are raccoons known to attack people

Are Raccoons Known to Attack People?

Raccoons are a nuisance in nearly all Canadian provinces. The animals are not particularly known for their dangers to humans, yet more so for the damage and anguish, they inflict upon human habitats. That is why it is in your best interest to contact a raccoon removal Toronto. These animals are not on the hunt for humans or really even on the hunt for any other type of animal. Raccoons are scavengers by nature and apart from the great lengths they go to acquire food, they are mostly solitary animals that choose to stick together. Due to their size, raccoons are not known as dangerous animals that humans should avoid at all costs, yet due to the diseases these animals can transmit to humans, caution and distance should always be applied to active raccoons. Raccoons will mostly scavenge by night and instead of attempting to scare the animals away, it is best to allow professionals to handle the situation. What they lack in size, raccoons certainly make up for this in their aggressiveness when threatened.

Raccoons are not usually the type of animals to cower and flee from other animals. These animals will almost always stand their ground and can be quite vicious once they engage in fighting behaviours. Raccoons possess superior instincts and senses. Hearing, eyesight, and precision are the hallmarks of raccoon behaviour. These animals can be highly territorial and are not easily deterred once they have their senses set upon achieving something. This can be witnessed in the relentless pursuits raccoons will take in obtaining garbage and other food sources. Raccoons are usually at their most volatile when the animals are threatened or sick for one reason or another. The worst mistake a person can make is trying to corner a raccoon, particularly a rabid raccoon.

Raccoons have been known to attack humans and there are many cases of raccoons transmitting rabies and other diseases to humans. When a raccoon attacks a human, it is usually a painful experience. The animals will scratch with razor-sharp precision and will use their fangs to dig into human skin. Much like a feral cat, raccoons are also known to latch onto an animal or human and persistently scratch and bite in a violent fashion. The bites and scratches are painful, yet the true danger lies in the possible transmission of rabies. These cases are usually reported due to a human attempting to corner a raccoon or approaching far too close to a raccoon litter. The animals are fiercely territorial, and this makes them dangerous.

Contacting a raccoon removal specialist is the best method of action if raccoons are overrunning your property. Removal Control specialists have special gear, protective clothing, and equipment that can be used to capture wild raccoons and safely remove them from your property. Attempting to remove a raccoon from your property is a dangerous and potentially illegal endeavour that should never be considered. There are many things you can do to prevent raccoons from invading your property, including removing all food sources and strapping down all waste canisters.

Which Animal is More Dangerous, Possums or Raccoons?

Possums and raccoons are two types of wild, small mammals that can carry some potentially deadly illnesses that can be transmitted to humans. Both animals are an example of a pest due to their affinity for ransacking trash cans, destroying property, and scavenging for food. Not to mention the accumulation of each animal’s waste on porches and in yards–which can also be quite dangerous. Both animals can carry rabies, and raccoons more so than possums, and both animals can attack when they feel threatened. There are some differences between the two animals when it comes to the question of which is more dangerous. As far as possible threats to humans, both animals should be removed by professionals to avoid any potential dangers to humans.

When it comes to figuring out which of these animals is the most dangerous, the answer is raccoons. Possums can carry the same types of diseases as raccoons, but these animals are far more docile and solitary than the bolder behaviours seen in raccoons. Possums will go to great lengths to avoid potentially harmful confrontations. Possums are wholly nocturnal and choose to scavenge in the dead of night to limit the possibility of being discovered by predators or humans. Additionally, the term “playing possum” bears a lot of facts in possum behaviour. These animals are known to drop and suspend breathing to convince a potential predator that they are in fact dead. This is a common defence mechanism utilized by possums and it usually works to great effect.

This isn’t to say that possums are not dangerous when the situation calls for it. The animals will attack humans if they are cornered or feel threatened in any type of way. Possums will go to great lengths to avoid confrontation, yet the animals can scratch and bite if they need to. This is very similar to the raccoon defences mechanism, yet the possum will go to greater lengths than a raccoon to avoid confrontation. Raccoons are a bit more aggressive than possums. Unlike possums, raccoons can be quite savage at the slightest threat or infringement upon their personal space. A raccoon will not attempt to play dead and will attack in a sometimes-vicious manner. Both animals carry the same set of potential dangers regarding the disease, but the raccoon is a bit more dangerous than the more passive behaviour of the possum.

Both animals pose danger to humans, yet the raccoon can be a bit more of a formidable enemy than the more docile possum. Possums go to great lengths to avoid being detected, whereas raccoons will usually have no problem going about their business out in the open. Neither of these animals should be taken lightly if you encounter one. Never attempt to scare off a possum or raccoon, as this will only cause the animal to feel threatened and lash out. The raccoon is a bit more dangerous than the possum when comparing the two animals together.