Investor Presentaiton
system, and attack various tissue such as the brain, eyes, heart or lungs, and cause severe or life-threatening health
implications. Therefore, raccoons should not be fed or encouraged to feed on porches and their feces should not
be allowed to accumulate in areas where people live or spend time. Removal of large amounts of raccoon feces
should be done by professionals with appropriate safety equipment.
Canine distemper is a viral disease, which causes the animal to show respiratory distress,
sneezing, coughing, or nasal discharge. Symptoms may resemble those of rabies, but can only
be confirmed by laboratory testing. Canine distemper is not common in Rhode Island, and it
is not transmittable to humans.
It is important to seek medical attention immediately if bitten or scratched by a raccoon, or
any other wild animal. Also, be sure to call your local animal control officer when pets come
in contact or suspected contact with a potentially infected raccoon or other wild animal. When
humans come in contact with these animals, you should be sure to contact your Department of Health, and a
Department of Environmental Management Enforcement officer. You could potentially avoid unnecessary rabies
shots if the animal you came in contact with is caught and tests negative.
Regulatory Status
In Rhode Island, raccoons are classified as protected furbearers and Rhode Island state
law (RIGL 20-16-2) allows a property owner to kill, by legal means, any furbearer (as
defined in RIGL 20-16-1) that is killing or attempting to kill any livestock or domestic
animals, destroying crops, creating a health hazard, or causing economic damage to
their property. However, the law does not allow for the random taking of wildlife, for
the taking of furbearers for their pelts outside the open season, or for killing of animals
outside the boundaries of the property of the person with the problem. Also, it does
not allow for unlawful methods of take such as poisons, snares, foothold traps, or
discharge of firearms in violation of state or local ordinances. The law states that animals taken must be reported
to the DEM within 24 hours.
The DEM does not recommend that property owners attempt to live trap nuisance furbearers unless they are
prepared and willing to euthanize the offending animal. State regulations prohibit the live capture and
translocation of furbearers. Captured furbearers can only legally be released on the property on which they were
captured. For further information about hunting and trapping rules and regulations, see the Rhode Island Hunting
Trapping Abstracts, or contact the Great Swamp Field Office at [email protected] or at (401) 789-0281.
Damage Prevention
Tightly sealed doors and windows on chicken coops can keep raccoons from gaining
access into the buildings. Tight meshed hardware cloth can also help to keep raccoons
from getting into spaces or holes. However, it is important to remember that raccoons
are great climbers, so the tops of cages or pens must be secure as well as the sides.
Remove any over-hanging limbs so the raccoons will not be able to access rooftops
and chimneys as easily. In crop fields, an electric fence can be used to keep raccoons
at bay. The fence should have one wire placed approximately 6 inches off the ground,
with a second wire being placed 10-12 inches off the ground. The fence can be turned
on at dusk, and then off again in the morning. Remember to not leave any branches hanging over the fence. For
smaller scale problems, individual ears of corn, or other vegetables and fruits can be wrapped in filament tape at
night. This filament tape should be strong enough so that raccoons will not be able to tear though it.
RIDEM/DFW Raccoons p. 3View entire presentation