By 
While adults generally know to keep their distance from wild animals, children are more easily swayed. Especially when they see a cute little baby raccoon near their home. Itโs not uncommon for kids to petition parents to let them keep a baby raccoon as a pet. And so, a lot of mommies wonder if thatโs maybe a good idea. This one is for my American readers!
Thatโs what we aim to break down in this article. First of all, youโll want to make sure the animal youโve found is indeed a baby raccoon. While slightly older raccoon babies will look like mini-adult raccoons, newborns tend to have grayish-brown fur, and might not exhibit their distinctive markings or โmaskโ. If youโre unsure what animal youโre looking at, or what exactly happened to the mother, then itโs best to ask professionals atFirst Choice Wildlife Services.
Is keeping a baby raccoon as a pet a good idea?
First of all, in some states, keeping a captive-bred pet raccoon is illegal. So first things first, youโll want to consult local guidelines. A wildlife removal professional might be able to give you some insight on that, as well.
Secondly, you need to consider a few aspects before you make this commitment, like:
- Do you have access to a raccoon vet? Raccoons actually arenโt covered by most vet doctors. So before you โadoptโ a baby raccoon, youโll need to consider what you do in case it gets sick, or thereโs an emergency. Is there a vet living nearby? Can you find a vet willing to take on a raccoon as a patient?
- Raccoons are really messy. Seriously, have a look around on the Internet at homes trashed by raccoons to understand the level of messiness youโre looking at. While thereโs no guarantee that your baby raccoon will act this way, thereโs a good chance. Also, keep in mind that this might incur serious repair costs, having to replace items, and potentially damaged valuables.
- You wonโt be able to go on holiday. If you have a regular pet, itโs fairly easy to find a pet-sitter, leave it with friends, or even check it in at a pet motel while youโre away. With an unusual pet, like a raccoon, itโs unfortunately not so easy. So basically, by adopting a raccoon, youโre signing up to be home for the remainder of the raccoonโs life. While a raccoon in the wild is typically looking at a 2-3 year lifespan, in captivity and with proper care, a pet raccoon can live up to 13-20 years.
- Theyโre difficult to feed. While raccoons grow up to not be picky, notoriously scavenging through trash, they can pose a challenge when it comes to feeding. You canโt just buy raccoon food at the store, or even prepare one big meal. Rather, youโll need to serve several smaller meals throughout the day, to accommodate the raccoonโs dietary habits.
- Lastly, consider disease. Raccoons are, after all, known for spreading a bunch of serious diseases which may put you or your child in danger. On top of that, they grow big, sharp teeth thatโll leave a nasty mark, if they ever bite you.
All of that being said, the answer would be no, keeping a raccoon as a pet is definitely not a good idea, and you should avoid that at all costs. It can be difficult saying no to your children, or upsetting them, if theyโre small. However, itโs not nearly as difficult as caring for a pet raccoon. If youโre looking for a more in-detailed take, the stuff at raccoonpet.com gives you information if raccoons make a good pet.
What should you do if you find a baby raccoon?
Keep in mind that racoons like to stick together, so if you find an isolated baby raccoon, thereโs a good chance something has happened to the mother. If you find a baby raccoon, the best thing to do is place it inside a cardboard box, on top of an old shirt, towel, or something similarly soft. You will want to keep them warm, as baby raccoons get cold easily. Try filling a sock with plain rice, and heating it in the oven for one minute, then placing it in the box with the raccoon.
Alternatively, place a container of hot tap water in with them, and call a local wildlife shelter. Check out my other animal related posts here.
What do you think?