International Raccoon Appreciation Day: How We Coexist with Raccoons at the Primate Sanctuary

by Liz Tyson, PhD in Blog, Coexisting with Wildlife, Primate Sanctuary on October 01, 2024

Our sanctuary in south Texas offers a home for life to more than 200 monkeys. But, alongside the monkeys, our 175-acre site is also home to a host of other native wildlife species, including skunks, opossums, snakes, feral pigs, and raccoons.

Raccoons Are Highly Adaptable and Widely Distributed

Raccoons are one of the most widely distributed mammals in North America and are found across Canada, the United States, Mexico, and even in northerly regions of South America. They are masters of adaptation and have learned to live in many different environments, from the most isolated rural locales to densely occupied urban areas. These highly intelligent problem solvers are often considered “pests” precisely because they are so adept at using human-made environments to serve their needs. Whether it is rifling through trash to find food or making homes in our houses, raccoons may be cute, but they are not always welcome.

How Born Free USA Manages Raccoons at Our Primate Sanctuary

Born Free believes in living peacefully alongside all animals, and our sanctuary team leads by example. We take measures to humanely manage raccoon populations by following our principles of coexistence:

  • Block entry points to living areas and other structures that might be an attractive home for unwanted wildlife species. This includes access to roof and crawl spaces in homes.
  • Give them space – The easiest way to avoid conflict is to leave other animals to their own daily lives. If they do not pose a danger and you do not need to go near them, simply allow them to go about their day undisturbed.
  • Gently move them to a safe space – if you find an animal in your home and can safely and gently remove them, please do. If you are worried about doing it yourself, enlist the help of a friend or family member. If the animal is potentially dangerous, call a local wildlife rescue or animal control for advice.
  • Use deterrents in place of lethal control – there are a lot of easy to implement and often natural remedies you can use to deter animals from coming into your home. You can find specific deterrents for commonly found species in our guidance.
  • Keep companion animals safe and monitor them when outside. This is not just to keep your beloved family member safe, but also to protect other animals from harm.
  • Keep trash in sealed containers and do not leave food waste lying around outside.
  • Seal food containers in your house to deter rodents.
  • Don’t feed wildlife.
  • Check brush piles and other natural waste for animals before clearing. This is particularly important if you are burning waste – someone may have made a nest in there.
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Some Raccoon Appreciation

By following these simple guidelines, our sanctuary team and the monkeys have the privilege of witnessing the antics of our raccoon friends, while ensuring that everyone stays safe, and problems are mitigated. Here are a handful of photos of just some of the beautiful “trash pandas” we share our sanctuary with…

Keep Wildlife in the Wild,
Liz

Dear Reader,

We are a nonprofit committed to wildlife conservation, welfare, and rescue. Making resources free and widely distributed, like our news items, is an important part of our mission. If you found this article helpful, enjoyable, or enlightening, please donate to help keep these resources available, and Keep Wildlife In The Wild.

Thank You,
The Born Free USA Team

 

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Animal Issues Digest: Fall/Winter 2024

Liz Tyson, PhD
Director of Animal Welfare and Advocacy