singlemalt
Well-Known Member
I live out in the country south of Brantford. Over the years I have shot a few sick raccoons. Early this fall I shot one that I assume had distemper or rabies. It was staggering, glassy eyed and very confused looking. This is unfortunately pretty common these days.
About two weeks ago late the the afternoon my dogs were barking at the window that looks out at our bird feeder. There was a big healthy looking coon under it. I just decided I would go out and scare him away. I walked to within about 20 feet of it and it started to come to me. Not in aggressive way just like it was curious and wanted to sniff me. Even this close it looked bright eyed and healthy although obviously it behaviour is not normal for a healthy wild coon. I decided I better dispatch it before my dogs had an ugly encounter with it. I went in and got a .22 and by then it was up on my deck. I did not want to shoot it on the deck but could not scare it off. It kept trying to come to me. Eventually I got it off by backing down the stairs myself and it followed me until I got it away from the house and I dispatched it.
A weird experience but stuff happens. Then yesterday it happened again! A big fat health looking coon in the yard in daylight with no fear of me at all. By the time I got the gun it had gone into my garage. I did not want to shoot it in there but it kept coming at me. Again not aggressive just like it was curious or friendly. I was actually pushing it with the barrel of the gun to keep it from getting close enough to actually contact me. Eventually I ended up back into a corner and had to shoot it in the garage. (Nice mess).
What do you guys think is happening? Maybe rabies but I would have thought a rabid animal would look quite ill before it displayed this kind of lack of fear. Both these coons looked very healthy bright eye, fat and had great coats. I was also wondering if some "Humane" Animal removal company is catching human habituated coons in the city and dropping them off near me. Although even in town they are not usually as tame as these. I am pretty sure no one nearby would be feeding coons. All my neighbours are realistic rural people with dogs and guns.
About two weeks ago late the the afternoon my dogs were barking at the window that looks out at our bird feeder. There was a big healthy looking coon under it. I just decided I would go out and scare him away. I walked to within about 20 feet of it and it started to come to me. Not in aggressive way just like it was curious and wanted to sniff me. Even this close it looked bright eyed and healthy although obviously it behaviour is not normal for a healthy wild coon. I decided I better dispatch it before my dogs had an ugly encounter with it. I went in and got a .22 and by then it was up on my deck. I did not want to shoot it on the deck but could not scare it off. It kept trying to come to me. Eventually I got it off by backing down the stairs myself and it followed me until I got it away from the house and I dispatched it.
A weird experience but stuff happens. Then yesterday it happened again! A big fat health looking coon in the yard in daylight with no fear of me at all. By the time I got the gun it had gone into my garage. I did not want to shoot it in there but it kept coming at me. Again not aggressive just like it was curious or friendly. I was actually pushing it with the barrel of the gun to keep it from getting close enough to actually contact me. Eventually I ended up back into a corner and had to shoot it in the garage. (Nice mess).
What do you guys think is happening? Maybe rabies but I would have thought a rabid animal would look quite ill before it displayed this kind of lack of fear. Both these coons looked very healthy bright eye, fat and had great coats. I was also wondering if some "Humane" Animal removal company is catching human habituated coons in the city and dropping them off near me. Although even in town they are not usually as tame as these. I am pretty sure no one nearby would be feeding coons. All my neighbours are realistic rural people with dogs and guns.