Raccoons as Pets: Care, Laws & Challenges
Raccoons are often seen as fascinating and funny companions, but they are far from being ideal pets. Their unpredictable nature and high maintenance requirements make them a challenge even for experienced pet owners. Animal experts frequently advise against keeping them due to their daily antics, which often result in damage to your home and belongings.
Additionally, raccoons are difficult to tame and are notorious for being biters when they feel bothered. Their dietary needs and potential health issues can be hard to manage, and as active animals, they require plenty of space to roam.
However, with the right knowledge, time, and commitment to properly care for them, including providing appropriate housing, a balanced diet, and meeting their exercise needs, they can thrive in a domestic setting.
Species Overview Raccoon
- Common Name: Raccoon
- Scientific Name: Procyon lotor
- Size: Typically 16 to 28 inches in length, weighing between 7 and 20 pounds
- Lifespan: Up to 20 years in captivity
Understanding the Legal and Ethical Factors
When deciding to keep a pet raccoon, understanding the laws in your state or provincial area is crucial. Many places consider raccoons illegal, while others have strict regulations on their importation and ownership.
Websites like FindLaw provide guidance on exotic animal policies and personal injury concerns. Checking local rules ensures compliance and prevents legal trouble.
Beyond the legal aspects, there are ethical considerations to think about. A raccoon that gets loose in the community could be seen as a threat. If it scratches or bites someone, authorities may enforce harsh treatment, including having it euthanized. Responsible owners must ensure their pet is well-kept and does not become problematic for others.
Understanding the Responsibilities
Owning a pet raccoon is a long-term commitment that requires both money and time. These mischievous and active animals need continuous supervision, plenty of enrichment, and engaging toys and activities to stay entertained. Without proper care, they can develop destructive behavior, making it essential to take preventive measures.
Finding a vet nearby who can treat them is crucial, as not all veterinarians are experienced in handling exotic pets. If you travel, you must arrange for someone to watch them since leaving them alone is not an option.
Your home must also be raccoon-proof since these curious creatures can cause unexpected damage. It’s wise to contact your insurer to check if they cover any potential issues caused by your pet.
Moving to a new town can be challenging, as not all places are equipped to meet their needs. If you are unable to keep up with their maintenance requirements, it can lead to significant stress for both you and the animal. Proper planning is essential to ensure their well-being.
Raccoon Behavior and Temperament
Raccoons may look cuddly and playful, but their wild nature stays strong even when raised in captivity from a young age. While they can bond with humans and feel comfortable around people, they may bite if they get annoyed or scared. Even their favorite person isn’t always safe from an unexpected nip.
As natural predators, they may attack small animals in the home, making them best kept solo. These intelligent creatures have good memories and problem-solving skills, which means they need constant mental stimulation. Since they are nocturnal North American natives, they stay active at night, making them a challenging pet for many owners.
The Challenges of Keeping a Raccoon
These pets require plenty of space to roam, climb, and explore. Keeping them in cages or bedrooms can lead to frustration and destructive behavior. Their sharp claws and teeth can destroy property if they get curious or bored.
Without enough toys, they might start chewing door frames, ripping bedsheets, knocking over decor, and even breaking into secured areas with their masked bandit instincts. While their vocalizations are minimal, living with them is far from quiet, as they require constant upkeep and supervision.
Housing
Creating a Comfortable Living Space
Some people keep raccoons in a large dog crate when they aren’t home to watch their pet. However, raccoons are too active to stay content in a cage for long hours. The majority of their time should be spent roaming, playing, climbing, and exploring, as they are naturally mischievous. That means your home needs to be raccoon-proofed. These animals are prone to chewing cords, climbing shelves, and knocking valuables down, so anything that could injure them or get damaged must be removed from their area.
Outdoor Enclosures for Safety
If you have the space, it is ideal to provide a secure outdoor enclosure for your raccoon. This is a great option when you’re busy or need to leave your home, giving your pet a safe pen to play in. The enclosure should be as large as possible, with walls and a ceiling to contain the animal. Many people build their own pen using wood and screening. Inside, your raccoon should have access to food, water, shelter, and structures like branches for jumping. Adding toys, balls, and food puzzles will help keep your pet entertained.
Specific Substrate Needs
For the crate interior, where your raccoon might temporarily spend time, using an easily washable blanket or a dog bed on the floor will help keep the animal comfortable.
What Do Raccoons Eat & Drink?
Raccoons are omnivores, meaning they eat both meat and plants. A varied diet is essential, including dog food, poultry, fish, eggs, insects, vegetables, and fruits. Treats like nuts or fatty foods should be given sparingly to prevent obesity. Always have a dish of clean water available. The quantity and variety of food should match the animal’s age, size, and activity level, so it’s best to consult a veterinarian for proper guidance.
