Raccoons
Baby raccoons in the attic of a Sapulpa, Oklahoma house. These were removed along with their mother, and taken to a rehabilitation group for care until release.
Identification
The raccoon (Procyon lotor), also called “coon,” is a stocky mammal about 2 to 3 feet (61 to 91 cm) long, weighing 10 to 30 pounds (4.5 to 13.5 kg) (rarely 40 to 50 pounds [18 to 22.5 kg]). It is distinctively marked, with a prominent black “mask” over the eyes and a heavily furred, ringed tail. The animal is a grizzled salt-and-pepper gray and black above, although some individuals are strongly washed with yellow. Raccoons from the prairie areas of the western Great Plains are paler in color than those from eastern portions of the region.
Raccoons are arguably the most easily recognized wildlife species in North America, next to skunks. However … they can be mistaken, and often are.
Damage and Damage Identification
Raccoons may cause damage or nuisance problems in a variety of ways, and their distinctive tracks often provide evidence of their involvement in damage situations.
Raccoons occasionally kill poultry and leave distinctive signs. The heads of adult birds are usually bitten off and left some distance from the body. The crop and breast may be torn and chewed, the entrails sometimes eaten, and bits of flesh left near water. Young poultry in pens or cages may be killed or injured by raccoons reaching through the wire and attempting to pull the birds back through the mesh. Legs or feet of the young birds may be missing. Eggs may be removed completely from nests or eaten on the spot with only the heavily cracked shell remaining. The lines of fracture will normally be along the long axis of the egg, and the nest materials are often disturbed. Raccoons can also destroy bird nests in artificial nesting structures such as bluebird and wood duck nest boxes.
Raccoons can cause considerable damage to garden or truck crops, particularly sweet corn. Raccoon damage to sweet corn is characterized by many partially eaten ears with the husks pulled back. Stalks may also be broken as raccoons climb to get at the ears. Raccoons damage watermelons by digging a small hole in the melon and then raking out the contents with a front paw.
Raccoons cause damage or nuisance problems around houses and outbuildings when they seek to gain entrance to attics or chimneys or when they raid garbage in search of food. In many urban or suburban areas, raccoons are learning that uncapped chimneys make very adequate substitutes for more traditional hollow trees for use as denning sites, particularly in spring. In extreme cases, raccoons may tear off shingles or fascia boards in order to gain access to an attic or wall space.
Raccoons also can be a considerable nuisance when they roll up freshly laid sod in search of earthworms and grubs. They may return repeatedly and roll up extensive areas of sod on successive nights. This behavior is particularly common in mid- to late summer as young raccoons are learning to forage for themselves, and during periods of dry weather when other food sources may be less available.
The incidence of reported rabies in raccoons and other wildlife has increased dramatically over the past 30 years. Raccoons have recently been identified as the major wildlife host of rabies in the United States, primarily due to increased prevalence in the eastern United States.
Diseases & Health Risks
• Rabies: Rabies is a virus that is spread by contact with the saliva of a rabid animal or by being scratched or bitten by a rabid animal. Raccoons are one of the most common species to carry
rabies.
• Baylisascaris procyonis: (Bay-lis-asc-aris) The Raccoon Ascarid or roundworm is a parasite of the intestines of raccoons that sheds large numbers of eggs in the feces. Feces contaminated with eggs can become infective to humans after 2-4 weeks of incubation. Exposure to feces during handling, feeding and cleaning can cause a serious disease known as Visceral Larval Migrans and infection of the central nervous system. Oral ingestion of infective stages of eggs is the primary route of exposure.
• Giardiasis: Giardia species is a microscopic protazoal infection that can be transmitted by a wide variety of animals. Raccoons can carry this organism in their feces and contaminate water, soil and surfaces. Humans can contract Giardia by ingestion of infective cysts from contaminated animals and sources. Patients can develop severe gastrointestinal symptoms.
• Leptospirosis: Leptospira species is a bacterial infection that many animals and humans can contract and transmit. There are several different species of Leptospira that are found in wildlife, which is the primary source of contamination of the environment with these bacteria. Raccoons can shed Leptospirosis in their urine and secretions. Exposure of these excretions to open wounds or orally can cause infection to humans.
