Cat-killing raccoons on prowl in west Olympia

[SSanf]

OLYMPIA - Raccoons are cute, until they kill one of your cats.

That is what a west Olympia neighborhood is learning this summer.

Raccoons have killed about 10 cats in a three-block area near the Garfield Nature Trail at Harrison Avenue West and Foote Street Southwest.

Problem wildlife coordinator Sean Carrell of the state Department of Fish and Wildlife called the situation "bizarre, weird."Very weird story!

http://www.theolympian.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060821/NEWS/608210327

[Shanti]

Sounds like a little reversal going on.
People let their cats outside which in turn prey on the local wildlife like songbirds.
Now, the local wildlife is preying back.
So keep the cats inside, simple. Then all will live without worrying about the other and humans can refrain from mass coon killings! :)

[Cindlady2]

Most of us 'rural' types have known that a coon can take out a cat, and cute as they are, they can be aggressive and dangerous as bears. (only smaller)
In many ways it sounds like these people 'encouraged' the raccoons so long that they took over. Now they see pets as competition so they will take them out if they can. I'm not even sure these coons can be safely moved without being a threat to where they get moved too. And coons are one of the top carriers of rabies, something I hope they are going to look into in that area.

I know I must sound like a coon hater, but I'm not. I just understand that they are a wild and potently dangerous creature even though they are cute and fun to watch.