Raccoon
We also provide a home to
three raccoons. Raccoons cannot be kept in the same way as mink. You cannot keep
them indoors because they are destructive, climb curtains and get everywhere.
Raccoons need a lot of space and the German minimum regulations state a run
which is 20m² in size.
One or two raccoons in a run can give you hours of fun
because they are wonderful to observe and because they are very curious animals
you can learn a lot from them. Raccoons are normally nocturnal but if you only
feed them during the day and if you interact with them, it is possible to change
their routine.
Our raccoons can only be handfed, but if you get a young animal (approx.
6 weeks) it is possible to get them even tamer.
Our raccoons are aware of
everything that happens in the yard, and as soon as they get the idea that food
is coming, they stand on their hind legs begging by the fence. Raccoons should
also have water in their run, not because they want to swim, but because they
want to wash everything they eat first.
We have
installed a waterfall in our run with a stream; the water is supplied via a
pump. Raccoons are also very good fishers. We regularly throw them live fish
that they then fish out. This is one of the things we do to keep their interest.
If you do not do anything with them or they have nothing to do then they can
start showing stereotypical or repetitive behaviour. Hiding their food and
changing the layout of the cage also keeps them active.
Raccoons can also be kept
with mink, and an advantage of this is that the mink keep the raccoons on their
toes so that they don’t start showing stereotypical behaviour. Many do not
recommend that you hand rear a young raccoon because these animals can become
more aggressive when they are older in comparison to animals that are not hand
reared. We have heard that many owners give additional milk and honey to their
raccoons from a young age (from 3 weeks) to get them used to people.
We have done this with the
son (Gismo) and time will tell if he becomes more aggressive as he gets older,
but until now (he is now in puberty) he is very nice and plays with all the
other animals, even with the prairie dogs. Gismo is also good with children. If
he gets too hard to handle later on at least he will have a future with this
parents with whom he also now lives in harmony.
For those who have the
space, one or more raccoons can become a real passion.
