551rcg@hound.UUCP (R.GANNS) (01/16/85)
The subject of wild animals as pets seems to crop up
here periodically. My sister used to be the director
of the Tulsa city zoo, and has been involved with all
sorts of animals for most of her 46 years. If you'd
like an intelligent opinion, write to her:
Niki Ganns
Rt. 2 box 162
Collinsville, OK 74021
or call (918) 371-4193
She'll be happy to talk to you.
My general impression of coons is that, like many wild
animals, they make adorable pets--until they grow up;
then they become wild 'n' woolly pains in the ass.
Don't rush into this one.
-- Rich Gannskal@trsvax.UUCP (01/18/85)
Raccoons do not necessarily get wild when they grow up. My father
was a raccoon hunter when I was younger. He had several hunting dogs
specifically for that purpose. After the raccoon coat craze of the
20's (30's?) he was hired by the state of Illinois to take surveys of Northern
Illinois.
We had a pet raccoon named Fuzzy. Excellent pet! He was better than a
cat or dog. The main thing to remember is that they are a wild animal. They
require alot of attention to keep them tame. You can't just put them in a
cage and admire them. You need to play with them. That's probably why you
think they get wild when they get older. As a baby everyone wants to play
with them. But as they get older, people are less interested in them and
often just leave them in the cage with little or no attention. There were
10 of us kids, so Fuzzy never starved for attention.
It is a big decision to keep a wild animal as a pet and it requires alot
of forethought. When you get bored with the adult, you can't just turn them
loose because they no longer know how to take of themselves (getting food).
Another thing to consider is whether it is legal in your state to keep a wild
animal as a pet. Many states have outlawed it. If it is legal, you need to
find a vet that will give the animal the necessary shots to make it safe.
In general, raccoons are mischevious and can be destructive. They are
clean animals and they love to tease. Fuzzy loved to drive the coon dogs crazy.
He would drive them up a wall by walking near them, just out of their reach.
Unfortunately, one day he wasn't quite out of their reach and that was the
demise of Fuzzy.