At about 6pm last night I was looking out my deck window from my kitchen when I saw this relatively large animal waddle up the deck stairs leading from my backyard--he/she went straight for the second level of the deck [I live in a tri-level house], obviously looking for food! Damn if it wasn't a raccoon!!! I yelled at him to leave and he just looked at me as if I was stupid. He climbed to top railing just long enough for me to snap a photo [I always keep a camera around so I can photograph hummingbirds and finches]. I learned today that this raccoon is probably rabid b/c he/she surfaced in daylight [indicating confusion] and did not respond to noise [mine]. I also learned the City doesn't help to trap these animals.

So now I'm scared to go out on my deck or backyard until I can trap this animal. I'm seeking ideas about how to do this...should I go buy the trap or just get an exterminator? Recommendations for a local exterminator? Is setting a trap myself complicated? Any other ideas?

In the meantime if you live on or around Nixon Street or River Road beware of this animal! While we are used to wood chucks, groundhogs, and plenty of deer in this area, raccoons are far more dangerous. Be careful!

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I don't think raccoons are exclusively nocturnal, and I don't think our urban raccoons are especially rattled by noise. So I wouldn't panic. A diurnal and unflappable raccoon is not necessarily rabid. But it's still a good idea to be cautious.

You might not want your own "ladies' lunch bunch" on your deck, but here's a link to a Flickr photo set put up by a woman who put out a lunch buffet for the raccoon mothers in her area (she recently moved from the marshlands to the mountains, but I expect she'll find new coon companions in addition to the ones she took with her).

http://www.flickr.com/photos/latenig...7600040858102/

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I live in an apartment in Roxborough and we had a raccoon making a nest on the roof above our apartment. When I called the maintanence they said I had to call animal control who told me I needed to pick up a trap and set it, then they would pick up the animal. Of course I gave the management hell since it was a female, building a nest, and if it gave birth all hell would break loose. Add to that the complex has balconies and many people have cats which is a no win situation for the cat.

To get back to your answer, animal control is who you have to contact about getting a trap. They will show you how to set it but they won't do it for you. ( Amazing how they get paid to do nothing ). Once the animal is caught, call them up to come get it. If you have seen the raccoon during the day get the trap soon because of the chance it's rabid.

Good luck

My recommendation would be to accept that the raccoon is now the master of your household. Here are some tips:

1. Never again go into your yard since that is now its domain and just count your blessings it does not decide to go inside your house. Keep your blinds closed at all times so it does not see that you have better food, a couch and tv inside.

2. Don't make direct eye contact with the creature, and when walking away do not ever turn your back to it until you are least ten feet away. Otherwise they consider that very disrespectful.

3. You should leave offerings of your leftovers so as not to further anger the animal.

4. I applaud your courage in yelling at the raccoon. Lesser beings have not survived such rash behavior. I strongly suggest any communciation with this animal always be both preceded and followed with the word "sir." For instance, "Sir, get away from my garbage-can, sir." or "Sir, please don't bite me, sir." The raccoon will appreciate your etiquette.

5. It is widely known that raccoons are raving alcoholics, as well as being inclined to the occasisnal ecstasy binge when they can get it. Leave a case of Schlitz outback and when the raccoon is good and drunk, you might -- I say might -- be able to overpower him in his stuper and throw him in your neighbor's yard. Then it is your neigbor's problem.

All hail the raccoon.

Very funny!

But on a serious note, we live at the top of Germany Hill. A racoon came up out of the woods at about 6 pm and started to dig like mad on the lawn. We yelled at it to shoo it away, and it actually started to come toward us. It stopped at our low bird bath and drank out of it - NOT minding us at all.

My husband has a sling shot in the laundry room. (up until this happened, I always thought, "He's a big kid and that's why we need a sling shot in the laundry room" - NOT NOW!) He whiffed it, which startled it. It went back into the woods and climbed a tree. Haven't seen it since. Hope I won't see it again.

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Say "Hi Mr. Raccoon. Welcome to the neighborhood." Then run.

Rabid coons are nasty, believe me. My dad encountered one about 15 years ago while fishing. The thing just blazed out of the woods and made a b-line for a little kid. By dad was wearing workman's boots, so he runs over, intercepts its path, and goes Pele' on the thing. He really nailed it...the thing flew. It hit the ground again, rolled over, and went straight at him like nothing happened. He kicked it again, and it was a little slower to get up this time. Woozy, it didn't make it back to its feet before the formentioned little kid's father smashed a huge rock over its head, putting it out of its misery.

Unfortunate end, but that animal was dead soon as it contracted the disease. Call animal control and stay the hell out of the way.

Thanks all for the great laughs and suggestions!!! I see that my fears of this animal are well founded.... So, I called Animal Control twice [cause I didn't believe their answer the first time]; they now do nothing to help out, not even give you a trap. Told me to go buy a trap or call an exterminator to set up a trap! My neighbor has had a trap out for a couple of weeks [ trying to catch our jointly shared groundhogs] w/no luck. My other neighbors have experienced the raccoon's bastardly behavior, too! Guess I'll call my exterminator on Monday....I'll keep you all up to date!

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