In a scene more reminiscent of a wildlife invasion than a Disney movie, a Washington state woman found herself surrounded by nearly 100 raccoons after years of feeding the local wildlife. The situation escalated to the point where the woman, from Poulsbo, located across Puget Sound from Seattle, had to call 911 for help last Thursday, according to police reports.
Years of feeding leads to raccoon swarm
The woman, who remains unidentified, reportedly began feeding raccoons in the area 35 years ago without any issues, according to a statement made by Kevin McCarty, spokesperson for the Kitsap County Sheriff.
However, six weeks ago, the situation took a drastic turn when more and more raccoons began flocking to her property. “Somehow the word got out in raccoon land, and they all showed up to her house expecting a meal,” McCarty told KUSA. The woman contacted local deputies last week after she was unable to enter her own home due to the overwhelming number of raccoons.
Police were shocked by the scene
Officers responding to the call were stunned by the sheer number of raccoons gathered at the woman’s house. “They had never seen that many raccoons in one place,” McCarty said. “Nobody ever remembers being surrounded by a swarm of raccoons. This was a first.” Though raccoons in Washington have not recently been diagnosed with rabies, they are known to carry other diseases such as raccoon roundworm, according to the Washington State Department of Health.
A local nuisance
While the situation may seem humorous, neighbors have expressed concerns. Poulsbo resident Wendy Cronk, who lives nearby, shared her frustrations. “My dogs have gotten in a scuffle several times with a raccoon,” she said. “I’ve even had to take one of my dogs to the vet. I just hope that somebody steps in and helps her take care of this problem. And hopefully, she’ll quit doing it.”
Authorities urge caution
No injuries were reported during the call, but police referred the woman to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for assistance. She told authorities that a trapping company had quoted her $500 per raccoon—amounting to $50,000 total—to remove the animals from her property. “It’s pretty simple,” McCarty warned. “Don’t feed wild animals. When wild animals have a reliable food source, they’re going to keep coming back to it. And that’s what these raccoons did until the number expecting a meal got out of hand.”
As authorities continue to investigate the incident, they hope this serves as a cautionary tale for residents who may be tempted to feed wild animals, no matter how cute they might seem.
