The progress of humanity has led to the development of new ecosystems – and as our population spread to the territory of other creatures, they began to adapt to survive in our urban environment. Of all the animals that can be seen in the suburbs and cities, raccoons are often found everywhere. With their distinctive masks and plump features, they are also some of the cutest animals we share our habitat with. But living side by side with other animals means respecting them and recognizing that they are wild animals. We’re here to answer the question of whether raccoons are dangerous and to determine how humans can safely coexist with them.
Do raccoons attack people?
Raccoon attacks are incredibly rare, and they usually only happen in one of three circumstances – if they perceive you as a threat and have no escape route, if they are trying to protect their cubs, or if they are suffering from illness. this makes them more aggressive. Even in high-stakes situations like this, raccoons are more likely to flee than attack a person.
However, stories of raccoon attacks tend to persist. Much of this has to do with how raccoons respond to threats. It is common for a raccoon to assume the intimidation pose when it feels threatened. The results can be quite aggressive. Raccoons grow and swell their fur to appear as large as possible. They can act erratically, dwell on a threat, or even attack its source.
People often don’t realize that this is a bluff for a raccoon. Like a possum pretending to be dead, raccoons will behave as if they wanted to fight, trying to find a way to escape. Of course, it can be hard to remember when you encounter a raccoon – and it is not always possible to tell if a raccoon is sick, protecting its cubs, or really just looking for a way out.

Are raccoons a threat to pets?
Raccoons are scavengers, and that’s part of what makes them so capable of thriving in urban environments. Pets that are most likely to be at risk are potential prey such as rabbits and chickens. If you are raising these smaller creatures in your yard, you may want to take additional safety measures to account for the risk of raccoons appearing.
Any problem between raccoons and cats is likely to be territorial. Domestic cats do not usually hunt raccoons, and raccoons usually try to avoid conflicts with cats, but they can become defensive if the raccoon is on the lawn feeding from their bowl. Cats and raccoons are known to get into fights, but you can also see how they share space and mutually ignore each other.
Conflict between dogs and raccoons is the most common circumstance to worry about as dogs tend to chase raccoons. It is unlikely that a healthy raccoon will attack a dog, but a dog could be seriously injured when faced with a cornered raccoon.
Do raccoons have other risk factors?
Raccoons eat from garbage, so it makes sense that they carry a fair amount of disease – and many of these can pose a threat to humans, pets, or both. The most serious of these is rabies, which can be fatal, cause raccoons to act erratically, and be transmitted to humans or pets through bites or scratches. But they can also spread certain other viral and bacterial infections through contact with their waste or fluids. Some of these infections, such as leptospirosis, can be fatal if not treated promptly.
Raccoons can also do a lot of property damage in a very short time. After mating season, raccoons start looking for places to raise their cubs, and attics, basements, and porches are great places to hide. But raccoons love to build nests for their cubs, and they tend to use insulation, cables, or whatever they can find in your room to make them. Add to that the fact that they leave their droppings in your home, and infestation of raccoons can be a dangerous personal health problem, even if you never come into direct contact with any of the animals.
How can you prevent encounters with raccoons?
The presence of a raccoon during the day is not necessarily a cause for concern, but they are nocturnal, which means that encounters with raccoons most often occur at night. The best course of action to prevent raccoon attacks is to minimize contact with raccoons. Feeding pets indoors and properly protecting litter will minimize the value of your property as a food source and reduce the risk that you will ever come into contact with raccoons, healthy or not. Keeping pets inside after dark and keeping your dog on a leash can further reduce the risk of conflict. Raccoons are also attracted to stagnant water sources such as bird baths and bird feeders, so removing or isolating them can be helpful in reducing the presence of raccoons.
You can also take steps to reduce the risk of raccoon nesting in your home. Inspect your home for any holes that a raccoon can fit in, and especially for nooks and crannies that can serve as nests. Attics are especially vulnerable to nesting raccoons, so it is important to check the roof regularly. Missing shingles must be replaced immediately. You can also trim the branches that hang over your roof to make it harder for raccoons to get to the attic.
The best thing you can do to prevent raccoons from becoming dangerous is to keep them from getting used to. Raccoons are very intelligent and they can be cute and adorable companions when they get used to being fed by humans. While feeding raccoons reduces their fear of humans, it doesn’t change the fact that they are wild animals. Even the friendliest raccoon can attack you if it gets sick, and it is impossible to predict how raccoons will behave towards people they are not afraid of. Brave raccoons are not necessarily hostile, but they increase the risk of collisions between raccoons and humans, and also increase the likelihood of violent misunderstandings.

What to do if a raccoon attacks?
Trying to avoid contact with a raccoon is the best way to prevent an attack, but the most important thing to do if the situation escalates is not to panic. It’s important to remember that the raccoon is likely to be more afraid of you than you are, so make sure the raccoon has the means to escape and try to get out of the situation as soon as possible. If you run, the raccoon is unlikely to follow you. If you think that a raccoon is a great danger to you, your pets, or your property, it is best to seek the services of a professional.
If you are bitten or scratched by a raccoon – or if you think you have come into contact with raccoon feces – disinfect and cover the wound as best you can, then seek immediate medical attention. While the wound itself may seem minor, raccoon-borne illnesses can develop quickly after they enter your body through a wound.
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