Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: Notesfiles; site hpmtlb.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!ihnp4!houxm!whuxl!whuxlm!akgua!sdcsvax!sdcrdcf!hplabs!hpisla!hplvla!hpmtlb!elaine From: elaine@hpmtlb.UUCP (elaine) Newsgroups: net.pets Subject: Re: Orphaned Response Message-ID: <15700001@hpmtlb.UUCP> Date: Wed, 6-Mar-85 18:33:00 EST Article-I.D.: hpmtlb.15700001 Posted: Wed Mar 6 18:33:00 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 10-Mar-85 08:18:26 EST References: <293@cbsck.UUCP> Organization: HP Manufacturing Test Division (Loveland) Lines: 38 One option you might consider is to get in touch with the local wildlife rescue group. (Try the state fish & game officer in your area). I volunteered for such an organization when I was in high school. The basic idea is to care for injured and orphaned wildlife until they can be released. It lets you be around cute, wild animals without unnecessarily depriving them of their freedom. If you do decide to get a raccoon, here are a few observations: 1. Raccoons are good fighters and can inflict a lot of damage. The loose skin around their neck makes them difficult to restrain. 2. Raccoons seem to get nasty after puberty (~1 year). I've heard neutering helps. 3. Rabies is a serious problem in wild raccoon populations. If you decide to get your raccoon vaccinated against rabies, make sure the vet uses KILLED virus (not live or modified live virus). Raccoons, skunks, fxxes, and other wild animals cannot tolerate live virus vaccines. They may develop rabies from the vaccination. 4. If you do get a pet raccoon and then later decide you don't want it anymore, please give it to a zoo or put it to sleep. Raccoons learn how to survive in the wild from their mothers. Pet adult raccoons are almost impossible to teach. They will end up being campground raccoons (the lucky ones) or dead of starvation. For further information on wildlife rescue, I suggest reading The Care of The Wild, Feathered, and Furred. Elaine May hplabs!hpfcla!hplvla!elaine