A Kitsap County woman recently faced a frightening encounter with a gaze of raccoons in Washington. The incident, which was reported to the sheriff’s office, involved dozens of raccoons aggressively hounding the victims home.
The woman explained that she had been feeding a small family of raccoons for years without any issues. However, in recent weeks, the number of raccoons had skyrocketed, with up to 100 animals demanding food on a daily basis. The once docile creatures had become increasingly aggressive, scratching at her home and front door day and night. When she would pull up in her car, they would surround and scratch at it.
Sheriff’s deputies responded to the call and observed the large group of raccoons. While no laws were broken, the situation was deemed a nuisance problem. The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife also discouraged the woman from feeding the animals, citing the risks of disease from a raccoon attack and attracting other predators.
After the woman stopped feeding the raccoons, the animals began to disperse. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of avoiding feeding wildlife, as it can lead to negative consequences for both humans and animals. In this case, the woman’s well-intentioned actions inadvertently caused a dangerous situation that could have escalated further.
Raccoons are explorative, smart and cute but they can also become very aggressive. Raccoon attacks should be taken very serious since they are a Rabies vector species. Always seek medical attention if attacked by a raccoon.