The Great Raccoon Gathering: Lessons from Poulsbo

Picture a backyard packed with 100 hungry raccoons. This wasn't a story from a children's book, but a real-life event in Poulsbo, Washington. A lady had been feeding raccoons for years with no issues, but suddenly, the population skyrocketed. She faced a massive group of bushy-tailed critters outside her door. Shocked, she dialed 911. Police had never dealt with so many raccoons in one place. While Washington raccoons hadn't seen recent rabies cases, they can still carry other diseases like roundworm. Neighbors were upset; one even had to rush their dog to the vet after a raccoon encounter. The woman was shocked when she learned trapping them would cost a whopping $50,000. Authorities stressed that feeding wild animals can cause such issues, as they'll keep returning if food is consistently available.