How to Care For A Pet Raccoon

How to Care For A Pet Raccoon. Raccoons are intelligent, playful, interesting, and active. They are also mischievous, unpredictable, destructive, aggressive, and very messy. Keeping a raccoon as a pet is not easy, and it represents a long commitment (raccoons live 10 to15 years in captivity). Before you get one, make sure you are up to the task.

Pet Raccoons

Step 1

Find out if raccoons are legal in your state. Many states do not allow people to keep raccoons as pets.

Step 2

Find a local vet who will treat raccoons. Although they are common in the wild, raccoons are exotic pets. It can be hard to find a vet who will treat them, so make sure to find one before you get a pet raccoon.

Step 3

Spend as much time as possible with the raccoon from a young age. Raccoons are not completely domesticated, and they must be played with a lot to get used to human contact at all.

Step 4

Raise the raccoon alone. Although young raccoons do well with others of the same species, adults are solitary.

Step 5

Give the animal his own room with his own bedding and toys. Raccoons can be quite destructive. Giving them their own space and their own toys to chew on and claw at can help to minimize the damage to your stuff.

Step 6

Train your raccoon. Raccoons can be litter trained and can learn a few commands.

Step 7

Be persistent. Every time your raccoon bite or claws at something he isn't supposed to, say "no" clearly, take it away, and give him one of his own toys.

Step 8

Feed your raccoon a wide diet. Raccoons love fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as poultry, and fish.

Step 9

Give your raccoon plenty of water. Raccoons like to wash their food before they eat it.

Step 10

Be ready for mating season. Captive raccoons get moody and aggressive during mating season, and often "mark their territory" around the house.

Warnings

• Never hit your raccoon. He will perceive this as an attack and will bite you.
• Even under the best circumstances, a raccoon can be unpredictable and violent. If you aren't willing to get bitten now and then, get a different pet.