Raccoon question

I've been trying to find the answer to this but am not having much luck, so given the wide variety of people here I figure someone might know.

What does it mean when a raccoon wags its tail?

For the past couple of months one has been coming into our front yard to eat under the bird feeder. The dog's tie-out won't let her get closer than 10 feet or so to the feeder area and the raccoon generally ignores her, but I've observed on several occasions him wagging his tail (side to side, raised a little but not very high) when he approaches the feeder and she's outside. Last night he was also making some huffing sounds but not acting threatening in any way (he's actually quite skittish and it doesn't take much for him to bolt).

I'd never seen this sort of behavior before and no one I've asked has even been aware of it. Our guess is that he's trying to indicate that he's not looking for trouble. Any ideas?

Brad

We have raccoons in and around and see the tail twitch now and then. I have considered it to be a sign of annoyance, pre-displaying any threat or anger. Sort of a " I see you and would rather you not disturb me any more...(cat-style).
But I don't pretend to speak the language, so I may be adding my own emotions to the 'twitch'!!

Here is one of our visiting Raccoons after a snack at the feeder tray.

Racoon's are big time carriers of rabies. They will also try to steal and eat anything in your yard. My uncle once kept his cat food outside in a trash can with a lid on it. The cat food has one of those pop-tops on it. The racoon would take the lid off the trash can and get a can of cat food and actually pop the top and eat the food. So, I'm not sure what the tail wagging means but I sure wouldn't trust the critter.

A raccoon will often move it's tail in a manner that seems as if it is wagging when it is excited or disturbed. If it also hisses or growls get your dog out of the way.

I have raccoons raid my bird feeder almost every night. It has got so frequent that I turn on my outside lights before I let my dog out. A raccoon could total my dog. I had to break up one encounter between the dog and coon. I threw my shoe when I saw what was about to happen. The coon came after me. I did my best 90 Nolan and threw the other shoe. The coon left. Thank God as the coon would have probably killed my dog although the dog did not feel that way.

They are cute and pesky.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Paul,
I hate be such a PIA but kill it. Coons can carry rabies w/ no visable signs. Don't go near it except to blow it away. Once they have visited your place and partaken of your bounty they will ALWAYS come back. Kill it and use a shovel to dispose of it, don't touch it, and shoot it three or four times. Wait a hour or so before trying to move the body. They look SOOO cute and can infect you so fast it isn't even funny.

Bad news critters, for sure. They are nocturnal, as we all know; if you see them in the daytime, it is an indication that they are sick (most likely rabid).
A few years ago, a local police officer responded to a call about a sick raccoon. When he shot it, bone fragments flew in all directions, including his eye. Keep some distance if you have to dispatch one.

Someone I used to work with was bitten by a rabid raccoon at his wife's company picnic. It walked up to him in a crowd of people. He had the shots and is o.k. I wouldn't leave your dog tied up out there until the raccoon is dispatched. We used to have one who visited the bird feeder in the evening. Emboldened after a while, he slid the deck screen door to one side and tried to come in. We stopped leaving the feeder out at night. I agree with V960.

Believe me I do not touch them nor do I let my dog near them. They can be very aggressive.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

We're having a lot of trouble with them in Boulder County right now, but it's distemper, not rabies. But seeing them in dayligh is always a bad thing. The poor animals are wandering around like they're drunk.

'Ol Rocky best grab that Gideon bible with this crowd.

Gee whiz if we wanted to shoot every 'coon around here, the Ky. Nat'l Guard would have to re-deploy back home and surround the joint.

Just don't go monkeying around with them and by all means dispatch any that show aggression and no fear.

Although they are nocternal by nature not all read the rule book and some, especially the younger spunkier ones will go about exploring in the daytime. We just had three young ones that played out back on the woods edge by the creek almost every afternoon until recently as they got older.

They do carry the majority of rabies in the wild it's true, I think, but the recorded cases of human infection is infinitesimal.
Most folks would be suprised how many live amongst us. The biggest I've ever seen were living in the sewer's below Finley Market in downtown Cincinnati. HUGE!

They sure can be a pain I'll agree (there's not a better safecracker in nature) and again if there's no shown fear and or any signs of aggression, by all means error on the side of caution.
However to just blast away at some critter because he's doing his critter thing (most likely because of some tid bit left out to lure him like a blue plate special), that's just wrong!

I've used fox urine or coyote in the past with some success. $20 a bottle at agway but it goes a long way. I always wanted to know who collected that stuff, How was your day at work today honey?

