Contact The Editor
Articles By This Author
• An unnamed woman in Kitsap County, Washington, admitted to authorities that she'd been feeding about "a dozen" raccoons in her yard over the past 35 years, The New York Times reported.
Several weeks ago, more raccoons started showing up, and on the homeowner had to call 911 when about 100 animals arrived and became more aggressive.
"Anytime she comes out of her house," said sheriff's department spokesperson Kevin McCarty, "they swarm her until she throws them food. ... The new ones showing up scare her."
The woman fled her home, and local trappers were going to charge $500 per animal to remove the raccoons. So the state department of fish and wildlife stepped in, suggesting that she simply stop feeding them.
"The raccoons appear to have started dispersing now that they are no longer being fed," the department said. [New York Times, 10/10/2024]