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We are San Antonio Wildlife, and we solve conflicts between people and wild animals. From squirrels in your attic, to raccoons in your trash, to bats, rats, birds, and snakes, we do it all. We specialize in safe and effective solutions to Texas critter problems. We service the greater San Antonio region, and we offer fast service - we can usually schedule a same-day appointment. Give us a call at 210-321-9050 any time, 24/7, and we will discuss your unique wild animal problem, and give you a free price quote over the phone. We're ready to take your call now!

Our service range: We service Kendall County, Comal County, Guadalupe County, Wilson County, Atascosa County, Medina County, Bandera County, and more. We also service Elmendorf, Fair Oaks Ranch, Lytle, Schertz, Selma, Universal City, Alamo Heights, Leon Valley, Balcones Heights, Olmos Park, Castle Hills, Shavano Park, Hill County Village, Terrerll Hills, Kirby, Converse, Sandy Oaks, Grey Forrest, Somerset, Helotes, Von Ormy, Live Oak, Wind Crest, China Grove, Hollywood Park, St. Hedwig, Cross Mountain, Lackland AFB, Macdona, Ranolph AFB, Scenic Oaks, Timberwood Park, Adkins, Martinez, Atascosa, Sayers, Leon Springs, Stone Oaks, Losoya, and more.

San Antonio Wildlife Education: Do Raccoons Attack Cats, Dogs, Or Other Pets?

To many people, raccoons are cute, interesting wild creatures that may come into the back yard in search of a handout. Their masked faces often conjure up the label of “bandit.” But are these nocturnal creatures really just harmless critters, or can they be dangerous?



Raccoons Are Moving On Up
More and more raccoons are moving into urban areas. In a turnabout, it isn’t that people are moving out into raccoon territory, but that the raccoons are moving into the city. Just like for some people, it’s about convenience and easy access to food supplies. In fact, the greatest population of raccoons in all of New York State is in New York City. Some are calling them raccoon urbaniensis—and saying they are almost a new subspecies of raccoon. They are much more comfortable around people than are the coons that live in rural areas.

Raccoon Attacks on Cats
In 2006 a news report told of a group of raccoons in Olympia, Washington, that attacked and killed ten cats, injured one dog and one woman. The attacks were all within a three-block area near a nature trail. Several of the residents said that this was the first time that the coons had exhibited aggressive behavior. One report said that five raccoons were attempting to carry away a small dog, but it managed to survive. The woman who was bitten was trying to pull her cat away from three raccoons. Heretofore, the raccoons had been friendly neighbors, raising babies, and taking handouts. But something unknown happened that day that sparked this vicious attack.

Raccoon Attacks on Dogs
Dogs will get into fights with raccoons, but usually will not be killed in the process. However, they can be badly injured. Raccoons have a general method of attacking dogs. A coon will try to scratch a dog’s eyes out, then roll it on its back where it tries to eviscerate it. A coon can bite hard enough to bite through a dog’s chest wall, resulting in a collapsed lung or two. If the raccoon bites the dog’s abdomen, it can lead to septic peritonitis. Another attack zone is to lacerate the urethra. This causes urine to build up underneath the dog’s skin. This results in possible kidney failure, or at least a terrible scalding. In Foster City, California, where there are several canals running through the area, raccoons there have been known to push dogs into the canals in an apparent attempt to drown them.

Not Always
Just because there have been incidents of raccoons killing cats, doesn’t mean that every raccoon will kill every cat it meets. Oftentimes, a raccoon and cat will feed side by side in peace. Like people, raccoons are individuals with individual personalities. But when a coon feels threatened, if it is sick or injured, if it feels the need to protect its babies, or if it wants the food some other animal has, it may become aggressive. Actually, it is fairly rare for a raccoon to mount an unprovoked attack on a cat. On the part of the cat, most often it will completely ignore the raccoon and prefer a more solitary retreat.

Prevention
The best way to prevent raccoons from invading your yard and posing a potential threat to your pets is to limit the food and water supply. Feed your pets indoors, or pick up the food and water bowls between feedings. If you really want to feed your cat outdoors, consider building a platform for it. Make it high enough and of such design that the raccoon can’t climb onto it, but low enough that the cat can jump up onto it. Raccoons can climb, but they can’t jump. Raccoons love cat food, so if you don’t have any outside, you won’t be as likely to attract them.

Don’t allow fruit to drop from trees and just lie on the ground. Keep it cleaned up. Keep a tight lid on your trash can. If you have a kitty or doggy door into your house, you will need to be sure the raccoons can’t come in, too. They will seek out food wherever they can sniff it out. If you barbecue outdoors, thoroughly clean up afterwards to eliminate food scraps and odors that will attract a raccoon. Even a compost pile will attract the raccoons. If you want one, consider how you can fence it in, or keep it in some type of container.

Other Risks
Raccoon feces may contain raccoon roundworm eggs—Baylisascaris procyonis—which may be fatal to people. If you discover the feces, it’s best to call for professional help to clean it up. Otherwise, if you do it yourself, you run the risk of contracting the disease. Baylisascaris procyonis is known to cause neural, ocular, and visceral larva in animals and people.

Previous Education Articles
The Appearance, Biology, Life Cycle, Habitat, Diet, Behaviour of San Antonio Gophers
Will a San Antonio snake under a shed or porch have a nest of babies?
What Damage Is Caused by San Antonio Geese In Urban Areas
Will repellents get a San Antonio house mouse out of the attic?