We are looking for a baby raccoon for our five year old daughter. She has been begging us for one, but do not know how to get her one. I have told her stories of when I was a little girl, I had two baby raccoons that my Daddy found in the woods that had been abandoned by their Mother , probably killed by a hunter. I had precious times with my raccoons and now Abby wants one of her own. And we would love for her to have one. We live around the Ozarks, so if anyone can please help us, we will travel a good bit. Thank you. Crystal
msummersjr@aol.com
Return to Lifesize Mammal Taxidermy Category Menu
.......Check with your state Game and Fish department to see if they are legal to have and what(if any) permits or licenses are required. Then talk to your veterinarian to find out the disease problems that may be encountered with such an animal. Then check on any local ordinances that may or may not permit having a wild animal for a pet and check with your insurance company and see if there is a problem with your homeowners insurance. Many insurance policies have a clause in them that will void your coverage with a wild animal on the premises and you may need a special policy to cover liability. Last of all ask yourself "Is it worth the trouble?"
As a Wildlife Rehabilitator, you need to attend some of our classes. Parents who would even consider such an idea need some immediate education. Raccoons are wild animals and they are wild for a reason. THEY CANNOT BE DOMESTICATED. The can me trained to be "tolerant", but will never be completely domesticated. They can't be trusted not to turn on you in an instant and a raccoon is a very dangerous animal when mad. PLEASE, if you are responsible adults, tell you daughter to select a dog of (God help me) a cat instead.
Why automatically blame a hunter? Maybe it was a Bobcat, or maybe the mother coon returned from foraging for food and found that someone had kidnapped her children.
Mark and Crystal, please read this first:
http://www.isleauhaut.net/maskd/twentyreasons.htm
I too had an orphaned coon as a boy.She was the sweetest little thing.Cuddled up to me,loved to play.Had her a year and one day she "changed".I went to get her out and she backed into the corner of her cage,puffed up and started snarling.I opened the cage and barely got it closed without getting a handful of coon teeth.She never returned to the way she was.She was not ill,and hadnt been tormented--just came to the realization she was a preprogrammed wild animal capable of doing me a great deal of harm!
I hear good things about Sugar Gliders as pets.
I have had ferrets for years and plan to get two more. They,in my opinion, make the best pets. Better then a dog or cat. They never seem to grow out of their play full state, can be litter trained like a cat, can be trained to walk on a leash, and have just the right size for a child to play with. They are quite easy to care for. Ferrets are also quite forgiving of rough treatment(doesn't mean you can torture them on end either). Ferrets get along very well with other pets and are not afraid of anything.
They come spayed/neutered and descented from the petstores. They still retain some of their musky scent, but giving them a bath on a regular basis takes care of that. A ferret will set you back about $100 but a lot of times you can get one through the humane society or local animal shelter.
Stay away from a raccoon as this will bring you only heartaches in the future and get a ferret, dog, or cat instead.
Ferrets are just weasels and they, too, can be a liability. ESPECIALLY if turned loose in the wild or they escape. Read Ken Edwards suggested post. It's a SUPER SITE for anyone considering "exotic" pets. The Walt Disney syndrome has ruined Americans (notice I said AMERICANS). The rest of the world already knows how strange some of us are.
My kids want coons...and a zebra, and an elephant, (well, it DOES sound cool) and every single other animal under the sun. Being that Ive done some rehab with wildlife myself, it makes it all that much easier to tell them, simply...NO. I was a bigger kid than they are now when I had coons, and those sometimes tame, sometimes terrible buggers gave me scars whose longevity may exceed any tattoo one could get nowadays!
Have you ever owned a ferret? No? Then you don't know how ferrets are. They are not wild whatsoever. The only thing a ferret has in common with a weasel is its looks and ancestry (actually derived from the European polecat which was used as a trained critter to flush rabbits out of burrows in Germany). Your housecat is wilder then a ferret. The chance for them to run off into the wild is as high as it is with a housecat or dog, except the ferret would not stand a chance in the wild. It would be dead within a day or two since they have no fear of any other animals including their enemies. Ferrets are extremely playful and unlike cats or dogs don't have a temper.
Owning any animal is a risk factor and comes with responsibilities. How many people get bitten by their own dog each year? How many get scratched by their cats? Heck even your guinea pig can give you a nasty bite. People get bitten by their pet parakeets. If you look at it this way then George, best thing to own is a stuffed animal and not a live one (maybe a goldfish would be save to have).
On another note, ferrets have been pets in Europe for a lot longer then they have been in the USA. Once you own a ferret you never go back to a dog or cat.
