Almost 100 raccoons descend upon Washington woman’s home

Jack Aylmer

I’M NOT QUITE SURE THIS QUALIFIES AS AN EMERGENCY… BUT SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES RESPONDING TO A 9-1-1 CALL IN WASHINGTON CONFRONTED DOZENS OF TRESPASSERS WHO HAVE BEEN MAKING OUT LIKE BANDITS AT ONE WOMAN’S HOME.

A KITSAP COUNTY WOMAN CALLED 9-1-1 LAST WEEK FOR HELP AFTER SHE HAD TO FLEE HER OWN PROPERTY – AS UP TO A HUNDRED RACCOONS TURNED UP BEGGING FOR FOOD.

THE WOMAN *HAD* BEEN FEEDING THE WILD RACCOONS AROUND HER HOME FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS… BUT SHE TOLD DEPUTIES WITHIN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THE POPULATION EXPLODED – AND THEY’VE BECOME MORE DEMANDING AND AGGRESSIVE.

DEPUTIES SAY THE WOMAN TOLD THEM THE RACCOONS WOULD HOUND HER DAY AND NIGHT – SCRATCHING AT HER DOOR… OR IF SHE WAS IN HER CAR – THEY’D SURROUND HER WHEN SHE PULLED UP AND FOLLOW HER UNTIL SHE GOT INSIDE.

IT’S NOT CLEAR WHAT CAUSED THE POPULATION TO GROW SO SUDDENLY… BUT THE WOMAN SAYS UNTIL ABOUT SIX WEEKS AGO, IT WAS JUST ONE SMALL FAMILY OF RACCOONS SHE HAD BEEN FEEDING.

SINCE THIS HAPPENED – THE WOMAN HAS STOPPED FEEDING THE ANIMALS… AND WASHINGTON STATE WILDLIFE OFFICIALS SAY THEY’VE STARTED TO GO AWAY.

THEY SAY THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHY YOU’RE NOT SUPPOSED TO FEED WILDLIFE – NO MATTER HOW CUTE THEY ARE.