Q: Can a raccoon eat my fish?
A:Yes, raccoons are very opportunistic eaters, and could easily dive into your pond to catch fish.
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Q: I found a dead fish outside my pond, did a raccoon get it?
A: Raccoons will usually eat a fish head first, sometimes leaving the rest. So if you see a decapitated fish outside your pond. It’s a good sign a raccoon was the culprit.
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Q: How can I prevent raccoons from eating my fish?
A: There are only two proven methods to really stop raccoons without threat to other animals and your pets.
The preferred method is to place a pond cover or net over your pond at night. Since raccoons are nocturnal, sleeping during the day and hunting at night. They will “not” go after your fish during daylight, so you can take the net off and enjoy your pond all day long and protect it while your sleeping.
The other method is to Trap them and let them go in a heavily wooded area, preferably over 200 miles away.
If they are not relocated properly, they will most likely return. It’s always best to hire a professional no-kill licensed wildlife trapper who will relocate the raccoon or raccoon family properly. As they will know where to release the animal(s) and do so legally.
You can also hire a professional pest control service who has obatained a trappers license to legally dispose of it. Unfortunately, they kill the raccoon. They do this because raccoons who live in residential areas have predispositions to return to that, or other residential areas where they continue their assumedly dubious behavior. Check your states wildlife conservation organization as they may have a free wildlife relocation service.
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Q: I saw a raccoon in my yard, will it try to get my fish?
A: Maybe. Raccoons are omnivores, and will eat a variety of things such as; acorns, insects, small animals like rodents, frogs, and snakes. Also berries, fruits, eggs, clams, fish, and left over food in garbage pails. Raccoons are opportunistic eaters, if they see an opportunity, they will go for it. But like most animals, I feel they will choose the easy target first. So if you have a pond full of fish, and a garbage pail full of food. I think they will go for the garbage first. But if they're still hungry, you may find yourself with one less fish in the morning.
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Q: Are raccoons harmful animals?
A: All animals have the potential to be harmful. But usually raccoons do not attack people or pets unless provoked or protecting their young. Raccoons will avoid humans and are beautiful, intelligent creatures. However they are best admired from a comfortable distance. Raccons are more placid than cats, and will be inquizative of human pressence, but never throw caution to the wind. Like all animals, if they feel threatened they have the ability to defend themselves.
If a raccoon is spotted being active during the daytime. It’s a sign it may be sick or have rabies. Avoid the animal and call a licensed professional to contain it. “Any” animal suspected of having rabies can be dangerous to pets and family.
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Q: Can I keep a raccoon as a pet?
A:This is not a good idea at all. Raccoons have never been domesticated and their natural inquisitive behavior would require you to lock everything away inside indestructible containers. Raccoons have thumbs, not opposable ones like humans, but they can use them much the same way. Allowing them to easily open containers and doors. Even if you locked a cabinet, a raccoon would destroy the cabinet door to get inside. Of course, they need to be protected from household chemicals that may be in those cabinets as well. They are also climbers, and will try to climb everything, I don't think they care that the vase on your shelf is a family heirloom or expensive limited addition. Or that they just knocked over a box of salt all over the floor. Think about something the size of a medium sized dog climbing around your house.
Other concerns are diseases which can be transferred to humans and other pets. Raccoons are common carriers of one parasite that can be deadly to humans. There is an annoculation for it, but if you skip treatment and the raccoon comes in contact with the parasite, your household can be at serious risk. Some animals are just not appropriate for household living, zoos are far better equipped to care for such an animal.
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Q: Can an opossum eat my fish?
A: No! opossum do not eat fish, and do not go into water to find food.
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Q: What do opossum eat?
A: Opossums eat a vast variety of foods including; many insects, snails, rodents, berries, over-ripe fruit, grasses, leaves, and carrion; On occasion they are known to also eat snakes, ground eggs, corn, and other vegetables.
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Q: Are opossum harmful?
A: No! Not at all. Opossum are one of the least harmful animals you can come accross.
When threatened, or in danger, they may hiss, growl, and show their teeth. But it's only to try to frighten their enemies.
Opossum will try to run first to escape danger. If they cannot, they will "play possum" and lay down to make believe they are dead.
They do this by curling up and stiffening their bodies, hanging out their tounges, and keeping their eyes open without blinking. They also secret a foul odor through special glads to fool preadetors.
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Q: What is an opossum?
A: An opossum is a marsupil mammal (female having a pouch for young) related to the possums of Australia. And similarly related to the koala, tasmanian devil, and even the kangaroos, wallabys and tasmanian tiger wolf. They are not related to rodents like many people would assume due to thier rodent like appearance. The Virginia Opossum is America's only marsupial. Commonly shortened to just possum. Their true names come from the American Indian Algonquin word, apasum, which means "white animal".
Opossums have pehensile tails, which means they can be used to wrap and hold objects like tree branches. And they have oposable thumbs on their hind feet, which is very uaeful for climbing trees.
Opossum are very important animals, and are great contributors to cleaning up the environment and controling populations of insects, rodents, and snakes.
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Q: Should I call a trapper to catch a raccoon in my yard?
A: There is no reason to remove a raccoon or any other animal in your yard unless it is causng a problem, such as damage to your home or pets. If the animal, is, causing damage. Then it's reccomended to call a lisenced wildlife trapper to relocate the raccoon. Be careful who you call! Do not call a Pest control company!! They will destroy and unthenize the animal and Not relocate them. The only reason to destroy and uthenize an animal is if it has rabbies. raccoons are nocturnal animals, mostly active in the night, If you see a raccoon in broad daylight like 1pm in the afternoon. It could be a sign that the animal has rabbies. A more accurate sign is unusual aggression and foaming at the mouth. Some raccoons are active in daylight during morning hours, so seeing a raccoon in the day time is not a definitive confirmation of rabbies.
raccoons and opossums are part of our wonderous world, and they are intelligent fascinating animals which play very important roles in nature. If you are creating a natural habitat, then creatures such as these are much wanted in your natural enviromnent.
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