With how adorable raccoons can be, with how they use their little paws and mask-like markings that make them look like little bandits, some people wonder if you can get a pet raccoon. While uncommon, people have kept pet raccoons over the years, including President Calvin Coolidge while he was in the White House. However, pet raccoons generally don’t make good pets. Here’s what you need to know about keeping raccoons as pets. 

Do Raccoons Make Good Pets?

Smart as raccoons are, they are still wild animals. Raccoons are known for their mischievous and unpredictable nature, and even when they’ve been domesticated, they still maintain aggressive behavior. They can bite even humans they’re closest with. Pet raccoons can be friendly and cuddly, but they can also attack at any given moment with their long, sharp claws and vicious teeth. 

Raccoons are very intelligent and can be affectionate, but even the tamest raccoon is unpredictable and very mischievous. They would require a lot of time, attention, and care, and are a massive commitment. While it is legal in some states to have a raccoon as a pet, they’re very difficult pets to have. So, in answer to whether or not raccoons make good pets: no. They don’t. We’ll get into the problems with pet raccoons below.

Is It Legal To Have A Pet Raccoon?

Here in Utah, it is prohibited to hold a raccoon in captivity, except as provided by the rules of the Agricultural and Wildlife Damage Prevention Board, according to Utah Code Title 4, Chapter 23, Section 111. The Division of Wildlife Resources enforces this, and any violation is an infraction. 

So, basically: no, not in Utah, anyway. Currently, there are only 16 states that allow raccoons to be kept as pets, and Utah is not one of them. If you live in one of the states where it is legal to have a pet raccoon, there are strict regulations you need to follow, not to mention all the problems that come with pet raccoons. 

The Problems With Pet Raccoons

While young, raccoons may be cute and cuddly, however, pet raccoons present a wide array of challenges and are often quite difficult to keep as a pet. There are many, many problems with pet raccoons, which is why it’s illegal in most states.

They Can’t Be Completely Domesticated

People have attempted to breed raccoons in order to make them good pets, in the hopes that the more generations that are born in captivity, the more easily domesticated they will be. However, unlike your typical household pets like cats and dogs, raccoons can’t be completely domesticated. When they reach their age of maturity, they can abruptly become aggressive and will bite you, your loved ones, and other pets.

Even though they can be friendly, raccoons are never truly docile, and can easily turn skittish and aggressive. People who have kept raccoons as pets, either in states where it is legal or done so illegally, have reported being attacked, even when they thought they’d tamed their pet raccoon. 

This is also challenging because even though you can never truly tame a raccoon, if a raccoon has been raised in captivity, it shouldn’t be released back into the wild. Raccoons maintain their wild side even with all the time, love, and care in the world and even after having been bred in and raised in captivity for generations. 

They’re Nigh Impossible To Train

Unlike cats, dogs, and other domesticated animals, raccoons retain wild instincts. They cannot be trained like other pets; they’re too independent and mischievous. While traditional pets can be trained to use litter boxes, raccoons are nigh impossible to train, and it could take you months to train it to use a litter box.

They Need Tons Of Space

Raccoons also aren’t content with small spaces. They would need to be able to roam around your home and have constant stimulation. In addition to needing a lot of space to climb and explore, raccoons are destructive and known to break into secured areas – they don’t just look like little bandits, they act like them too. Plus, raccoons are very messy, in how they eat and in how they behave. 

So Many Health Risks

Raccoons are known for being carriers of several diseases, such as rabies, salmonella, roundworm, leptospirosis, and more. They can also have parasites, such as lice, fleas, and ticks. In some states where it is legal to have a pet raccoon, such as Texas, it is illegal to have them neutered, so you would also need to worry about a potential litter on your homes, if your raccoon escapes.

Finding Care For Your Pet Raccoon

Raccoons are wild animals, and exotic pets. If you have a pet raccoon, finding a vet who would be able to care for it and treat it if it gets sick or injured could be exceedingly difficult, not to mention expensive. If your pet raccoon injures someone, they could be euthanized, as they are known for being wild animals. Additionally, even if your state does allow you to have a pet raccoon, you would typically be required to have a wild animal permit. 

