Raccoon with rabies????

[Western]

You guy's got that right! I expect a possible confrontation with "something" when I work in the "big" city, but while on my property, something trying to take my "lunch money" doesn't often cross my mind. A coon can be a real handful.

 

[CrownHawg]

This past spring I had a surprise encounter with a little masked man as well. I stepped out on our screened in porch early in the morning as I like to sit and sip my coffee out there before going to work. Well, it was dark, and I never expected to see anything but one our 3 cats. I walked out and sat down only to look a coon right in the face since he was sitting in the middle of our table! He didn't growl, or even make a move and I just followed suit as we stared each other down for a few moments. I just slowly backed away, and when I got about 10 ft away, he scurried out the door. We have a small cat door on the back porch and I guess he watched the cats use it and figured he would come in and help himself to their cat food. I am a little more wary as I walk out now. I have trapped 5 so far this summer, and relocated them to other places. I could have shot them, but I figured they were just doing what comes natural to them and finding food. Haven't seen one in about a month, but I know it's a matter of time before the cat food lures another one in, and I'll relocate him in the same manner. Now, if I ever suspected rabies, distemper or other disease, I would do the humane thing and dispatch them quickly.

 

[jonyyuma]

My trap outside by the canalopes, apparently was tripped by a coon sunday night. I got home yesterday and it was dead. I carefully bagged it and got rid of it, being fully aware of all the bad things they can carry.I still don't know if that was all that is tearing the ends out of the melons?

 

[jinman]

.I still don't know if that was all that is tearing the ends out of the melons?

Possums are also fond of melons. I trapped one using a busted melon last year. He had been there the night before and ate 1/2 the cantaloupe. I put the rest in the trap and when he came back for seconds, I caught him.