• Other Diseases: Other bacterial diseases (such as Salmonella or E. Coli), fungus and rare parasites can also be a risk for illness in humans. People who handle, feed and clean up waste should be aware of the potential health hazards and practice aggressive hygiene and sanitation to prevent exposure of skin, eyes, mouth and body to infection. Physicians can assess individuals who may have been exposed and recommend appropriate actions to prevent disease.
1 of 2 Raccoon removed from the back yard of a Sand Springs, Oklahoma residence for loitering and defecating on the back porch, tables and chairs.
Office: (918) 739-4382
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Ellis
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Garfield
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Garvin
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Grady
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Grant
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Greer
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Kay
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Logan
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Love
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Major
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Marshall
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McClain
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McIntosh
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Murray
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Nowata
Alluwe -Armstrong -Delaware -Hickory -Lenapah -Nowata -Snow Creek -South Coffeyville -Wann -Watova
Okfuskee
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Oklahoma
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Okmulgee
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Osage
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Ottawa
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Pawnee
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Payne
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Pittsburg
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Pontotoc
Ada -Allen -Chickasaw -Fitzhugh -Francis -Maxwell -Midland -Roff -Stonewall
Pottawatomie
Asher -Avoca -Bales -Brinton -Burnett -Davis -Dent -Earlsboro -Eason -Forest -Maud -McLoud -Moore -Rock Creek -Saint Louis -Shawnee -Tecumseh -Wanette
Pushmataha
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Roger Mills
Bar X -Berlin -Bowman -Cheyenne -Dewey -Hammon -Kiowa -Meridian -Reydon -Streeter -Strong -Washita -Wilcox
Rogers
Catoosa -Chelsea -Claremore -Collinsville -Foyil -Inola -Oawala -Oolagah -Talala -Verdigris
Seminole
Brown -Cromwell -Econtuchka -Konawa -Lima -Lincoln -Maud -Miller -Red Mound -Sasakwa -Seminole -Wewoka -Wolf
Sequoyah
Atkins -Blackgum -Brent -Campbell -Gans -Gore -Hanson -Long -Marble City -McKey -Moffett -Muldrow -Paw Paw -Prices Chapel -Redland -Rocky Mountain -Roland -Sadie -Sallisaw -Vian
Stephens
Brown -Comanche -Duncan -Hope -King -Loco -Marlow -McPherson -Parks -Richland -Rock Creek -Wall
Texas
Advance -Camp Keltner -Carthage -Dague -Eubank -Friendship -Frisco -Goodwell -Guymon -Hackberry -Hardesty -Hooker -Nabisco -Optima -Pleasant View -Range -Red Point -Sledgeville -Stratton -Tepee -Texhoma -Turney -Tyrone
Tillman
Alfalfa -Carr -Davidson -Frederick -Grandfield -Haskell -Hazel -Hollister -Holton -Hunter -Loveland -Maguire -Manitou -Red River -Richland -Stephens -Tipton
Tulsa
Bixby -Boles -Broken Arrow -Collinsville -Dawson -Fry -Glenpool -Jenks -Lynn Lane -Owasso -Red Fork -Sand Springs -Skiatook -Sperry -Tulsa -Wekiwa -Willow Springs
Wagoner
Adams Creek -Blue Mound -Cherokee -Coal Creek -Coweta -Creek -Gatesville -Lone Star -Okay -Porter -Redbird -Shahan -Shannon -Stone Bluff -Tullahassee -Wagoner
Washington
Bartlesville -Copan -Dewey -Jackson -Jefferson -Madison -Ochelata -Ramona -Vera
Washita
Bessie -Canute -Cordell -Dill City -Elk -Foss -Oakdale -Rainey -Rocky -Seger -Sentinel -Texas -Turkey Creek -Union
Woods
Alva -Avord -Belle -Capron -Cedar -Dacoma -Driftwood -Eagle -Elberta -Freedom -Fritzlen -Galena -Green Valley - Hopeton -Jefferson -Liberty -McKinley -OBryan -Patterson -Penn -Spring -Valley -Walnut Grove -Waynoka -Whitehorse -Yellowstone
Woodward
Cedardale -Center -Detroit -Garvey -Irwin -Jefferson -Liberty -McNeal -Mooreland -Mutual -Penn -Quinlan -Sharon -Supply -Union -Webster -Woodward