Psycho Killer Raccoons Terrorize Olympia

[graylocks]

OLYMPIA, Washington (AP) - A fierce group of raccoons has killed 10 cats, attacked a small dog and bitten at least one pet owner who had to get rabies shots, residents of Olympia say.



Some have taken to carrying pepper spray to ward off the masked marauders and the woman who was bitten now carries an iron pipe when she goes outside at night.

"Some" in this paragraph lacks a clear antecedent; when i scanned the first few words i began to envision raccoons skulking down the street with cans of pepper spray in their paws...

[M A V I C]

I'm disappointed that's an AP story. Did they really do all the proper tests to diagnose the raccoons as "psycho"? It's an insult to those that are certified psychos.

[spearmint]

They must have got hold of this stuff at the brewery.
to go "psycho".

[AlphaDog]

[quote M A V I C]I'm disappointed that's an AP story. Did they really do all the proper tests to diagnose the raccoons as "psycho"? It's an insult to those that are certified psychos.
True, although I bet I know where we could find us some pet owners that aren't going to be worried about a raccoon being insulted.

I've been aware of the raccoons around here beginning to tangle with the neighborhood cats, too. The only cat I "know" is a pretty tough character, so I don't think it was him shrieking one night a few weeks ago. Outside my bedroom window. Whatever it was lost some fur, which I found all over the planting bed the next morning. My guess is that the raccoon population has grown beyond the ability of the area to support it, and the 'coons are resorting to killing for food. I know we have a lot more around here than we used to, and I live in a fairly "citified" place. When they come out during the day, you know they've had to expand their hunting schedule.

[M A V I C]

What typically happens is an area gets developed, and they move. Somtimes they move towards populated areas, and end up having to do whatever they can for food.

[Dick Moore]

Well, these are Olympia raccoons after all, and our wild critters here in the Puget Sound area get mighty peeved when the stupids think they own the land. Maybe the wild birds have cut a deal with the 'coons to take care of the stupids for them.