10 Reasons Raccoons Make Terrible Pets

Because they are so cute and precocious, many people wonder if raccoons make good pets. My answer is always, in a word, “No.” Raccoons are wild animals, and many people don’t realize it’s unethical and illegal to capture a healthy wild animal and force it live out the rest of its life in confinement. Licensed wildlife rehabilitators like me are trained to care for sick or injured raccoons until they can be returned to the wild. We are also trained to prevent young animals from becoming imprinted, or socialized to humans and domestic animals. However, some rehabbed animals have permanent injuries that prevent them from surviving in the wild. Rehab facilities or wildlife educators can apply for special permits that allow them to provide care to these animals for the rest of their lives. A part of the criteria for maintaining a permanently injured wild animal is to demonstrate that you are capable of providing a species-appropriate diet, ample sized enclosures with natural environmental enrichment, exercise, and foraging opportunities. Unfortunately, people seem to be attracted to rare or unique pets, including wild animals. This has led to exotic animal breeders acquiring permits to breed and sell animals that, in my opinion, should never be pets. Raccoons fall into this category. 10 Reasons Raccoons Don’t Make Good Pets 1. I can’t stress this enough: “Raccoon” and “pet” are mutually exclusive terms. Raccoons are wild animals, not pets, and even “tamed” are extremely high maintenance and require an experienced, knowledgeable guardian. Even several generations of captive bred raccoons still exhibit all of their wild instincts throughout their lives. 2. It’s illegal in certain states in keep raccoons as pets. 3. Housing a raccoon can be an insurmountable challenge. Allowing him the run of your house isn’t feasible, as this little fellow is tremendously destructive to belongings (including door moldings and furniture) and unpredictable around both humans and pets. However, locking a raccoon in a cage, a bedroom, or other confined space is simply caging a wild animal, which is inhumane. 4. Raccoons aren’t easily house trained, so unless you can train her to use a litter box somewhat consistently, or convince her to walk on a leash and you’re prepared to take her outdoors on her (unpredictable) schedule to do her business, she’ll be relieving herself around your house. 5. Raccoons are notorious biters. They will bite family members, family pets, and visitors and their pets. Translation: raccoons are a medical and insurance liability. 6. Many veterinarians have little or no experience treating raccoons, so finding healthcare for a sick raccoon could be challenging. When visiting a vet, you must show proof of purchase, or there’s no way to prove you did not illegally take the animal from the wild. If you own a raccoon that was taken from the wild, you are at risk of having the animal confiscated and being fined. Raccoons can also carry zoonotic parasites and infectious diseases (including rabies) that pose a threat to you, your family, […]

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