Editor:
Re: Raccoon city looming, Jan. 26 letters.
I have lived in South Surrey for 25 years and in that time there have been less than a dozen media reported bites from raccoons.
However, dogsincanada.com – under dog bites – reports most victims of dogs are children, almost always bitten in the face by the family pet, and 28 fatalities were identified from dog-bite injuries, 1990-2007.
The Center for Disease Control in Atlanta states there are about 4.5 million people bitten by dogs each year in the U.S. One-fifth of those require medical attention, and more than 30,000 require reconstructive surgery.
Should we ban all dogs from society?
We have a rat problem which would be much worse without the raccoon and coyotes intervention. It’s called self-preservation – nature taking care of itself.
Don’t get me wrong. Raccoons are wild animals. They have been known to attack pets and the odd person, just not nearly as often as dogs biting people, dogs and cats.
When they do encounter scared and paranoid humans, they suffer greatly. They are caught in leg-hold traps, often chewing off the entangled leg to be free; they are stoned to death, shot, run over, burned alive and endure far too many atrocities by humans to mention. Each year, wildlife shelters take in hundreds of orphaned kits, mostly due to human interference.
We are the intruders. Each year human encroachment increases and the animals are expected to adapt. Some – like the bear, cougar and red fox – no longer exist in urban areas; we destroyed their habitat.
We can co-exist with our remaining wildlife. It just takes a little education on our part.
Keep bird feeding stations clean, only put out what the birds will eat in one day. Don’t leave pet food or garbage outside. Screen off areas around and under sheds, and your house to prevent entry during denning season. Cut back tree branches that may provide roof entry.
For more information, visit www.aaawildlifecontrol.com (604-572-8386) or www.crittercarewildlife.org (604-530-2064).
Dee Walmsley, Surrey
Open invitation
If you think they are a problem now, wait until they discover the new goodies in our yard-waste cans!
Another great idea?
Ken Sparrow, White Rock
