Raccoons can appear like cute little bandits, but they also can transmit rabies and leave some nasty wounds.

Despite being relatively small creatures, they are not afraid to fight if they feel they are backed into a corner.

They can cause substantial damage to your pet cat or dog. This is what you should do if you are ever attacked by a raccoon, and how to protect your pet.

Watch shocking raccoon attack footage right HERE. 

Check out the video version of this post by clicking HERE now. 

You can also download the audio-only pest-free podcast by clicking the audio button above! 

Be Protected

If you have a raccoon problem, it’s best to let the experts handle it. Call up a wildlife company near you to get rid of the raccoon problem.

If the raccoon is immediately being dangerous, then you need to protect yourself. Make sure all of your skin is covered.

Raccoons are a rabies vector species, which means they are at a particularly high risk for carrying & transmitting rabies. Rabies can easily kill humans.

Make sure your clothing or gloves are thick so that scratches & bites do not penetrate to your skin. Put on a mask if possible, thick boots, as to completely cover yourself up from any danger.

Never Corner a Raccoon

Never trap a raccoon in a corner. The goal is to make the raccoon run away, not get into a deadly fight!

If a raccoon is trapped with you blocking the only exit, it will fight. If there are other escapes, it will most likely run away.

Stay aware of your surroundings to make sure the raccoon can run away; that’s what it most likely wants to do anyways.

Avoid Kits

If a raccoon has made a home near you, or inside of your home, call an expert. Attempting to move, attack, or displace kits will result in hostile aggression from the mother of the kits.

Use a Long Weapon

Raccoons are small and fast and it’s best that you don’t let it get too close to you. If close, they can inflict damage from rapidly scratching & biting you.

Using a chair, stick, or any type of “long range” weapon that allows you to push away the raccoon without getting near it is ideal. This is especially true if you can’t cover up completely.

If the raccoon is being persistently aggressive then it is best to retreat and call animal control.

Watch footage of a shocking raccoon attack right HERE. 

Push the Raccoon Out

Do not try to kill or harm the raccoon. If the raccoon is being aggressive, try only to push it away from you or your property. The raccoon will eventually leave in almost all cases.

If you try to kill or inflict severe damage on the raccoon, it will be more likely to further attack you. Focus all of your attention on pushing the raccoon away from you or your property instead of hurting it specifically.

Again, if the raccoon is being persistent with staying in your home or attacking you, run away & call for help.

Run Away

If you can’t cover up, or the raccoon is particularly aggressive, the best solution is to run away.

Some people have required several stitches from the damage of raccoons. Other people have contracted rabies.

It is not worth trying to fight a raccoon or any wildlife animal with your hands.

The best solution is to always call for help, but in order to do so you need to run away!

Call for Help

Even if the raccoon runs away, you should always call a wildlife expert near you after a raccoon attack.

A particularly aggressive group of raccoons could be in town, there could be a disease, or the raccoon could later attack someone else. Call an expert and let them know what happened.

They will also have advice for what to do in the future.

Get Checked For Rabies

After a raccoon attack, always get checked for rabies. Remember, raccoons are a “rabies vector species.” They more often than other animals carry & transmit rabies.

Rabies does not show signs until it gets dangerous. Get you, your pets, and anyone else affected by the raccoon attack checked out as soon as possible to avoid death or injury from a disease spread by the raccoon.

Avoid Confrontation

At the end of the day, the best solution is to avoid confrontation with a wild raccoon or any wildlife animal. If you find a raccoon inside of your home, it’s best to lock him inside the room and let the experts handle it.

You could try leaving a single exit open, but this doesn’t always work. The best solution is simply to not get into a fight if at all possible.

Do not aggravate, hunt, or attempt to hurt raccoons. Most raccoons will never attack humans unless they severely feel threatened.

It is not likely that a raccoon will attack you, and if it does it could very likely have a disease making it more aggressive (so get checked ASAP)!
 

If you think you have a wildlife/pest problem, please call us at 855-WILDLIFE or visit www.wildlifexteam.com.

We hope you enjoyed this post and enjoy a safe year!
-Wildlife x Team International