What to Expect When They’re Expecting: Raccoons
With the weather finally on the upswing, it is finally starting to feel like spring here in Wisconsin. And while sunny skies and warmer weather can lead to happier moods
Love in the Air, Raccoons in the Chimney
It’s February, and you know what that means…it’s the month of love! Every store is covered in pink and red with hearts, balloons, flowers, stuffed animals, and, most importantly, chocolate. Some people are celebrating Valentine’s Day, and romantic love, others Valentine’s Day, and important friendships, and others are not celebrating at all. Even some animals are getting into the spirit of the month, though maybe not in ways we humans will enjoy.
The More You Know: Raccoon Roundworm
There are various diseases that are carried by wild animals that can cause harm to humans or their four-legged companions. We will be highlighting some of the most serious, common, or notorious diseases that fall into this category in a series of blog posts. The focus of today’s blog post is raccoon roundworm, known scientifically…
Ringo the Raccoon
When I was a child, my cousins and their family had a raccoon named Ringo. It wasn’t a fully-grown raccoon, just a juvenile that they had found while hunting, perhaps recently orphaned. Regardless of how it came about exactly, they brought this young raccoon home and raised it for a time. They lived out in…
The More You Know: Rabies
There are various diseases that are carried by wild animals that can cause harm to humans or their four-legged companions. We will be highlighting some of the most serious, common, or notorious diseases that fall into this category in a series of blog posts. Today we will be taking a closer look at rabies. Rabies…
Blonde Raccoons and Black Squirrels – Albinism versus Melanism
Have you ever seen a blonde raccoon? How about a black squirrel? Did you know that both of these colorations are caused by a mutated gene? It all has to do with melanin. Melanin is what causes color in mammals. Whether it’s eye color, hair color, or skin color, melanin is responsible for it all.…
California ‘Coon Surprise
Ever since I was a little kid, one of my favorite things to do while traveling has been to go to zoos. I’ve been to zoos in more than ten states, and even a few overseas! There’s just something about being able to get a close-up look at animals that you might never see otherwise…
You’re Killin’ Me Smalls!
In the animal control business, you get to hear a lot of great stories. Humans and animals coexisting on the same little blue marble of a planet makes for some funny tales, especially if you add some baseball in there… A call came in after hours one spring night: apparently there was a raccoon that…
Of Raccoons and Men
An Interview With Rachel S. Raccoon I didn’t have to wait long in the dark at our agreed upon meeting spot- the old, overgrown service road with the mossy tree stump. Rachel S. Raccoon excitedly clambered towards me with her five kits in tow. As she settled in front of me, she licked her paws…
Real-Life Heroes
“Stay who you are. Not a perfect soldier, but a good man.” -Captain America My 12-year old son, Colin, is obsessed with all things superhero, in particular Marvel’s Avengers. It’s not the lengthy action sequences or the mind-blowing special affects that he loves so much. It’s merely the fact that the Avengers run into situations…