When this happens, you, your family, and pets are at a high risk of contracting diseases. Well, raccoons carry parasitic roundworms, this disease does not affect them. Some of these conditions include leptospirosis, roundworms, and giardiasis. Food: Raccoons are omnivorous, eating both plants and animals in developed areas and agricultural settings. They are also quite adept at getting into garbage cans and making a meal of the food scraps inside. Your garbage presents a perfect spot for raccoons to gorge themselves on. These foods do not necessarily contain a chemical that is particularly toxic to companion dogs, but can cause serious health problems or potentially death. feeding trials, raccoons were provided dog food each day and water ad libitum. Raccoons do NOT scare easily, and are quite happy to protect “their” food from creatures as large as a bear. Beautiful animals I enjoy watching nightly. If you find an area with all of the nexessary things it is probably inhabitated by other animals and the new one will have to fight for a spot. While it is tasty and harmless to humans, a simple nibble could be life-threatening for your cat. Good luck; you can’t. The raccoons have left for the evening and the fake-jello cup is … Raccoon Repellent: Natural Home Recipes - Raccoons are drawn to areas populated by humans because of the abundant food supply. Pet food left in dishes outside is also a tempting snack. Raccoons can establish community latrines inside or outside your house. Toxic Foods for your Dogs. Raccoons and dogs rarely have face to face interactions, given the raccoon’s natural tendency to be nocturnal. Raccoons that live near rivers and lakes also enjoy amphibians, fish, and even bird eggs. If the critters become accustomed, you are likely to regret this. Here, the dangers of raccoon urine and poop/feces will be discussed. Dogs are such wonderful companions; they are loyal and obedient, and once they are trained and treated well, will make for a great relationship that can last many years. Collect fallen fruit and nuts regularly in order not to leave food for raccoons available in the garden. Also, raccoons like cat food, and if they get used to eating from a cat's bowl, the fight is inevitable. Next time you take your dog for a walk in New Orleans City Park, make sure to beware of raccoons that some are calling, "zombie raccoons." However, raccoons present a serious danger to dogs due to what they leave behind. one night simply place the racoon-proof feral cat feeder in the same location. Raccoons are omnivorous. To get rid of a pest problem, nutrition is one of the things to be taken into consideration. One lick of this warm, pungent powder should send that raccoon searching wildly for ketchup to cool off its tongue. It might be tempting to put food out for raccoons, but this is an invitation for future issues, especially if you leave it close to home. The animals do not have a food source, a place to sleep, and water when you move them. It started when his wife rescued orphaned baby raccoons 20 years ago. Now for pet keeper responsibility lecture. Remove Garbage. Away from urban areas, the diet becomes more natural. However, it can be very dangerous for humans causing neurological problems and even death. I’ve never seen them work, but that’s also because in the cases they do, I’m not called out. After nursing them and releasing them into the wild, they kept coming … Access to human food (garbage, pet food or intentional feeding) decreases their fear of humans, and they may become aggressive toward food or injured pets. Always have your animals come inside to eat their meals. The most commonly cited homemade recipe for raccoon poison involves mixing an insecticide such as … Milk works well too. Jim Blackwood, a retired Canadian police officer known as the “Racoon Whisperer” feeds over two dozen raccoons on his back porch almost every night. Before going to bed at night, take out the trash and shut the bin lid tight. Raccoons (who eat GARBAGE, mind you) are smart enough to recognize that fake-jello is not actually a FOOD!!!! It is important to clear and remove all garbage and food waste from the house and garden not only to prevent access but to teach the raccoons to stop coming. Raccoon Latrines. After six successive trials (see below), the raccoons were returned to the Osaka Prefec- tural Government. In summary, a raccoons diet should consist of almost anything and everything not toxic to them. If a fight breaks out between your cat and a raccoon, there will not be a happy ending for your pet. When using a spicy seasoning to ward off raccoons, remember this one rule of thumb: The spicier, the better. They were made to fast for 24 hours prior to the trials. We have to keep our dog food outside, else the dogs will make themselves sick eating it all. Although raccoons are nice animals and can encourage sympathy, do not feed them and do not let your neighbors do this. This makes them very adaptable to human surroundings. Due to this, you should work extremely hard to get rid of raccoon poop and any contaminated material. Whether in an urban or suburban lot, trash cans are inviting targets for raccoons because of discarded food and the scent wafting from the garbage. Raccoons are