“Feeding raccoons can lead to some… unexpected outcomes,” warns Washington State’s Department of Fish and Wildlife. And boy, did one woman learn that the hard way! After decades of treating the local raccoons like her personal guests, she had to call 911 when nearly 100 furry bandits surrounded her home demanding dinner.
She told deputies she’d been feeding them for 35 years, but things spiraled out of control recently. Now, she’s being quoted up to $500 per raccoon to have them relocated. Local authorities were baffled, having never encountered anything quite like this before. Turns out, feeding raccoons regularly might make them a little too comfortable—like houseguests that just won’t leave, and possibly bringing along diseases as party favors!