Complex Regulations

Provided that your state allows you to have pet raccoons, you can’t just take a wild raccoon. You would need to find a reputable raccoon breeder and follow all state regulations. The states in which it is legal to have a pet raccoon have different regulations, so you will need to look these up and carefully adhere to them. 

If you have any more questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us at Borrett Animal Hospital. We’re always happy to share our knowledge, as well as help you with the pets you do have.

Nothing stops your heart quite like the terror that your pet has gone missing. If your pet goes missing, it’s vital to take immediate action – the longer you wait, the harder it can be to locate your precious furbaby. Getting word out as soon as possible will help ensure that your pet is found sooner rather than later. In the event that your pet goes missing, you don’t want to wait to see if they will find their way back before you start searching. Here are some of the things that you can do if your pet goes missing. 

#1. Help Them Find Their Way Back

Your dog or cat has a very good sense of smell. In the event that they get lost, they can smell their way home. Put something that has your scent outside of your door, i.e. a blanket, and they can smell it and find their way home. You can put out a cat’s litter box for them to smell. Especially if your pet is new or if you just moved, your pet may just need a little help finding their way back to you, which this can help with.

#2. Sweep The Neighborhood

If your pet escaped your home, they may not have gone far. You can sweep your neighborhood and the surrounding area, calling out their name with a tasty treat in hand that will lure them to come to you. Searching your neighborhood a few times daily until your pet is found may help you find them if your pet goes missing. 

This depends on your pet’s personality, too. If your indoor cat sneaked out, chances are that they are frightened and will be hiding within a radius of a few houses away. If your furbaby is outgoing, they could have made friends and traveled much further away. 

#3. Contact Local Animal Shelters And Animal Control

It’s not uncommon for someone to report a missing animal for animal control to come pick up, or to take your pet to a local animal shelter or animal hospital. As such, it’s important to ensure that your pet is microchipped, so that it’s easier to find them. You can alert your microchip company if your pet goes missing so that they can flag them as lost. You can search for your local shelters and check on their sites to see if they’ve posted any pictures of a lost pet that looks like yours.

You can also control your local animal control and give them a description of your pet. If you fear that your pet has been stolen rather than gone missing, you can contact the police.

#4. Involve Your Community

One of the most effective things to do if your pet goes missing to find them faster is to involve your community. Many sets of eyes are better than one. You can post on social media with a notice of your missing pet, including local lost and found groups in addition to your personal accounts. You can also go on national databases such as Petco Love Lost, your homeowner’s association, and lost and found sections of sites like NextDoor to post a notice of your lost pet and see if anyone has found yours.

You can also put flyers around town, such as your neighborhood, on telephone poles, in stores, in community centers, and other locations. Your fliers should have a clear, big, accurate picture of your pet in color, they name, sex, age, breed, color, weight, and identifying characteristics, as well as a phone number. If your pet needs special medication or you are offering a reward, these are important to include. Keep it simple, and post your flyers where it’s easy for people to see them.

You’ll want to leave out at least one defining characteristic, as there are pet recovery scams who will demand you give them money before they give you your pet. If someone claims to have found your pet, ask them to describe them, and listen for that characteristic you left out. Ask for a picture if they don’t mention it, and if they refuse to, know they might not really have your pet.

#4. Be Persistent

While the first few hours after your pet goes missing are vital, pets have been reunited with their owners months after having gone missing. Continually check in with your shelters and humane societies, repost online, and don’t give up. With how connected the world is, it increases the chances that your pet will be returned to you.

What Helps If Your Pet Goes Missing

There are things you can do to make it easier to find them again if your pet goes missing. Microchipping them, using a GPS collar, and ensuring that your pet has a collar with a tag that has your information on it will all help increase your chances of finding your pet. Training can prevent any escapes, as well as help your pet return to you. 

Borrett Animal Hospital wants to help you find your pet if they go missing. Contact us for more information on what you can do if your pet goes missing.