PetKnows

It never occurred to me that any normal citizen would see a raccoon (otherwise known as a “masked marauder“) in their yard and think “I bet he’d make a nice addition to the household.” Would anyone truly attempt to hold a raccoon captive as a personal pet?

Yes. And this is ridiculous! But it is sweeping the nation as an emerging trend in the adopt-a-pet-that-isn’t-really-a-pet craze. In Northeast Florida, the Wildlife Rescue Coalition has observed that people are frequently bringing raccoons into their homes.

So is it legal? Yes, somehow it is. The Wikipedia article on raccoons reveals that you can legally keep a raccoon as a pet “in Wisconsin and other U.S. state, (although) an exotic pet permit may be required.” And it’s not just on Wikipedia - other sites contain all sorts of information oh how to properly care for a domestic raccoon pet. About.com even has a ‘Pet Raccoons’ photo gallery that reads “Come and see the lovely raccoons whose pictures grace our photo gallery.”

Despite the legality (in certain states) and buzz about having a raccoon as a pet, I would advise against it. Here are some reasons why a raccoon would not make a great pet:

• When they mature, raccoons can become aggressive and hostile. They could likely tear up an entire living room set while you are at work.
• You can’t make a raccoon a temporary pet, and release him later on. Raccoons raised in captivity will not have the skills to survive in the wild.
• Raccoons are rabies carriers. This reason alone should be enough to deter you.

There are certainly many more decent options out there. How about a monkey instead? Just kidding!