Free: Raccoon (dead)

Published 11:48 am Friday, October 14, 2016

A snapshot of 21st century life on the Long Beach Peninsula in the form of a notice placed Oct. 10 on the Chinookville community bulletin board:

“Free raccoon (dead)

“Anyone into animal hides? It was shot early this morning. Nearly 3 feet long, plus tail & just over 20 lb. — I plan to bury later today, if no interest.”

The advertiser went on to explain it happened at “1 a.m. Chickens vs raccoon. I sided with the chickens.”

A commenter noted about the big coon, “that’s a lot of stew,” to which the advertiser replied, “I’m not that country, lol.”

There’s something of a raccoon population explosion in south Pacific County this fall. One Ilwaco homeowner recently reported counting 17 in half an hour or so.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has good advice for living in proximity to raccoons at wdfw.wa.gov/living/raccoons.html. In general, with raccoons and other omnivorous wildlife like black bears it’s important to not feed them and to be careful about denying them access to other unnatural food sources.