A Poulsbo resident who has been feedinga local raccoons for over 35 years found herself overwhelmed when nearly 100 hungry raccoons surrounded her property, forcing her to call the authorities.
The Kitsap County Sheriff's Office responded to the woman’s call, where she explained that while she had been feeding the raccoons for decades, the number of animals showing up suddenly surged about six weeks ago. The raccoons reportedly surround her home day and night, persistently demanding food.
A spokesperson for the sheriff's office shared in a video that the woman had been quoted as much as $500 per raccoon for trapping and relocating the animals. She was subsequently referred to the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife for assistance.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife warns against feeding raccoons, as doing so can lead to problematic behaviors. "Raccoons that are fed by people often lose their fear of humans and may become aggressive when not fed as expected," the agency's website states.
The woman has since been put in touch with local wildlife control operators to manage the situation safely.