That's one of the main reasons I don't put out bird feeders. It attracts racoons field mice and other undesirables. I'm sure they all have a place in the big sceam of things, but don't invade mine. They can be helpfull in turning over a compost pile though. Chow Jim

quote:

Originally posted by Pat T Hat



Most folks would be suprised how many live amongst us. The biggest I've ever seen were living in the sewer's below Finley Market in downtown Cincinnati. HUGE!

That is one smart raccoon. I'm sure he eats well!

Jim,
I had read articles supporting the use of urine as a 'barrier' that deer and raccoons would avoid. We decided to try it around some of our veggie garden.

I never had the chance to really find out if it worked, as on the third day of our testing, the neighbor lady called the cops ,complaining about me depositing urine within sight of her front door.

(OK, a bad joke, but I couldn't pass up that intro!!)

Not a bad joke at all. Read the directions on the back lable.
It states something to the effect that it should be applied as natural as possible. The way the animal would do it. The guy at the Agway store and I got a laugh over that. I can't lift my leg that high anymore. Chow Jim

Jeez Wheeze Al, your Momma taught you better then that!

quote:

Originally posted by Jimeats

I've used fox urine or coyote in the past with some success. $20 a bottle at agway but it goes a long way. I always wanted to know who collected that stuff, How was your day at work today honey?

That's one of the main reasons I don't put out bird feeders. It attracts racoons field mice and other undesirables. I'm sure they all have a place in the big sceam of things, but don't invade mine. They can be helpfull in turning over a compost pile though. Chow Jim

Several of the apple orchards close to the mountains are buying lion and tiger scat from the Knoxville zoo and they scatter it around the orchard. They report that deer avoid it like the plague. I have no idea that it works but they have indicated that deer eating the apples have dramatically reduced.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

Whole Racoon families through the years (Mom, Dad, & perhaps six or seven youngsters) often can to visit us on the porch at my parent's house when we were sitting there after supper. It was an amazing happening. While they would not let us touch them, they actually hung around with us; some sitting within arm's reach for several hours as we talked and swung in the porch swing. There was no fear on either side. Simon, my now 15 year old Siamese cat; sat in amazement high above the "entertainment" in a hard to reach window sill. We watched them; they watched us. Of course, we always had treats for them in their special bowl just far enough away from the human crowd so they wouldn't feel "rushed". They ate and always came back, at least for a moment, to thank us. As they left; I knew I would see them tomorrow or at least within a couple of days. I did, generation after generation; for the next decade or so.

I can hear it now...
"Um, I'd like to buy some lion crap."
"OK, how much do you want to give me for it?"

quote:

Originally posted by Poverty Pete

I can hear it now...
"Um, I'd like to buy some lion crap."
"OK, how much do you want to give me for it?"

I guess everything has a value?

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

quote:

Originally posted by Poverty Pete

I can hear it now...
"Um, I'd like to buy some lion crap."
"OK, how much do you want to give me for it?"

Sounds like a Win Win situation fot the zoo keeper.

It's free, go get it.
Either he gets rid of unwanted crap or he feeds the lion for the day.
Chow Jim

I love raccoons! Yes, I know they carry rabies and can be incredibly destructive, BUT....
We used to have raccoons visit daily. They actually came around early in the AM and then again in early evening. The main clue to determining a possibly rabid animal is abnormal behavior. This does NOT include daytime visits or lack of fear of humans. A racoon sitting on your deck, munching on treats, while watching you is not necessarily rabid. A racoon approaching you while growling and seeming not to notice his surroundings is something to avoid.
I have the wonderful memory of seeing a larger one hold the birdfeeder steady so a smaller one could help himself to the seed inside.
I think the tail wagging is a warning-letting everyone know who's approaching!

Thanks mollydingle and Adjudicator, you put that so much better than me!

I should have said a lack of fear when shouted at, banging pots and pans or whatever to chase them off.
Not something you'd want to do if they feel cornered because they will climb you like a tree to skate away.
Raccoons don't want confrontation any more than we do and overall as a species, I'd say even less.
If they are confronted and suprised they'll get all puffy and fluffy to make themselves seem bigger and badder. They'll bob and weave kind of like a boxer and chatter and growl from deep down. Tail wishing is something anything with a tail will do. I would if I had one!

I've hand raised a few over the years and every one thought they were the class clown about town (and they really were).
I've had the privilege to raise all kinds of critters including a couple skunks, and one really groovy grounghog who'd sing for his supper. We have a snapping turtle right now that's all mended and about big enough to go it alone. He's getting a little grumpier now and that's just what we want.

