Kansas will consider joining twenty other states when it comes to raccoons. In a move that has sparked controversy among animal enthusiasts and wildlife advocates, the Kansas state legislature is considering a bill that would regulate the ownership of raccoons as pets.
House Bill No. 2297, introduced in the Kansas House of Representatives, aims to address the growing trend of keeping raccoons as companion animals. The bill proposes the following key provisions:
- Require individuals to obtain a permit from the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks in order to own a raccoon
- Establish guidelines for the proper care and housing of pet raccoons, including minimum enclosure sizes and veterinary care requirements
- Impose fines and other penalties for the unlawful possession of a raccoon without the necessary permit
Kansas Rep. Joe Seiwert, R-Pretty Prairie, championed the bill due to his childhood ownership of a handful of wild animals.
“Overwhelmingly, this is a very popular movement. So it’s not going away,” said Stephen Kaspar, who feeds raccoons from his Kansas City back porch, in front of lawmakers, “It is the highlight of my life.”
Supporters of the bill argue that it is necessary to protect both the welfare of the animals and the safety of the public. Raccoons, while often perceived as cute and cuddly, can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous when kept in a domestic setting.
“People should not keep raccoons as pets,” says Meg Pearson, training manager at Critter Control, “They are wild animals with wild instincts. They are incredibly strong and can destroy wherever they’re being kept. And inevitably people will get a raccoon, realize it’s a mistake, and let it go. The raccoon will not be equipped to live outside and therefore it could starve, die of diseases, or destroy the property trying to get in.”
Adopting a Raccoon vs Wildlife Rehabilitator
In certain situations, a person can care for a raccoon. A wildlife rehabilitator cares for sick, injured, or orphaned wildlife so it can return to the wild.
“The point of rehab isn’t to cuddle wildlife,” says Jesse Fraser who has twenty-five years as a wildlife control operator and fifteen years of wildlife rehabilitation experience, “The point is to get the animal back up to speed and into the wild. Juvenile animals are bottle fed, but once they can eat on their own, the human element is removed.”
Most local wildlife rehabilitation centers will accept volunteers. Some will even help train you to foster juveniles at your house.
“People wanting to own raccoons, with a high energy drive should look at the same issues with adopting a high-energy Savanah cat (African serval and house cat mix) and these cats are watered-down versions of their wild African counterparts. My opinion is to adopt a tortie. All the attitude and drive of a raccoon, but legal, and your neighborhood shelter probably has an adult Torrie looking for a home right now.”