Raccoon Takeover Shocks Washington Woman and Authorities

A woman near Poulsbo, Washington, recently faced an unusual and overwhelming problem—her home was overrun by raccoons. She called authorities after being unable to enter her property due to nearly 100 raccoons gathering outside, all “demanding food.”

Kevin McCarty, a spokesperson for the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, explained that the woman had been feeding the raccoons for over three decades without issue. But about six weeks ago, their population exploded, with the animals now surrounding her home day and night. “Somehow the word got out in raccoon land and they all showed up to her house expecting a meal,” McCarty remarked.

When deputies arrived, they were stunned by the sight. McCarty said, “They had never seen that many raccoons in one place. Nobody ever remembers being surrounded by a swarm of raccoons. This was a first.”

Nearby resident Wendy Cronk also noticed the increasing number of raccoons in the area. “I’ve had several raccoons in the yard recently,” she said, adding that her dogs have had multiple run-ins with the animals. One of her dogs even required veterinary care after an altercation with a raccoon. Cronk noted she’s also seen more raccoons hit by cars in the area. “I just hope that somebody steps in and helps her take care of this problem… and hopefully she’ll quit doing it,” she said.

Authorities referred the woman to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for help with her raccoon problem. She had already reached out to a trapping organization, but they wanted $500 per raccoon, making the solution financially daunting.

Though the raccoons haven’t caused direct harm, McCarty emphasized the importance of not feeding wild animals, as it can lead to situations like this one.

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