Though they're quite cute, it's not a good idea to feeding wild raccoons.
Dottie Esque, Buckey Rural Electric Cooperative
Q. You may not be able to help me, but I thought I would try. There is a disabled raccoon that seems to be happy around my house. It eats the food I put out for the cats. It comes around to do that at various times during the day, not at night. It has started sleeping in the shelter I fixed for the cats. I feel sorry for it because its hips and back legs don’t work right and it wobbles and falls a lot as it walks. I really don’t want to kill it, but I haven’t been able to find any rescue or shelter where it could go. I live in Gallia County, and we don’t currently have a wildlife agent [officer]. Since you do a lot of traveling over Ohio and to other places, I’m hoping you might have some suggestions for rehoming this critter.
A. Hi, Dottie: I’m glad to help, but you may not want to hear what I have to say. You need to stop feeding the raccoon immediately, and here’s why: The behavior of the animal makes me believe it has distemper, a fatal disease, and by continuing to feed it you are only prolonging the raccoon’s suffering and eventual death. You are also creating an unhealthy situation for your pets as they, too, could contract the disease if they have not been vaccinated against it. If you stop feeding the raccoon, hopefully it will wander off soon and die. Feeding wild raccoons is never a good idea, as it eventually leads to all sorts of unforeseen problems.
Q. No, that's not what I wanted to hear, but someone else said I shouldn’t keep it around. Thanks so much.
Russell Currey
Q. Which state, Ohio or West Virginia, owns the Ohio River?
A. Russell: According to the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, although the Ohio River forms the southern border of the state of Ohio, most of the river is owned by the states of West Virginia and Kentucky. A small section of the river, beginning at Pittsburgh and running west to the state line, is owned by the state of Pennsylvania. Hope this information wins you a bet!