Feeding Habits and Enrichment
Pet raccoons are messy eaters who like to dunk their food in water before consuming it, so you’ll need to regularly change their water and keep the feeding location easy to clean. Most adult raccoons need two meals per day, typically in the early morning and late evening, though it’s always wise to follow vet advice. While placing food in a bowl is simple, it’s also a good idea to use food puzzles or hide portions around the enclosure to provide enrichment and mental stimulation.
Health Risks for Pet Raccoons
Raccoons can carry various parasites, viruses, and bacterial illnesses, making regular vet visits important. Rabies is a fatal viral disease transmitted through bites but is preventable with a vaccine. Canine distemper is another deadly infection affecting multiple species, including dogs. It can cause muscle twitching, gastrointestinal difficulties, fever, and lethargy. Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that spreads through contaminated water and soil, leading to nausea, frequent urination, joint pain, and fever.
Parasites and Vet Care
Other risks include toxoplasmosis, a parasitic infection that can affect humans and animals, causing loss of appetite, fever, and personality changes. Intestinal roundworms may infect cats and other species, leading to a pot-bellied appearance, diarrhea, vomiting, dull fur, and coughing. Raccoons raised in captivity have a lower risk of developing these diseases, but finding a veterinarian experienced with exotic pets is difficult. Before acquiring a raccoon, it’s essential to contact an exotic vet who specializes in raccoons and is willing to take them as a patient.
Raccoon Care Guide
Exercise & Mental Stimulation
Captive raccoons can become prone to obesity if they don’t have enough space to roam. They should be able to move freely in a living area with branches, shelves, and other climbing items. Toys like balls can keep them entertained, and their intelligence allows them to learn their name and commands like “sit” and “shake.” However, they can be stubborn and selective when it comes to potty training, making litter box training similar to that of a cat.
Grooming & Shedding Maintenance
While raccoons aren’t high-maintenance, they go through heavy shedding periods each year, especially in April, as they trade their winter coat for a lighter one in warmer months. Their fur becomes thicker in the fall, and brushing prevents loose fur from matting. Though raccoons groom themselves like cats, occasional baths with mild shampoo might be necessary. Nail trims are also required since they lack their natural environment to wear them down. An experienced vet should handle this task.
Size, Behavior & Housing Needs
On average, raccoons reach 16 to 28 inches long and weigh between 7 and 20 pounds. They achieve their full size between 4 months and 1 year old. Keeping them as pets is challenging due to their playful yet mischievous nature. They require a safe environment, consistent supervision, and space to climb and explore. Their nocturnal antics can make them disruptive at night, making them unsuitable for light sleepers.
Purchasing & Legal Considerations
Never take a wild raccoon as a pet—it is often illegal unless you’re a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Captivity can stress a wild animal, making them unfit for release if they become too reliant on humans. Instead, acquire a pet raccoon from a reputable breeder. Adoption opportunities are rare unless you are part of a wildlife rehabilitation network. An exotic veterinarian can help you find a good breeder. Visit the animal in person before purchasing—never buy from an internet ad or classified listing. Expect to pay between $300 and $700, though prices can vary based on availability.
Breeding & Health Checks
A good breeder should allow you to see how they handle and interact with their young raccoons. Proper handling helps tame the animals and reduces their tendency to bite. The breeder should also provide thorough information on the raccoon’s origin and health history.
Be cautious of red flags, such as an underweight raccoon with visible ribs, extreme lethargy, or lack of interest in food, as these are common signs of illness.
Keeping a Raccoon Solo & Spaying/Neutering
Since most pet raccoons are kept solo, there is no risk of accidental breeding. However, you may want to discuss spaying or neutering with your veterinarian to help manage behavior and health concerns.
FAQs
Are Raccoons Good Pets?
Raccoons can be difficult to care for because they need regular supervision, ample space, and constant mental and physical enrichment. They are active, intelligent animals that require an owner who can provide for all their needs. Before deciding to bring a raccoon into your family, be sure you can handle the responsibility.
Can You Pet a Raccoon?
A properly socialized raccoon that knows you well and is friendly around people might allow petting. However, they are still wild animals, unlike domesticated dogs and cats, so always be cautious.
Can You Domesticate a Raccoon?
Raccoons can become tame, but they will never be fully domesticated. Even with proper care, they may bite their favorite people and can be destructive in the home.
How Long Do Pet Raccoons Live?
While wild raccoons often have a short lifespan, those kept as pets can live up to 20 years with proper care.
