Racoon sighting

JR IMAGING · #1 (**permalink**) 26-01-2011, 10:08 PM

I,ve never tried a site like this but i dont know where to ask. I have had a racoon in my back garded for the last two nights.i,ve never seen it before. my questions are is this rare and where might it of come from. the RSPCA have not had one reported lost.I have a picture of it but its not very good. I live on the edge of the new forest in a residential estate
thanks
JR IMAGING

Tursiops2 · #2 (**permalink**) 26-01-2011, 10:20 PM

Blimey! talk about invasive aliens!
Seriously, it's unlikely to be a raccoon, unless one has escaped from somewhere. Could it be a polecat,or polecat ferret? Polecat | Wild About Britain
Ferrets are domesticated polecats, normally, I believe, a sort of off-white colour, but some retain the original polecat markings, which includes a "mask" across the face lie a raccoon's. We had one in our garden once, when I was a kid in Surrrey.
T2

Farplace · #3 (**permalink**) 26-01-2011, 10:48 PM

There are a (very) few raccoons in the UK. I saw one 5 years ago near Penrith, Cumbria - probably escaped from somewhere. Also one been reported in the North East last year. Not heard of any in the south, but it is possible. Can you get photos?

aeshna5 · #4 (**permalink**) 27-01-2011, 04:44 AM

There have been occasional sightings of this American mammal in this country + being very adaptable have no problems surviving here. Probably an escape or illegaly released animal. There are feral populations in parts of Europe.

darrenm · #5 (**permalink**) 27-01-2011, 06:45 AM

The Pet trade were bringing them into the UK a few years back as Fad/Fashion Pets and this was highlighted on National TV a few years back. No doubt some will have escaped or have been released here into the wild here through them making really lousy pets and they would be able to survive if they have enough food and somewhere to shelter. No doubt owners who got tired of a pet wouldnt report it if it was released.

Hopefully too many havnt made it into the wild here and there are no self sustaining populations out there or they will be yet another introduced species that will cause damage to our Native Fauna.

Have seen other reports of them in the wild in the UK in the past few years and being such a distinctive animal agree that some of the reports are genuine sightings.

Also feel the people who bring/export animals to this country for the pet trade should be made more accountable if long term any populations develop in the wild in the UK. Introduced animals like this are a very bad idea and look at what the Grey Squirrel has done

werdnal · #6 (**permalink**) 27-01-2011, 08:55 AM

There was a post here awhile back about a similar sighting. They are usually escapees and can adapt very well to living in the UK. Any chance you could get your photo up here for us?

Amarillo · #7 (**permalink**) 27-01-2011, 10:35 AM

This is the sort of species that the authorities should be very quick to remove, because they could easily spread as they have in Germany and other places in Europe.

It annoys me that escaped species like wild boar, beaver and eagle owl, which are native/possibly native have been subject to massive persecution and costly risk assessments, yet no-one gives a monkeys about raccoons, chipmunks etc, species which are likely to be far more damaging!

aeshna5 · #8 (**permalink**) 27-01-2011, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amarillo

This is the sort of species that the authorities should be very quick to remove, because they could easily spread as they have in Germany and other places in Europe.

It annoys me that escaped species like wild boar, beaver and eagle owl, which are native/possibly native have been subject to massive persecution and costly risk assessments, yet no-one gives a monkeys about raccoons, chipmunks etc, species which are likely to be far more damaging!

I don't think your last point is so, as I believe a small number of chipmunks in the Hants area were controlled.