According to reports from AP and The Guardian, a woman in Kitsap County, Washington, called 911 on Wednesday after noticing increasingly aggressive behavior from raccoons gathered around her home. Despite years of feeding the raccoons without incident, the sudden large congregation has alarmed residents.
Kitsap County sheriff’s spokesperson Kevin McCarty explained that the woman had drawn the attention of wild raccoons, many of whom visited her home searching for food.
He added that the raccoons became increasingly aggressive, demanding food and following her around. When her car was parked, the raccoons surrounded her and scratched its exterior. They also encircled her when she tried to move from her front door to her car.
Deputies who arrived on the scene captured video footage of the dozens of raccoons gathered around the woman’s house and proceeded to trap them.
The reason behind the sudden influx of raccoons is unclear. Although Washington state law prohibits feeding large carnivores like bears and cougars, it does not extend to raccoons.
However, authorities discourage feeding raccoons due to the risk of disease transmission to humans and the potential to attract other predators, such as coyotes and bears.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife reported that the woman eventually stopped feeding the raccoons and dispersed the animals from her property.
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