LIVING IN HARMONY WITH RACCOONS: A Different Perspective
By Susan Beattie
Planet Earth is home to many beings, each here for a specific purpose. Species Human is the only one with the power to insure the survival, not the destruction, of other creatures. 
The purpose of this article is to help maintain a peaceful environment for raccoons. The premise is simple and can be applied to all living things: TOLERATE and COEXIST.  Respect nature and let everyone live peacefully.
Raccoons are intelligent and curious animals. They do best in the wild but adapt to habitat close to man, ironically their greatest enemy. They are cute to watch from a distance, but must be left undisturbed and wild.
It is easier to prevent problems rather than reverse them.  To avoid conflicts with raccoons, remove food sources.  Plain and simple. Don’t leave food outdoors or in screened enclosures; the odor travels and attracts animals.   Keep in mind that raccoons will rip screening to get the scraps. 
Domestic pets should be fed indoors, then their dishes cleaned so the aroma won’t be airborne. Outdoor grills need scrubbing after use and kept closed. Keep garbage cans indoors until the morning of pick up, and use turn-twist trash cans.  Sprinkle problem areas with cayenne pepper, which is an offensive odor for raccoons and a safe deterrent. 
Raccoons have babies during spring and /or fall months. Sometimes they seek the shelter of a house overhang or find refuge in an opening on the roof leading to the attic.  They also can climb down chimneys. It is important to check these areas for openings or weak vulnerable spots. Securing your home will stop a pregnant mom from turning it into a nursery.  And trim tree limbs which make rooftop access easy.
If a raccoon does take up residence in the attic, remember that it is only TEMPORARY. The best thing to do is nothing more than monitor it.  Baby raccoons open their eyes at 3 weeks of age and by week 6-7 they are active, running around and eager to be taken out of the attic and into the world by mama raccoon.  
Mama will leave the babies until they are ready to venture out.  She comes and goes to nurse them.  She licks them clean like a mama cat does her kittens. When it is time to leave, she carries them in her mouth, one at a time until all are out. Only she knows how many babies are there.
It will be very noisy as the departure time gets closer.  Once they are gone, it will be silent.   Stuffing some newspaper at the point of entry will prevent easy access.  If the opening is undisturbed for 24 hours,  then mom has them all out and it’s time to secure the openings.
 If a trapper is called, they charge in excess of a hundred or more dollars and will destroy the animals.  They charge additional for each baby and since mama is constantly moving them there is no way to guarantee all are out.  The litters are 2 to 6 babies. 
If a baby is left behind, s/he will die. Dead baby raccoons rot in the attic.  The odor will be horrid and the body will attract rodents and snakes.  This can be much worse than just letting mama nurse the babies until it is time for her to remove them.
If a trapper says he will ‘relocate’ the animals, it is doubtful.  Most states, Florida included, have laws prohibiting the release of wildlife in other areas. It is much easier and more economical for trappers to kill the raccoons.  There is no regulation as to how trappers dispose of their catch.  It is often a brutal and cruel end. 
Even if they do release them, the stress on the raccoon makes it difficult for them to survive in a new environment.  They can be taken to an already overpopulated site, or one that has diseased animals. It is a no-win situation. 
We at Wildlife Rehabilitation and Refuge Center urge TOLERANCE and CO-EXISTENCE. It is the only way that humans and other animals will live in balance on Planet Earth.
------------------------
Susan Beattie is Director of the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Refuge Center, Inc., Palm City, Florida.  She may be reached at 772 221-1231.  Susan is happy to take calls from people in need of individual help with raccoons.