My IG feed is full of adorable pics and videos of raccoons as pets. I see them eating snacks with their little “fingers“, taking showers and baths and playing nicely with kids and adults.
Fun fact: Word on the street is that President Calvin Coolidge (30th President- 1923- 1929) had a pet raccoon named Rebecca. He was given the raccoon to eat for Thanksgiving, but instead made it a beloved pet.
Moving on… is it a good idea to have these cute creatures in your home? Is it even legal?
From what I’ve read, you should DEFINITELY proceed with caution if you choose to bring a raccoon into your home. It’s very risky because:
- It’s legal in less than 20 states.
- Their intelligence makes them very crafty and mischievous- so they need constant supervision.
- It will be difficult to find vet care or a “sitter” if you go out of town.
- Raccoons may carry diseases such as rabies, distemper and salmonella.
- They have a number of undomesticated traits and can be unpredictably aggressive.
If you still decide to have a pet raccoon, it is recommended that you get one from birth, feed it an appropriate diet, train it to use a litter box and ensure adequate supervision or keep it in an adequate enclosure.
If you go this route- good luck to you! And share your story!
Be More "Pawcific"! 