Re: interesting visitor

     Another thought Kitty is your cat's. I had a blue healer and raccoons
tore  her up. The vet said they can be quite vicious . I thought it might
have been a badger and he said your dog would be dead if it were . I stopped
feeding my dogs in the garage after field mice made a home in my Vet. they
took the dry dog food and stored it in the dry wall behind the engine. I had
dog food falling out in the passenger area for a year .
    I would think a mother raccoon would be very protective.

Nora
----- Original Message -----
From: "Kitty" <kmrsy@comcast.net>
To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2003 11:15 AM
Subject: Re: [CHAT] interesting visitor


> Thus far (and I clearly want to hear all pros and cons from everyone), I
> appreciate the safety factor mentioned by Daryl.  It can be very scary.
But
> I don't know how right it is to pass judgement across the board on all
> wildlife because of the fear of such danger.  Is the percentage of rabies
> incidence in raccoons really high?  And I do worry for my cats, although
> they are all smart enough to steer clear of raccoons.
>
> Pam mentioned feeding from a distance, but that's not particularly
plausible
> as I don't have a lot of space here - unless you meant distance like not
> directly outside my patio door :)
>
> Donna makes a good point about the detriment of creating dependency, but
> then, perhaps we shouldn't feed birds either for that reason.  But in the
> case of raccoons, (correct me if I'm wrong) I believe they are scavengers
> more than hunters.  They make the rounds of places they have found luck in
> the past and check for new places. If no luck at a previously positve
> location they move on hopefully to the next place on their list.
Dependency
> would be created if fed daily, but how about 3 times a week?
>
> I've read alot about feral cat colonies and cats are considered
> "opportunistic feeders".  This means they dine in the easiest, most
pleasant
> manner available to them.  If food is supplied to these cats, their
hunting
> of birds is reduced because the supplied cat food is a whole lot easier.
> Yes, they still hunt some, but not nearly as much.  My thoughts when I
refer
> to raccoons as scavengers is that they, too, are opportunistic feeders
after
> a fashion.
>
> When Donna refers to wildlife feeding on "natural food to hunt around
them",
> I agree that that's the best route.  But their natural habitat has been so
> squeezed by overdevelopment by man that their may not be a lot of "natural
> food to hunt around them".  So would putting out a bowl a few times a week
> hinder the natural instincts of a scavenger?
>
> I'm still undecided, would like to hear more from you.
>
> Kitty
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Donna" <justme@prairieinet.net>
> To: <gardenchat@hort.net>
> Sent: Sunday, July 13, 2003 12:19 PM
> Subject: RE: [CHAT] interesting visitor
>
>
> > I am not cold hearted, but most times make wildlife be just that-
> > wildlife. I only add supplemental food when extreme conditions prevail.
> > You are really hurting the animals if they have to depend on you to eat.
> > I am sure you are very faithful in feeding them, but what happens when
> > you go on vacation, or get ill for a week, or?? ... You have trained
> > them to rely on you, not find natural food to hunt around them.
> >
> > Having said that, I grow things for the wildlife around here. Even if I
> > am not around, it is there for them. Doubt I would get more wildlife if
> > I put out food daily.
> >
> > In winter when we have massive storms and there is nothing they can get
> > too... then I put out some treats. They always seem to find it, even tho
> > it is not there on a regular bases.
> >
> > I apply this theory to all wildlife... from raccoons to birds to
> > anything that wanders in here.
> >
> > Donna
> >
> > >
> > > So what do you all think?  Should I feed the raccoon family?
> > >
> > > Kitty
> >
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