Subject: Raccoons
Date: May 10 07:14:09 1999
From: Marti - meander at biosupport.com


Lydia and al

Your friend needs to take swift action on getting rid of his raccoon.
The wait list for Havahart traps is long via the Humane Society so buy
one at a pet superstore. Try can cat food for bait. Place the trap
near the current food station and cover it with a cloth so that it looks
like a cave. Beacause it is a "wildlife" situation I would talk to Fish
and Wildlife before relocating.

2nd. Fix the cat door with one of the magnetic systems that only allows
cat to open close it.

3rd Rabies in raccoons is possible however I have never seen it
discussed from Olympia. ( I worked in clinical vet med for 20 years)
Our typical rabies cases start with bats. Cats rarely survive a raccoon
attack, those that do have required extensive repair work.

4th Apart from the property damage, Raccoons carry some NASTY parasites
that people can get.

5th Kitty can do without the grazing system of eating. Pull up the
food at night. This might produce a rampage by the raccoon, so I would
bar the door as well.

Good luck. Un-wild wildlife can be very dangerous, so be careful too.