Do British people have racoons?

Question

I was just wondering... thinking about critters that come by and eat the gardens, and wondering what they're like other places.

So, would anyone mind sharing what kind of wild animals you get coming by, and where you generally are? Not just in Britain - although, are there any Brits out there who could tell me about the racoons?

Thanks!

Answer 1

I'm Austalian but I can tell you that Raccoons are a North American animal not found anywhere near the UK. Also most people there live in more urban areas and so are unlikely to have Moose and bears raiding their garbage (especially as there are no such mammals there). Having said that I have seen one or two foxes in inner London suburbs, but it isn't common and they are far more shy than Raccoons. The most likely raiders of British garbage are Rats and Corvids such as crows and Rooks. They do have Badgers and Deer, but these are very hard to find and limited to rural areas (the remote highlands of Scotland in the case of the Red Deer). The bulk of UK mammals are very small critters such as voles. There are no Big Cats, Bears or other Large carnivores left, though there used to be bears and Wolves. There are still a few bears in Europe, the Odd Lynx, and some wolves, but again, all are rare.

Here in Australia we also lack large carnivores, with the Tasmanian Devil being the largest native carnivore, unless one counts the dingo which was introduced by Aboriginals but have been here 40 or more thousand years. In 1933 we lost the last Thylacine or Tasmanian tiger which looked like a largish striped dog (though completely unrelated being a marsupial). Our largest remaining mammal is the Red Kangaroo which can reach 8 ft high on hind legs. The smaller, more common Grey Kangaroo can be seen in semi-urban areas, often on golf courses, but contrary to American beliefs they do NOT hop down the main street of Sydney.

By far our largest carnivores are the Salt-Water crocodiles which can reach over twenty feet in length, unless one counts the Great White and Tiger sharks which are seen all around the continent, though their numbers have been thinned by idiot fishermen. Another species worth avoiding is the Giant Cassowary, the third largest type of bird on earth and easily the most dangerous. They resemble a black Emu with a hard helmet and brightly coloured wattle. A male looking after young can eviscerate a man with its massive toe claws.

None of these however come near any houses in the Southern cities. Possums and Wombats being more likely sightings. The danger comes from introduced foxes and feral cats and dogs (and these are the things most likely to rob your garbage).

Hope this was helpful...

Answer 2

Yep, no racoons in the UK. They are endemic to North America. Asia has a animal that has a mask like a racoon, but it's something different.

In Los Angeles, no matter where you live in the city area, we get racoons, skunks, and opossums. Some areas have squirrels, chipmunks, and jackrabbits. Lots of birds.

Answer 3

There are hundreds of racoon pets in the UK. We have one and some people have lots of them., They are now 2nd and third generation but Hitler imported them into Germany in the 1940's. They are adorable animals and adapt well in captivity. Love them all.

Answer 4

No racoons. Loads of squirrels, foxes, magpies, pigeons! All eat the bloomin garden!