Should i feed wild raccoons

Can you recommend sources of information to learn if feeding dry cat food is harmful to wildlife raccoons and if this food would cause increased risk of raccoon roundworm in the immediate area. What are the bad points about feeding wildlife? Wildlife is best kept wild. The more we feed wild animals, the more contact there can be with people. That can be dangerous, depending on the animal e.

If you feed raccoons and they decide to stay, you may end up with a highly contaminated raccoon latrine somewhere on your property. That could pose a particular risk if you have young children or developmentally delayed individuals at home. If lots of people feed wild animals, their numbers can increase, resulting in more exposure to people, increasing animal population density with corresponding risks to the animals from disease transmission and an unsustainable population should the "free food" source disappear.

Restoring native plant communities creates a natural food chain for raccoons and offers them safe cover and places to raise young. This Bill Saves Wildlife in Crisis. Urge Congress to Support It. Learn More. Our beloved wildlife ambassador has been creating lifelong connections with nature for generations.

Donate Take Action. Wildlife Facts. Laura Tangley March 31, Wildlife Facts Garden for Wildlife , National Wildlife magazine , raccoons , urban wildlife , wildlife. Written by Laura Tangley. Recent Popular. I figured they had been in there because the neighbors saw them, but I thought they'd left with all the activity.

I didn't hear anything for at least 4 days and then I thought it was coming from the roof while they were looking for another way in. But then I heard noises definitely coming from the upstairs apartment. Growls and yapping like a dog and stuff thrown around.

When I finally got the courage to go up and look, there were pawprints on the glass of the door leading to one of the apartments. No one has lived up there in a long time so when we had had another leak patched awhile ago it had already ruined the drywall ceiling up there and the plaster ceiling on the downstairs.

I concentrated on redoing the downstairs and didn't bother with the upstairs, leaving a hole in the ceiling to the attic. It turns out that was a good thing.

I've been able to give them food and water while deciding how to get them out. I finally saw one the other day as it walked away from the food dish, sauntered to the stove, climbed to the top of the fridge, turned around and gave me a look like, "I WAS eating," and disappeared into the hole in the ceiling.

I didn't realize at first that the floor in the attic doesn't actually touch the roof, allowing them to access the space between the roof and ceiling where the ceiling joists are. I haven't heard any chattering I say chittering from babies, but maybe that's because the mother isn't gone long enough for them to get upset.

I was hoping the one I saw was too young to have babies. But on the off chance there are babies up there, it is now beyond my desire to do this myself. A friend does have live traps and the raccoons are used to the free meals of cat food so I probably could get them in a cage, but hunting around for babies is my limit. I've been inadvertantly feeding raccoons and possums in Florida for years because I have 2 feral cats which I feed outside and I have video on my phone of the mother bringing the babies.

The one in my attic is definitely growly and aggressive. Maybe another reason to "call in the pros". In going forward, you say there is no way to deter these adorable creatures. However, are they strong enough to tear out a solid 1"x6"? As I mentioned, we just had a new roof put on and any weak wood replaced. The only thing I'm worried about otherwise is the vents the roofers put in.