a major nuisance for homeowners across the country in both urban and rural areas. In my years of experience as a wildlife removal professional, I’ve seen many of these tactics used in an attempt to evict raccoons. I feed our raccoons dry dog every night in a bowl out side the bay window in my bird room. The idea behind these repellents is that they simply create an unpleasant odor that raccoons don’t like, which encourages them to leave. I can see their eyes and watch temperament to make sure they are healthy. Food: Raccoons are omnivorous, eating both plants and animals in developed areas and agricultural settings. Dogs in house and people do not go out they are not pets. Raccoons are not dangerous to people. So, what makes raccoon feces toxic? A: I have written several times about how raccoons damage gardens by defecating in them, eating food crops and digging up new lawns. In California it is illegal to move an animal because it is cruel. scott s huber Feb 2, 2017 REPLY. Raccoon dropping, therefore, has both parasitic worms and eggs, meaning you can become infected. But because the raccoon population in Ontario is so large, and continuously growing, it is becoming increasingly difficult to avoid these interactions. Leave the food out on the floor for a week, and place a trail camera nearby to monitor who is feeding there. It’s common for a raccoon to eat pet food; if they’re in the wild they’ll fetch some berries, other fruits, nuts, grains, eggs, snake, livestock (yes, including chickens), frogs, squirrels, just about anything they can get their hands on and won’t be overpowered by. Only a few foods can be toxic to raccoons, but they’ll otherwise eat whatever they can easily find. But if you aren’t careful about putting your cat’s food inside at night, you may be inviting raccoons to visit your property, a bad habit that could easily answer the question of are raccoons dangerous by putting your cat in harms way. of Florida have shown that the toxic elements in coal ash accumulate in the livers of raccoons that forage for their food in and around ponds containing the waste. While many go to great lengths to get rid of raccoons, this man spends $2000 a month feeding them. In the wild, the raccoon diet consists mainly consists of berries, eggs, insects, and other omnivorous fare. Feeding raccoons is harmful (PDF) and it is illegal to keep raccoons as pets in B.C. In the second part of Hemopet’s Blog series on toxic foods for dogs, we discuss foods that often end up on toxic food lists. In fact, the only way to permanently get rid of raccoons is to bar their access to food and water near your home. Be aware that if you start feeding raccoons they get destructive around the property. These curious critters could potentially try to break in to find more food, or just to see what’s inside. Raccoons have been known for their inability to eat spicy foods, and this spice is a worthy addition to any raccoon-prevention spice rack. Homemade raccoon poison has been known to kill cats and dogs. leave the food out on the floor for a week, and place a trail camera nearby to monitor who is feeding there. The main reason to discourage feeding cats "people food" is that there are a number of foods that are toxic to cats. The most common ways raccoons pass on these diseases is through contaminated water, soil or food sources and occasionally through direct contact (bite or scratch). Some raccoons will even eat small birds and other small animals if they can catch them, though they … People leave out food for pets, and it is easy for a raccoon to eat the food instead. Whether in an urban or suburban lot, trash cans are inviting targets for raccoons because of discarded food and the scent wafting from the garbage. Feed your cat inside where Bandit can’t get to it. Larry . This small but intelligent and dexterous animal can cause untold suffering by trashing your compound, stealing food, and damaging vegetable gardens. After we put food out we turn on a flood light that shines on the food dish. Garbage is obviously a main food source for raccoons - it's the main thing they forage on." People often want to help, but they end up killing them with kindness. Pet food left in dishes outside is also a tempting snack. then when cats already know the spot of food. make sure that feral cat(s) eat food, despite raccoons and possums feeding on it as well. Homemade raccoon poison is frequently made by mixing toxic fly bait with Coca Cola to disguise the taste; however, killing raccoons in this manner is strongly advised against as it presents a danger to other animals. We don't mind because we have SO MUCH and they barely make a dent in the dog food mountain...however, I need to know if this is harmful to them, and if I should lock it up.. Its the "Atta Boy" brand if you need to know it. Human Foods Are Not Meant for Cats . Many dogs hold critical functions such as guarding properties; leading blind and visually impaired people, and also they make excellent companions for individuals who have issues such as autism. What Raccoons Feed On. Sometimes raccoons come and eat it. Getting rid of them requires first identifying these food sources. Away from urban areas, the diet becomes more natural. cats will know what to do.