While small creatures like rats or mice can be captured and exterminated, big animals like raccoons are mostly protected by animal laws. In certain states, it is against the law to use a small cage to trap a raccoon or any large animal. Trapping raccoons is unlawful in some states because it is believed that a trap set for a raccoon can also catch and even injure a neighbor's cat. This is the same reason why it's illegal to use firearms or poison on raccoons. Nonetheless, if there's concrete evidence that the raccoon is doing damage to your property, you can capture it alive and hand it over to a vet. It's not advisable to take raccoons to the veterinary clinic because they carry too many diseases and could infect people. So it is better if you invite the vet to your home to access the situation.
In certain places, trapping and killing raccoons can be legal under certain circumstances. But in some other places, you're not allowed to trap and kill a raccoon, no matter what. Also, some states allow the hunting of raccoons while others forbid it – in fact, it is a punishable offense. It is not advisable to keep raccoons as pets. Asides from the damages they may cause to your property, they can also infect you and your household with deadly diseases like rabies. If you have raccoons in your home or attic, they'll tear down your roof shingles and destroy other parts of your home. If you notice that there are raccoons in your home, you must find a way to get rid of them quickly. In certain cities, it is illegal to kill these creatures, but it is allowed to capture them using means that will not cause injury or stress.
Before you trap a raccoon, try to learn about the animal laws in your area. This is because, in some places, you need a permit to trap wild animals. Even if you're allowed to trap the raccoon, it's important to note that you cannot relocate the animal anywhere you want. You're only allowed to hand the animal over to a local vet. Certain laws allow the killing of wild animals, but there are limitations and rules on how it should be done. For instance, it is forbidden to kill a raccoon with a gunshot or blunt object. If you treat animals inhumanely, you could be charged for animal cruelty. Make sure you seek the advice of a wildlife control expert in your area before you decide to trap raccoons. If your city prioritizes wildlife preservation, it may be unlawful to trap and kill raccoons.
In most states, there are certain species of wild animals that visit homes frequently. Animals like opossums, foxes, bats, raccoons, mice, rats, stray cats, woodpeckers, skunks, squirrels, etc., are always invading residential buildings in search of food, shelter, and a breeding ground. Most times, in their quest to find food and shelter in residential buildings, these wild animals wreak a lot of damage and infect human populations with deadly diseases. For instance, the raccoon is known to be a very destructive animal. If you allow it to stay in your home, it will cause a lot of damages to your property. That is why most homeowners try to get rid of them using methods ranging from throwing them out to killing them with traps. However, wildlife experts are deeply worried about the trapping and killing of wild animals. They believe that if we continuously trap and kill wild animals, most species will go extinct in no time. Undoubtedly, the presence of wild animals in our homes puts us at risk of contracting deadly diseases. However, we must learn to treat animals humanely.
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