| Mrs Pumblechook | 28 Jan 2009 2:01 a.m. PST |
I didn't know Russia had raccoons link |
 Gungnir  | 28 Jan 2009 2:08 a.m. PST |
They're also over here in the Netherlands, though still in small numbers. They're coming from Germany, where they were introduced during the Nazi time. No idea where the Russian ones came from. |
| Schmitt | 28 Jan 2009 2:26 a.m. PST |
Me either. My wife is from Russia and really had never heard of Raccoons until coming to Northern California…we have lots of them here and Opossums too (they like living in the Eucalyptus trees). I'm guessing the person in the article interrupted somebody foraging for dinner… Rob |
| Gungnir | 28 Jan 2009 4:23 a.m. PST |
According to a Dutch site they were also introduced in Russia from 1934 onwards as game animals. |
| GypsyComet | 28 Jan 2009 8:54 a.m. PST |
a role for which raccoons are rather ill-suited, being omnivores with a tendency to excessive curiosity, no fear, and a talent for escape artistry. Also, five of the six ends are pointy, as the subject of that news story found out. |
| nycjadie | 28 Jan 2009 9:08 a.m. PST |
Many years ago my cat came into contact with a raccoon. He spent the night laying in wet grass and was bed-ridden for a good 10 days. After that, he never ran away from raccoons, but he never got close to them, either. |
 John the OFM | 28 Jan 2009 9:38 a.m. PST |
Didn't Goering introduce raccoons to Germany, as part of his dutes as Reich Marshall for Game or some invented title. Obviously, they can defend themselves from certain forms of attack. |
| Gungnir | 28 Jan 2009 9:41 a.m. PST |
Yes, he did, John. he was the ReichsÜberJägermeister or something similar. |
| Gunfreak | 28 Jan 2009 10:56 a.m. PST |
I wish we had Raccoons in Norway, we don't have rabies so they realy wouln't be dangoures. |
| Mike G | 28 Jan 2009 11:27 a.m. PST |
Raccoons are dangerous, as Gypsy Comet pointed out "five of the six ends are pointy." They will tear you a new arse whole if you corner them. The males can get as big as 40 pounds and they have some really nasty canines. |
| zippyfusenet | 28 Jan 2009 11:53 a.m. PST |
We have a lot of raccoons in my neighborhood. I think they're happier in cities than in the woods. They don't bother people and we don't bother them. They don't understand about cars, though. Lots of road kills. I wouldn't recommend molesting one. That would take more than a set of beer goggles… Folks around here used to hunt them, but unlike venison, I've never been offered a plate of raccoon stew. Maybe they taste like what they eat. The ones around here all eat garbage. |
| iouliared | 28 Jan 2009 12:54 p.m. PST |
They live in the sewers in my town, squeezing in and out of the rain drain openings along the sides of the streets. The ones I've seen have to be 30-40 lbs easy. So cute but dangerous. I've tasted "coon once and that was the last time, tasted worse then Bear. You are what you eat I guess. |
Wyatt the Odd  | 28 Jan 2009 1:25 p.m. PST |
Raccoons don't live in the sewers around here, but they use the storm drains as an underground highway down from the mountains above us when food is scarce. I've cornered more than a few in the garage where they've come to raid the cat food. I haven't skewered any of them yet because I haven't found someone who wants the meat, but keeping them at spear or sword point discourages them from returning. Wyat |
| Go0gle | 28 Jan 2009 3:42 p.m. PST |
They'll also chew/claw their way through the walls of houses if not concrete. They'll kill dogs and cats…and can do the same to small children. Have five or six that come round for the cat's food at my house. Pellet gun at close range sends 'em runnin for a few days. |
 Silurian | 28 Jan 2009 6:13 p.m. PST |
We have a couple that regulary come up on our deck. Very friendy they are, brush up next to the possums and the neighbors' cats, all of which seem to like to hang out at our house! |
| Texas Grognard | 28 Jan 2009 7:19 p.m. PST |
Cute and Cuddly?! NOT!! Racoons are persistent, mangy pests. Anyone who thinks racoons are cute have never had to clean up the garbage spread all over their front lawn from their nightly raids on your garbage cans. Bruce the Texas Grognard |
| Skeptic | 28 Jan 2009 7:39 p.m. PST |
@Gunfreak: Rabies would probably infect some of them sooner or later … |
| Sue Kes | 29 Jan 2009 1:04 p.m. PST |
Surprising where some people thinks racoons DO exist; I was getting on really well with one of the White Wolf scenarios, set in England, until the description of local wildlife included racoons. A bit on a par with the beginning of Kevin Kostner's Robin Hood, when they landed at Dover and announced that they'd all be home in Nottingham by teatime … only if you can fly, mate … |