YOUR ferret and MY HOUSECAT would be the same thing if they existed here: moving targets. I have this sweet little .243 BAR .......well, that's another story. No matter how you justify a ferret, and many places have defined them as illegal to own, they're just a weasel. If it waddles and quacks, it's a duck. If it can go both ways at the same time and has beady eyes and short legs with a skinny tail, it's a weasel. You ever seen one hit by a .243? A thing of beauty. LMAO
and I know since my daughter had 6 of them. Sure, 4 of them were very cute and playful (but stunk -- no reeked -- in spite of daily baths and twice daily cage cleaning) but two of them were evil. One we gave to a ferret club for rehabilitation because it continued to charge and try to bite when you put food in its cage,and the other we gave to my son who was severely injured when he reached down to pet it and it attached itself by its teeth to his hand and refused to release its grip. My son had blood dripping all over the room as he tried to knock the thing loose. He finally had to stick his whole arm to the elbow in the toilet before the thing let go and that's when we all ran for cover. Ferrets are not fuzzy and cute unless they are mounted in a cozy display case in the family room.
why the hell would you want to kill a ferret.i have one and its just as kind as anything,i dont even know why thay would let you post a remark like that.i say to mark.get her a ferret.thay sleep most of the time.its true i am a taxidermist.i kill things in hunting season.but i eat what i kill and ferret dam sure is not one of them
I kill vermin. You know, rats, mice,and feral cats. I just never figured out how you tell a pet cat from a feral cat out in the woods and I won't make any apologies to you or anyone else for taking the most vicious killer of wild game out when I see one outside it's back yard. As for your fuzzy ferret hugging, that's fine if you like it. In fact if you want to smooch a skunk, that's OK with me too, but make sure its on YOUR side of the fence. I've seen ferrets. I've seen them used to hunt rabbits of all things, and I know they're the same cold blooded killers that weasels and feral cats are. Maybe you and SP posted before PJ told his horror story but I know his was not a unique story. Ferrets, spider monkeys, sugar gliders, bush babies, et all are wild creatures the should be left to their own devices and kept away from bunny huggers like you. So before you start getting all pious about your ethics, think about how detrimental your actions are to the survival of a WILD species. And feed that sanctimonious crap to someone else. We both know you don't eat deer chitlins of fish head soup so you waste a whole lot more than you ever consume.
Never had one,but heard the descented as babies ones are very nice,they are calm for one. I would imagine one that is spay/nuetered when at the right age might be a nice animal. Though they might like rooting around at night.
Anyone ever had a pet skunk?
My mother had a pet possum when she was a kid, she says it was always calm and sweet,although stupid.She had a pet coon too,but one day it ran away. Prob good,as it was maturing at that point I think.
Another thing about raccoons is they often carry raccoon roundworm which can be fatal to humans.
The only possums I had any contact with were the worst thing going. They chewed on each other, bit me too many times, and wouldve ended up on Georges hit list if it were up to me. Skunks and coons are the big No-No for most states right now because of rabies. I hear skunks used to make good pets, as do the occasional coon, and even some (but not all) ferrets. Heres the BIG difference...back in the day, people took the time to raise them. Nowadays they just stick them in a cage, and dont give them the time needed to tame them. Lifes on a faster pace these days...
Put that one on the calendar - eh?
First off, many coons and skunks in the wild have rabbies, A fairly high percentage from what I understand.
Secondly, ferrets certainly can become aggressive. My sister had one that nipped now and then. Stunk like hell too. And, in that (fairly new) Ben Stiller movie with a ferret - that "pet" (out of nowhere) latched on to Ben's chin and wouldn't let go!
I suspect after that movie, ferret purchases as pets peaked as well!
I don't trust cats either. They're tempermental creatures as well. Who knows what's going on in their heads. And for all you cat owners that like to let your cats roam, I too plow 'em with 6 shot if given the opportunity while out hunting. They can decimate pheasant populations and should not be allowed to wander the countryside. You don't like it? Then don't let your cat wander!
If you got kit coons, then no hunter would be out shooting the adults...no sense in it because the season's not open and the hide isn't worth anything! I suspect that your father took the coons from a spot mother left them at while she went out getting some food...she came back and they were gone...quite a different memory when you think of it this way...
Please don't take any wildlife out of the wild (even coons) just to make pets out of...go to a pet store and get a kitten, or bunny or puppy...if your kit coon survives it will be ruined for life. If you take a male, you really have to be careful when they get older and nasty, and it you take a female, then you are removing reproductive potential out of the population...either way you are negatively impacting nature...please re-consider the coon as a pet...
As I said earlier, if you want to be 100% sure that you have a pet that won't bite, scratch, or cause trouble, go to Toys R Us and get a stuffed teddybear.
Owning a pet, any pet, is a responsibility. Afterall we are dealing with animals here. They don't think like us, and even the most docile of creature can become mean.