There's not anything a whole lot more fun than teaching little coons how to hunt crawfish, grubs, worms and such. They really do need to be taught.
The hard part is then teaching them to be leary of you so they'll avoid people. It's an excellent way to get chomped on as well, trust me!
They'll take off when it's time on their own, and maybe return for a visit to the old happy hunting ground, maybe they'll just stay in the neighborhood but if you do it right they'll not get too close.

You can actually hurt their feelings I believe (yeah, I know some of you will think that's nuts). They are very social and extremely clever but most don't stay cute and cuddly (well cute, yes) for long.
They'll make a very lousy "pet". If you know someone who'd want one, not only is that cruel but unless everything around is unbreakable (and that's no guarantee) there won't be anything left in a very short time. Their curiosity is endless and know's no bounds.
Those old Disney movies don't do their power of utter destruction in a closed environment any justice...trust me again on that one!


Hey Cincinnati Sandy T...It's been some years since I've been there at night but there was a whole crew of those rascals living down there.
They absolutley ate very well!
Urban raccoons make our country coon's look like they're on Jenny Craig.

I have never hurt a raccoon except when I threw a couple of shoes at one to save my dog. I have them at my residence every night and morning. Before I got out in the morning at 4:00AM, I turn on the lights and bang on the door to scare them away before I let my dog out. If I did not do that, my dingo dog would attack and lose. I hate so think what my vet bill would be if my dog survived.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

There is one thing good about raccoons: They're quite tasty. Here's one good recipe:

Roasted Raccooon With Stuffing

1 5 - 7 pound raccoon, dressed, not cut up
1/2 lb sausage
3 tbsp butter
1 onion, chopped
1 cup chopped celery
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tsp salt
2 tsp pepper
1/4 cup cream
2 cups corn bread crumbs
2 tsp sage
3 tbsp chopped Italian (flat leaf) parsley
1 tsp marjoram
1/2 tsp mace
1/4 cup orange juice
1 cup red wine



Saute the onion and celery in the butter.

Add the sausage to the skillet and cook until brown. Drain off the fat.

Mix the sausage mixture, cream, corn bread crumbs, sage, parsley, marjoram, mace and orange juice together thoroughly in a bowl.

Salt and pepper the raccoon inside and out.

Stuff the raccoon and close up the belly cavity. Place on a rack in a roasting pan and cook for 45 minutes per pound at 300 degrees.

Turn over when half done.

Baste frequently with the wine and the pan juices when they cook out.

quote:

Originally posted by mollydingle

I love raccoons! Yes, I know they carry rabies and can be incredibly destructive, BUT....
We used to have raccoons visit daily. They actually came around early in the AM and then again in early evening. The main clue to determining a possibly rabid animal is abnormal behavior.

The problem w/ 'coons is they can carry rabies w/o any symptoms. I love 'coons also but I think they are at their best w/ an apple stuffing. Make sure to soak the old boars in salt water for 12-18 hours before roasting. Every bit as tasty as rabbit and rabbit recipes work very well w/ 'coon.

FWIW- Rabid racoons are rather common in the Atlantic states, but virtually nonexistant in the rest of the country. You can keep them.

quote:

Originally posted by flyseye

FWIW- Rabid racoons are rather common in the Atlantic states, but virtually nonexistant in the rest of the country. You can keep them.

Obviously, you are mistakenly placing Ohio in the Atlantic states. The reason it is illegal in ohio to release a trapped raccoon in the wild is because of rabies. All trapped raccoons must be killed.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

quote:

Originally posted by flyseye

FWIW- Rabid racoons are rather common in the Atlantic states, but virtually nonexistant in the rest of the country. You can keep them.

Obviously, you are mistakenly placing Ohio in the Atlantic states. The reason it is illegal in ohio to release a trapped raccoon in the wild is because of rabies. All trapped raccoons must be killed.

LOL. Obviously ? You mean that body of water up there by Cleveland isnt the Atlantic ??? Dang. Better change the notations on those snapshots I took.

So the rabid raccoons have migrated into Ohio. Wonderful. I will take your word for it, as I dont really care enough to bother looking it up.

So let me restate: rabid raccoons are very common in the Atlantic states, and Ohio,heck perhaps in other states east of the Mississippi, but are virtually unheard of west of the Mississippi. And once again, you can keep them.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/kidsrabies/Statistics/stats.htm