In Kitsap County, Washington State, a woman has unintentionally attracted over a hundred raccoons to her front yard due to her habit of feeding them over the years. The situation became overwhelming when she arrived home one day to find her house surrounded by a large group of raccoons waiting to be fed. She had to seek help from the police, who were equally surprised by the unusual gathering of raccoons.
According to Kevin McCarthy, a spokesperson for the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, the woman has been feeding wild raccoons for 35 years without any prior incidents of her home being surrounded by the animals. The sudden surge in the raccoon population gathering near her yard is thought to be a result of her reputation within the raccoon community spreading.
Authorities mentioned that it seemed the raccoon community had spread the word amongst themselves, leading them all to converge on her home for a free meal. In recent weeks, the local raccoon population has rapidly grown, with dozens of raccoons approaching the woman day and night for food.
Due to the high cost of hiring local trapping organizations, which can reach up to $500 per raccoon, the woman felt helpless in addressing the situation. Faced with this out-of-control scenario, the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office suggested she contact the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife for assistance in capturing the raccoons.
Officials highlighted that this was the first reported incident of a raccoon siege on a residence in the state of Washington. Fortunately, no one was harmed during the unexpected incident, as raccoons can carry diseases such as rabies and raccoon roundworm that pose potential risks to humans.
The Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office has shared footage of the incident on their Facebook page, urging the public not to feed wild animals. When wild animals become accustomed to a steady food source, they will continue to return to the same location, leading to a situation where their numbers spiral out of control.
Neighbors have also felt the impact of this situation. Wendy Cronk, a neighbor of the woman, noted an increase in raccoon activity in her yard over the past few weeks. In a concerning turn of events, her pet dog had conflicts with the raccoons, resulting in her having to take the dog to the veterinarian for treatment.