We all love animals! If you ask someone what their favorite animal is, they always have an answer. It could be something cute like a kitten, something strong like a gorilla, something smart like an elephant, or even a hawk too! Animals can be very useful to us humans, like riding horses for transportation, keeping cows for milking, or potentially even parrots for communication.  Either way, there is undoubtedly some kind of bond between humans and animals, enough to the point where we can keep some animals as pets. When you think of house pets, you tend to think of animals like dogs, cats, hamsters, or fish. Some people go beyond that and are more exotic and keep animals like birds, geckos, snakes, mice, or small monkeys. However, there is one dirty, controversial creature that I think can belong in a household under good supervision, and that is a raccoon.

Raccoons have been small woodland creatures in North America for thousands of years and would be hunted for their food and fur by early Native American tribes. Now they have evolved to be the thieves you find lurking in your trash can late at night, with their big bellies full of junk. They are very smart, adaptable creatures that can survive in the same conditions as a homeless person, living off the land of a crowded city. I think that these oversized rodents would make a perfect house pet.

Look at Them!

The raccoon is an animal that was designed to be a pet. It has everything that your basic pet has, such as fur, a snout, a tail, and probably has an odd smell to it. They are somewhat small, and they have loads of fluff to use as a pillow. Maybe don’t lay on them though. They also walk on all fours like any other pet mammal, except they are expert climbers and can get in even crazier places than your housecat may get into. Finally, how could you ever forget about the iconic masks they have? I don’t know about you, but I haven’t seen many other animals that come installed with their own costumes.

Easy to Manage

Raccoons are not naturally tamed or domesticated creatures. You can be nice to them and sit out trash for them, and they may return to your porch, but not necessarily welcome you to come inside for a cup of tea and sit neatly on the couch. There is proof out there of owners that have domesticated and kept raccoons as pets, AND they are legal in 16 states to have. Not Virginia… We can change that. With proper care, you could keep raccoons as an outdoor pet, like a cat. They like the outside world; it is what they are used to. What they aren’t used to is love. So lovingly feed them your leftovers, leave them a bowl of water, and put an air tag on them because they may get stuck in a garbage bin or pipe outside.

Who Cares About Rabies?

I sure don’t! That is a joke. One major flaw of trying to have a raccoon in your presence is their high likelihood of having rabies. The only real signs of a raccoon having rabies are if they stagger and is very aggressive. Not to be confused with the raccoon that broke into a Virginia liquor store. Unless your raccoon has been treated and cured of any rabid diseases, it may not be safe to own. However, once your raccoon is safe and healthy, keep it. Like any other pet, frequent trips to the vet would be most beneficial to the raccoon and your own safety. 

To get your hands on a raccoon may be a struggle, but once you can legally get your hands on one, expect to have a better life. Raccoons are weird creatures, but they share many similarities with owning a dog or a cat. I imagine with more domestication that in the near future, raccoons could adapt or be bred to be safer, friendlier animals for the entire family to love.

Edited and Reviewed by Rebecca Price