Washington Woman Surrounded by 100 Aggressive Raccoons After Years of Feeding Them
In Kitsap County, Washington, sheriff’s deputies are accustomed to responding to animal-related calls, but a recent 911 call from a woman near Poulsbo stood out. The woman reported being overwhelmed by 50 to 100 aggressive raccoons, forcing her to flee her property. Kevin McCarty, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office, shared that the woman had been feeding a family of raccoons for decades. However, six weeks ago, the number of raccoons surged dramatically, and their behavior became increasingly demanding and aggressive.
According to McCarty, the raccoons were now hounding the woman day and night, scratching at her home and surrounding her car whenever she attempted to leave the house. Despite the nuisance, neither the sheriff’s office nor the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife found any laws had been broken. The department, however, strongly discourages feeding wildlife due to the potential for disease transmission and the risk of attracting predators like coyotes and bears.
While it’s illegal to feed large carnivores under Washington state law, feeding raccoons is not explicitly banned. The woman was referred to certified wildlife control operators who can help capture and remove the animals.
Source: Swifteradio.com