Are Raccoons dangerous?

Question

I've heard that they can be very nasty and will bite you if you go near them. Only reason I would go near them is to get them out of my tent or to take a photo, but will they attack me??

Answer 1

Yes, they can be very dangerous. Unlike some other wild animals, raccoons are not easily intimidated and have no problem defending themselves if you come too close. They do carry diseases and have a wicked bite.

Answer 2

I probely wouldnt normally answer this, but last week a racoon got in my house and it was trapped inside for a week. My dad is selling the house and lives elsewhere. we serched hi and low and no sign except for the path of destruction it left. My dad brought me a "have a heart" cage. and after 3 days it was caught! The racoon is really smart, it knowsthat a door is an entry way, every closed doors carpet was trashed, but only under the door knobes. It would not spring the trap in the basement, so i moved it to the top of a stair way in the back hall of the house, and closed the back hall door as to trap it in the basement, but it went up a laundry shoot to the main bathroom, lucky the door was closed. The racoon I cought was a 37 lbs. fully grown male,and very angry, it was growling and lungeing at the cage to ward me off, I was very jumpy to say the least. But he came in the attic, somehow cut its self,then got caged befor drageing the cage 10 feet to the landing of the stairs for a 12foot plunge down the stairs, when i found it, it was pulling any thing it could into the cage. wild life Mgt. came and got it from me, mr. pearl told me they useally have ticks, lice and at times rabbies,infact that was the first question he asked"you didn't get scrached or bit did you"? luckely no. Iguess they youthinise them and send the head to Lanccing MI. for brain tissue testing for rabbies. Now i could have spared the critter but transporting wild life without permission of DNR is illegal plus I'd have to take it over 20 miles away or it would be back to find its home a week later, very smart! and when cornored even in 1800square foot home very dangerous, but then even a chipmunk could be if cornored!

Answer 3

I agree with the previous posters, mostly. Racoons are God's garbage man. If you want to take pictures, feel free to do so using a zoom lense. Maybe put your trash about thirty feet in front of your tent to bait them. They're usually very shy, but they have good claws and teeth.

Answer 4

They are cute but can be nasty. Try taking a photo with a zoom lens so you can give them their space. If you are camping keep food and garbage stored securely so they don't come to your tent. If you shoo them away I don't know if it;s guaranteed they would turn on you, but it's best to keep a distance.

Answer 5

Any animal will defend itself if threatened. Whether this is "nasty" is unlikely, as the creature is acting on instinct. many raccoons COULD be rabid, however, and you would definitely want to stay away.

Answer 6

Raccoons? those poor creatures, no way! they are pretty harmless animals who looks like something wearing a mask.

Answer 7

Yea - they can really bite. They can kill a dog and can get to be 60#

Answer 8

if u threaten them they can bite and tend 2 cary sum diseases (bit like pidgeons) but if u v quiet and careful u shud b fine

Answer 9

of course!they are more dangerous than pitbulls!if i were u i would not go near them at all!

Answer 10

They can fight like devils; use a telephoto lens & be aware that they can carry rabies.