Are Raccoons Aggressive Toward Humans?

Despite appearing to be cute and cuddly creatures, raccoons are actually one of nature’s biggest and most destructive nuisances, especially to humans. Although urban raccoons are accustomed to human presence and generally don’t pose a threat, there are certain circumstances in which they can be dangerous to people.

Like humans or any other animal species, raccoons usually get aggressive or defensive when they feel threatened or scared. They have a natural instinct to protect themselves and their kits (children) against what they perceive to be potential threats.

With that in mind, if you come into contact with a raccoon or a nest of raccoons has taken up residence in your home, it’s best to call raccoon control and prevention services to deal with the matter.

Raccoons are naturally curious, but invasive creatures. As scavengers and creatures of habit, they tend to go where they can find easily accessible food sources and warm and cozy living spaces for their nests. Once raccoons have nested in your residential or commercial property, getting rid of them can be a challenge.

Hawkeye Bird and Animal Control provides extensive raccoon control, prevention, and removal services in Toronto and the GTA. We use safe, humane, and effective industry-recognized practices to ensure that all raccoons are removed from your property with minimal downtime and property damage.

How Dangerous are Raccoons?

Raccoons can certainly coexist with humans in outdoor urban spaces. But when they enter your home or get a little too close for comfort, that’s when the real trouble begins.

Raccoon infestations are dangerous for a number of reasons. These furry urban creatures often carry a cornucopia of diseases including rabies, roundworms, and leptospirosis. These diseases can be transmitted to humans through various means including contact with their feces and urine; roundworm eggs can even become airborne and ingested by humans unknowingly. Raccoons are considered a rabies vector species, meaning raccoons are the most common carrier of the deadly disease which can easily be transferred to humans and other animals including household pets.

Furthermore, raccoons can get physically aggressive around perceived threats to their own personal safety or the safety of their kits. Bottom line: never try to get into a physical altercation with a raccoon. They will win pretty much every time.

Here are a few other factors to be aware of when dealing with raccoons in your area or property:

They have sharp claws and teeth. And, they’re not afraid to use them. If humans dare to get too close to raccoon nests, the mother will almost immediately go into attack mode. In fact, any time you spot a raccoon—whether it’s rummaging through your garbage or running across your yard—it’s probably best to just steer clear of them altogether and maintain a safe distance.

They’re wild and unpredictable. Raccoons are wild animals that carry diseases, which means their behaviour can be completely unpredictable at times. At first glance, there’s no way of knowing whether or not they’re sick, so it’s better not to take the risk of getting too close.

There’s a risk of disease transmission. As mentioned, raccoons are a rabies vector species, which means that they’re likely to have some form of this disease and can transmit it to humans and other animals.