Raccoon

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Raccoons as Pets

In most states of the United States it is illegal to keep raccoons as pets. Other states allow the practice, but require exotic pet permits. Young orphan raccoons and raccoons acquired from reputable breeders may make suitable pets; however, raccoons are not domesticated animals. Training raccoons is an intensive and ongoing process, and captive raccoons may retain destructive or aggressive natural behaviors, such as biting. Some douse their food in or defecate into the water dishes of other pets. Although nocturnal, captive raccoons can be trained to sleep at night and to be active during the day.

Captive raccoons can develop obesity and other disorders due to unnatural diet and lack of exercise; furthermore, many veterinarians will not treat raccoons. Raccoons raised in captivity and released do not adapt well to life outside.

Common raccoon

Raccoons as Food

Raccoons were a source of food for early American pioneers providing a sizable amount of protein. "Coon" hunts and cuisine can still be found in regions of the southern United States. The fat is strongly flavored and smells disagreeable; so it is recommended that it be removed before cooking. The favored method of cooking is roasting with recipes suggesting that sweet potatoes are a good complement to the raccoon's meat, which is dark, as either a stuffing or side dish.

Trivia

* A raccoon named Meeko was one of the animal characters of the 1995 Disney movie Pocahontas. A raccoon named Roni was choosen as the mascot for the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.
* In the film Forrest Gump, a white student tells Forrest (Tom Hanks) that "coons" had been let in the school. Gump, not realizing this is a racial slur and not an abbreviation of the word "raccoon," then tells the student of his mother's troubles with raccoons.

References

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