Ultimately it is up to the parents to decide which pet would suit the child the best. Having pets is sort of a trial and error deal. Some pets may not work for everyone. I don't care much for dogs or cats since I've seen many of them being aggressive. How often do you hear of a child being mauled by the family dog? How many ferrets attacks do you hear off in the news?
End of story is: if it has teeth and is alive it can bite you. And there you have it
The lady just asked for a source, not a lecture on ethics.
HH
So if she'd asked for the plans on an atomic bomb, you'd have gladly supplied her. Right? People who don't stand for SOMETHING, usually stand for nothing.
live to make the biggest issues out of the smallest of things. Just give her the coon man. She obviously knows all about the ups and downs of raising one, as she has already stated she had a pair as a child. Atomic Bombs and Raccoons......there's a brilliant comparison. One final note; if you ever intend on getting a ferret, always check your boots before putting them on. I've still got scars on my toe from the encounter.
HH
What an incredible world we live in. There are domestically raised coons, skunks, ferrets, and other critters that can be bought legally. It is how you raise an animal. If you don't get it from the wild, and raise it with love, you can have a really awesome pet. All precautions, and preventative medicine must be applied when owning any animal. All animals are subject to disease and rabies, including humans. So, if you find the right source, and it is a legal one, and you take care of the animal, and give it love, and it is not taken out of the wild...both the pet and the pet owner can be really happy. Stop this mess people.
My dad had a pet skunk as kid and he said that it was the sweetest animal he ever had....as long as you can find a vet to treat them, and also get a legal permit from the state....if your state allows them as pets...some don't
I AM AN ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER AND PUT DOWN MANY RACCONS DAILY.....JUST DUE TO OVER POPULATION AND OF COURSE - RABIES FACTORS. I HAVE A BABY AS A PET AT THE MOMENT, HERE ARE THE VACCINATIONS A RACCOON MAY GET THAT ARE SAFE FOR HIM/HER:
Disease Vaccine Manufacturer
Feline Panleukopenia Fel-o-vax Fort Dodge Animal Health
Canine Distemper Fervac-TTM United Vaccine
Duramune 5 Way Fort Dodge Animal Health
Recombitek C- 4TM Rhone-Merieux
Distemink United Vaccine
Raccoon Parvovirus Biovac United Vaccine
Rabies Rabvac-3TM Solvay
Imrab-3TM Solvay
ALSO:
Parasite Drug Dosage
Roundworms Piperazine salts
Pyrantel Pamoate 100 mg/kg given orally once
1 tsp./10 lbs. Given once
Hookworms Pyrantel Pamoate
Dichlorvos 5ml/10 lbs. weight given once
15 mg/kg given for 2 days
Tapeworms Praziquantel 5mg/kg given once
**** CAUTION :Raccoons can be vaccinated against a variety of diseases they may acquire. Only killed vaccines should be used
RACCOONS ARE WILD. CANNOT BE DOMESTICATED FULLY. YOU MAY RAISE ONE AND IT WILL BE NICE OR IT MAY TURN. YOU JUST WONT KNOW TILL IT HAPPENS. THEY NEED THEIR OWN SPACE AND REALLY NEED THE RUN OF THE HOUSE, LIKE A CAT. THEY CAN BE LITTER TRAINED WELL, IF THEY ARE CAGED IT MUST BE A REAL HUGE CAGE AND THEY NEED THERE OWN TOYS TO PLAY WITH. I DONT KNOW WHAT THE OUTCOME OF MY COON WILL BE, ONLY TIME WILL TELL. EITHER WAY OUR COUNTY PUTS ALL COONS DOWN SO I WILL GIVE IT A CHANCE FIRST. JUST BE CAREFULL, GET IT VACCINATED AND IF YOUE REALLY SERIOUS GO GET YOUR RABIES SERIES SHOTS.... THERE NOT LIKE THEY USED TO BE ( 20-21 SHOTS) , ITS 4 SHOTS NEAR THE HIP AND 4 IN THE UPPER ARM. THEN A BOOSTER SHOT EVERY TWO YEARS.
thre seem to be some misconceptions about ferrets on this site. they have been domesticated for over 5000 years by the starting with ancient egypt. They are not a "dangerous exotic" as is commenly belived. i would advise against getting a raccoon,(especially for a young girl or boy) being wild animals, and they do have a tendancy to completly turn on you within minutes. there are many amazing and affectionate animals that are already domesticated. but keep in mind that all animals are an EXTERME responsability and a risk. some people get animals for their kids and as soon as the "novelty" wears off the give them away to some stanger. that is just plain animal cruelty. sorry if have sounded harsh, but keeping animals is not just a form of entertainment, It is hard work and hours of commitment. if you do your research and are willing to commit to every thing that animal needs, then go ahead and get an animal, then you can have the reward of having a great animal living with you.
-Tyrel-