When deciding if a raccoon is a good pet for you, ask yourself the following questions: Other diseases raccoons can transmit (and transmit to you or your other pets): Can I own a raccoon? How can I legally own a raccoon? Raccoons are considered exotic animals and therefore have separate laws regarding their ownership. Owning a raccoon is not entirely practical and with animals made for the wilderness, it is in the best interest of the state to keep it that way. They can also be infested with many other parasites, including fleas, ticks and lice. Finding proper veterinary care for your raccoon can be just as difficult as raising properly. Most veterinarians have no experience in treating raccoons. It`s also illegal to sterilize raccoons in Texas, so if your furry friend escapes, you could end up with a whole litter to take care of. Owning a raccoon is legal in some states, but illegal in many other states. If you`re a Californian who wants to adopt a raccoon, you can only do so if you file a prohibited pet permit with the California Department of Fish and Game.1 Raccoons fall into the category of wildlife kept as pets. And it`s certainly not unprecedented: even US President Calvin Coolidge and his wife had 2 raccoons during his time in the White House.
He adds: “I have heard of many cases where people guard raccoons and one day are suddenly attacked without warning. Yes, there are exceptions, and some raccoons are simply more aggressive than others. But with a raccoon as a pet, you shouldn`t take any chances. In addition to these laws, also pay attention to regulations for raccoon owners. These regulations often answer questions such as, “What happens if my raccoon scratches or bites someone?” Since raccoons are wild animals, they can be euthanized if your raccoon is problematic. It`s important to recognize that even if your raccoon is domesticated, it`s a wild animal at heart. They can be dangerous, vicious, they can bite. But they can also be playful and fun. On the whole, they are unpredictable. Some states do not allow the importation of raccoons, even though they can be kept as pets.
For example, while Pennsylvania and Michigan issue permits for raccoon ownership, neither of them allow raccoons to be imported into the state. “People become infected when they accidentally ingest contaminated soil, water, or objects contaminated with raccoon feces,” warns Margi Sirois, CVT, in Principles and Practice of Veterinary Technology. “Once they`re sexually mature around 6 months of age, they`re no longer gentle and cuddly,” says David Seerveld, a wildlife expert who warns that your once-friendly raccoon could “suddenly and without warning” “bite your face.” Pet ownership is common in the United States. However, pets vary from dogs to cats, lizards, fish, hamsters and many other animal species. Most of these animals are domesticated and easy to care for without their owners having to worry about harming them or damaging their property. When it comes to unique situations where people take a wild animal from their home to let it live next to them as a pet, things get a little more complicated. The appearance of the raccoon leads people to ignore the characteristics of the animal. They will always be a wild animal, and many are very opposed to raccoon adoption.
Raccoons love to explore their surroundings, so it`s important to provide them with a spacious place. If you live indoors, a large dog box with plenty of space will work well for the raccoon in the short term. Not all states tolerate the education of exotic animals. Make sure that before you take this opportunity to buy an exotic animal, you do your research thoroughly. It is important to respect the law for your good and that of the raccoon. Their skillful paws and long fingers allow them to perform many tasks, such as opening latches and doors, unscrewing jar lids and much more. You can imagine the devastation a raccoon can cause in an unsuspecting household. While domesticated raccoons are illegal in most states (especially the wild raccoons you`re trying to domesticate), that doesn`t mean you can`t and shouldn`t own raccoons. Nevertheless, raccoons are very intelligent creatures and great problem solvers. They can also be a lot of fun – once your raccoon has been domesticated, you`ll find that it`s very playful. We need to look at raccoon adoption from a legal perspective to better understand the issue.
With the possession of a raccoon, the law changes and this is because they are considered exotic animals. Be sure to provide your raccoon with a suitable living space. This animal needs an indoor and outdoor enclosure to give it more space to run. Since he was raised to live a domesticated life, it will not be good for them to throw themselves into the desert again. It will not know how to protect itself, plunder, get used to the change of the environment and climate. All raccoons are vicious, but a wild raccoon can be much more dangerous than a domesticated raccoon. Because raccoons carry rabies, more than 20 states ban raccoons. Find a reputable raccoon breeder. Do not adopt a wild raccoon. Most breeders require you to leave a deposit on a kit and send you the raccoon while the animal is young and still bottle-fed. This allows you to bond with your little pet and build a relationship.
“It may sound cute,” he adds, “but it means that if there`s a raccoon in your house, it`s going to destroy a lot. It`s best to leave them in a large enclosure with lots of toys and things to climb. Raising a raccoon as a pet will take a lot of time, energy and patience. Raccoons can easily live to the age of 15 and they should not be released into the wild after being kept as pets. If you breed a raccoon as a pet with an incredible amount of attention, love, and care, you still won`t be able to override its wild instincts. Raccoons retain their wild side even after being bred and bred in captivity for several generations. Keeping a raccoon as a pet requires plenty of space for the creature, but don`t let it roam around your home. Raccoons are natural gatherers with a reputation for theft, and they can fit into almost any corner, crack, or handle they find.
Raccoons tend to bite or act when they are stressed or excited. You could bite your family, friends and visitors. Raccoons are intelligent and can therefore be trained as pets, but if this raccoon leaves the place where it lives, it can pose a danger to the rest of the surrounding public. Failure to obtain proper permits may result in a fine and confiscation of your pet.