F#$% You, Raccoons!
Tonight we heard the crows going bonkers and figured they were tracking raccoons down the street. I got in my car and put the top down and slowly headed down the block to see if I could tell what they were tracking. One street over, I slowed to a stop where the crows were watching something in the trees. I couldn’t tell what it was, and then I realized the neighbors thought I was casing their houses… slowly driving by. Since I didn’t want to explain that I spoke crow, and I could tell they were tracking a predator, I decided to drive on my way.
Over an hour later, I returned home and the crows were still at it. By then I could tell they were tracking raccoons, and the raccoons were headed towards my house. So with the ducks safely in their night pens, I sat quietly in the yard and waited to see what would happen.
Pardon my French there at the end of the video.
The above video shows how the crows work hard to protect my ducks from predators like raccoons. They dive and swoop at the raccoons and caw as loud as they can to warn me of the danger. Even the Stellars Jays were helping.
Here is one raccoon in the neighbor’s compost pile. I snapped a few photos over the fence.
The raccoon was turning over the compost pile to eat grubs and bugs. This was just before two raccoons came into my yard.
In my yard, the raccoons stood right on top of Flapper’s night pen and scared Flapper & Chewy who were inside the pen, just below the raccoon. Then they moved along to O’Malley and Petunia’s pen, scaring them as well.
So, what does a raccoon do after eating cherries from all the trees on the block, eating bugs from the compost piles and terrorizing the ducks? Well of course, they sit down on a nice hammock and groom themselves.
This raccoon sat on top of my nice aviary and cleaned his belly and paws. He did not care that I was sitting right there, snapping photos of him. That’s right, he’s using my aviary as a f$#%ing hammock!
Late last week I realized the raccoons had learned how to chew through the aviary netting, and I knew I had a problem. Tonight I saw first hand how brazen and fearless these raccoons are. I have put a call in to the fencing company to see if they can fence in the top of the aviary. I hope they can. The ducks aren’t really safe in the aviary anymore, so they will be in their pens or only out when I’m with them until we find a more secure day-time solution.
As for the raccoons, it is illegal to trap and relocate raccoons. Why? Because raccoons can travel up to 50 miles to try to get back to their home territory. Also, you can inadvertently release them in another raccoon’s territory, causing fights and injuries to them or other wildlife. And while they try to return to their home territory, they are often hit by cars.
You can trap and euthanize them, but even then they will just be replaced by another raccoon, and they are only acting according to their nature. They shouldn’t have to lose their life for that.
These raccoons are too friendly though, which means they are probably being fed by people. This is f#%$ing ridiculous. Do not feed wildlife. Do not leave pet food outside. Do not put out scraps. Secure your trash. Raccoons in the Seattle area have high rates of distemper this year. Do not encourage them with food to reproduce and overpopulate an area. It is bad for them, bad for people and most importantly, terrifying for my ducks. These raccoons are not even remotely afraid of people.
The ducks are safe, and we’ll keep you posted on the fencing of the top of their aviary. Keep your fingers crossed that it can be done quickly and easily. It’s supposed to be a hot week, so I don’t think they’ll like being locked up.
Special thanks to the crows for always being so helpful to my ducks. I love those crows.
12 Comments
Those are very daring animals!
Parts of my family live over in Bremerton. My sister-in-law feeds the raccoons, and I got on her case as much as I could without everyone having a meltdown and getting into it. It didn’t work. There were a number of problems it was causing. I assume she still does it, because she hasn’t had to suffer any consequences. It’s frustrating when people just don’t get it. Everyone stay safe, and hey, you’re like a Native American tracker out there.
We had some racoons eat a few of our sillier chickens who unbeknownst to us decidied to roost in some trees instead of going into their coop at night. All we found were the piles of feathers the next morning. We set traps and got them, and out here in Appalachia racoon is a delicacy, so we had pleanty of people willing to take them for the stew pot. Not MY cup of tea, but it solved the problem of what to do with them, and our friends were thrilled with their dinner. Thankfully, my ducks are NOT so silly, and always go home to their secure pen at night. Ducks are smart
My ducks go into a locked garage at night.
We had raccoons around in Oregon city, but my neighbor trapped them and disposed of them. I know that life is precious and animals just do what they do, but if it is a choice between my ducks and a possibly diseased raccoon, my ducks will always win.
I hope your flock stays safe and you can get the aviary predator proofed.
That is of course the best and first choice.
Those crows deserve some extra treats! So glad you saw that the racoons could chew through the aviary netting before any of your birds were injured. How scarey!!! Is the netting stronger than hardware cloth? That’s what I have on top of my flight pen and I saw three racoons go by last month. The edges of the hardware cloth are sandwiched between two boards, so racoons can’t pry up the edge. Sure hope they can’t chew through it!
good crows!!
Don’t the neighbors know by now that the Crazy and Amazing Duck Lady routinely drives around looking for lost ducks, tracking predators, etc.? Which duck was it who was on someone’s roof? You were sprinkling corn on the neighbor’s lawn to get him down. Was it Frank the Tank??
Seriously, it makes me sad to think that the ducks (and chicken?) were frightened. Thank god they’re ok. I’m sorry too that you have spend money and time securing the roof. Bravo for showing compasion towards the raccoons, though, despite everything. They’re just doing what they do. You have to respect their intelligence.
Of course the safety of Flapper & Co. is paramount.
That is truly amazing how the crows track those raccoons and “quack” away to warn you and the ducks. I hope you can get that fencing refurbished very soon. Maybe a thicker, sturdier fencing would do it. I’m sure the fence people will know what to do.
I bet those raccoons hit all the composts in the area within 50 miles. Seattle area has so many composts in people’s yards. Someone has definitely been feeding them. Too bad on the distemper. I saw a program on Animal Planet once showing a raccoon with distemper; was not pleasant watching nor for the raccoon.
Sorry for feeding the raccoons even if it’s only from my compost pile. (of course, I don’t feed them otherwise – only a small handful of nuts for the crows.) At least my cherry tree isn’t the culprit – I have NO cherries this year! Or did the racs already eat all of them?
Neighbor Nicky
Neighbor Nicky, no need to apologize. I have a compost pile too. Everyone does. Those raccoons ate in at least five yards before reaching mine. I did not see them eating cherries from your tree last night, but I’m sure they’ve been there before. I have a fencing contracting coming in the morning to estimate fencing in the top of the aviary. I hope they can do it! Then we won’t have to worry as much. The raccoons would be pretty cute, if they weren’t such little duck killers.
P.S. I need to have my cherry tree removed. It has pretty much died. I think it might just be… old?
Those pesky raccoons! I love my crow friends, too.
OMG, what litte suckers! I hope that the fencing can be done quickly as well. Poor little Flapper and Chewy for being so scared by that freaking racoon! At least we know they’re safe in their pens. Those crows rock!! Love to Flapper and all of his buddies!