is the same way you would get it from your dog or cat. They would have to be bitten by something that has been bitten and has rabies. Second if you get a raccoon for a pet and have it spayed or neutered it will not turn mean on you as it gets older. Third if you hit a raccoon it will retaliate and bite you so you have to use a firm voice and a rolled up newspaper or flyswatter NEVER your hand. If you use your hand it becomes the enemy so when you go to pet them you will probably get bit. Next never feed KRM or puppy milk they do not have the nutrients needed. Use a formula of goats milk, evaporated milk, water, and plain unsweetened yogurt.

Raccoons just like any animal will be as sweet or mean as you treat it. If you are loving so are they, if you are mean so are they. I have 15 Raccoons and I can go outside to my cages and pet and hold all but two of my Raccoons. The two I can not hold I bought from a breeder when they were 2 years old and were already use to being treated like they were nothing but breeders. I may be a breeder but I love all my aniamls and have a good relationship with all of them and it shows in the fact that I can pet and hold eveything I own. Yes Raccoons are different than cats and dogs but I have taken care of meaner and more distructive dogs than I have Raccoons. Their main fault is curiosity. So please don't let those who think you shouldn't have an animal because it is considered a wild animal dicourage you. Find a good breeder and try it you may just be surprised. One last thing I will say though is you should get you raccoon from a breeder not from the wild, there is a difference in attituude and most times those who found a wild baby and tried raising it ended in disappointment. Raccoons raised through many generations of domestication do not know what it means to be wild they never knew and don't have the desire to be wild, but those born in the wild have the wild urges and always have the desire to roam so do not make good pets. All pets started out wild folks and man tamed them so to say owning a Raccoon is wrong because they should be wild is saying the same of dogs and cats too.

Comment #104 Holly jo (67.41.189.218) - Thu Jun 26 06:38:38 2008

Cindy

My raccoons mom was killed when he was 1 day old, yes he is a wild raccoon. we do not cage bandit, he has full roam of our home 24 hours a day, with 3 dogs and 2 cats, 1 is a walker coon hound. he sleeps in a box next to my head every night, he is now 2.6 years old, He has never bitten me, but he has during mating season bite my husband, BAD. Yes he is the best animal we have ever had, but, because we do not put him in a cage, we have problems with him ripping holes in walls, and tearing up carpet, thank god i am a handy girl. He is the BEST animal we have ever had, , BUT I WILL NOT EVER RAISE ANOTHER ONE. We have to pay more attention to bandit than any of the other animals

Comment #105 Tina (24.186.213.65) - Tue Jul 8 21:19:16 2008

I am a veterinarian who has been raising a male raccoon since he was 3 weeks old. He is absolutely thriving and has done extremely well. He has been dewormed numerous times and has tested negative for GI parasites. He is currently vaccinated against feline and canine distemper, leptosporosis, and rabies. He gets along with my cats and is very sweet though hyper at times. He's litter trained and eats a large variety of foods. He's about 3-4 months old now and I'm trying to find a home for him as it is not legal to keep raccoons in NY and I would prefer to not release him. I will neuter him if a caring person will give him a loving home. Please contact me if you are interested or if you have any questions.

Comment #106 Tina (24.186.213.65) - Tue Jul 8 21:20:36 2008

My e-mail address is tinarting@mail.com

Comment #107 Chena (68.5.41.18) - Sun Jul 20 17:58:05 2008

I live in Mission Viejo California, and would like to have a grey squirrel as a pet. Does anyone know where I can get one? I would be willing to drive to Las Vegas, NV, Northern California, Oregon and Washington. Please let me know.

Thanks.

Comment #108 Lilac (160.79.48.27) - Wed Jul 30 11:10:25 2008

I heard raccoons make a good food source.I live down in the deep south in Tildaville, Mississippi and know people in rural areas all over the south still eat them.I usually buy one r two babies and raise them until they are about one year old.I feed them incessatly on fatty foods like peanut butter and pasta to fatten them up real ggod.When I am ready to slaughter them, I put thei heads between the heavy metal cellar door and slam it shut good to crush their skulls.Then I slaughter them butcher-style in the yard and cook them like pot roast.I never tell my guests they're raccood, but rather, say it is pork-loin and everyone loves them! You too should try this-they are really delicious!

Comment #109 sarah (74.237.162.126) - Wed Jul 30 16:33:48 2008

I have a baby coon we call her Rosie and she needs a home, she has been bottle fed, is 4 mo old now and loves people. We are in AL, If you are interested in taking care of Rosie please email me at sarah512@bellsouth.net

Comment #110 Vicky Pena (24.243.127.113) - Thu Jul 31 04:10:48 2008

Sarah and Tina, i would love to take both of those coons and take care of them for you. i found a baby coon last year and just released him to the wild. he's doing great but i miss him terribly. im looking for another one and as said, id love to help out all out. my email is bloodysweets13@yahoo.com if anyone has any questions or comments feel free to contact me

Comment #111 Cassie Crabbe (72.16.61.155) - Mon Aug 11 02:34:47 2008

Hi guys,

i really am thinking about getting a raccoon.

i have been doing a little searching around, but cant seem to find much info on buying them, to be honest im not even sure their illegal in TX. If anyone knows a good site that would tell me more about these things would you please email me at lilcrab08@aol.com

that would be awesome

thanks, Cassie

:)

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