I'm sorry but it is just wrong, wrong, WRONG to ever feed a wild animal!! It prevents them from foraging for food as nature intended, gets them accustomed to food they probably shouldn't be eating and it removes any proper sense of fear they should have about interacting with humans. While I do not necessarily condone the approaches that many previous responders have reported in their contacts with raccoons, it is practices like this (feeding) that help to create the problems with wild animals that results in these sort of unfortunate interactions. If your father is truly a vet, he should have told you this and trained you better!! Also rabies with raccoons is extremely common - they together with skunks, foxes and bats are considered 'rabies vector species', meaning they are a leading carrier of this disease among wild animals. If you see any of these species acting abnormal - like the nocturnal 'coons out and about during daylight hours, having difficulty walking or wandering in circles, then it is a pretty safe bet that animal IS sick and rabies (as well as distemper) is a likely cause. You are encouraged to call Animal Control or Fish and Wildlife or whoever in you area is responsible for addressing these issues. And how you can say the previous posters reporting their personal, unusual or scary interactions with raccoons as merely "urban legends" is beyond me. I live in a heavily wooded area and raccoons abound. Because of folks like you who feed them out of some erroneous sense of need or misplaced goodwill, they are not at all fearful of humans and will approach thinking you are a source for a tasty handout. Even in very urban environments raccoons are nearly omnipresent - they just tend to be less visible because of all the activity and vehicle traffic and more places to hide. My first up close and personal encounter with a raccoon was living in a densely populated city. One summer evening I went out to turn off my sprinklers and came face to face with a large male raccoon in my garden - no more than 10' away. We both stood stock-still for a moment and then with a low growl, he started moving in my direction and I beat a hasty retreat indoors until I saw him clamber up over my fence and move on across the street.

I went with a Bayer rose and flower spray that specifically said it killed japanese beetles, and was chosen only because it was being given away by my late neighbor's son while cleaning out her house. I only sprayed it on the plants that they went after because I felt bad about using sprays at all. I usually make do with the soapy water but the infestation was just too severe. I'd go out four times a day and still find tons each time I went back. And even though I had very few escape as I tried to dunk 'em, it was still insane. You can't use it on vegetables or other edible plants. I just directly sprayed the affected roses, hibiscus, hardy hibiscus, kiss-me-over-the-garden-gate and one variety of perennial geranium in my yard. I chose to not spray the ivy geranium basket, as the flowers paralyze or kill them anyway. I've noticed no more than two or three total on all my plants combined now each day (I sometimes don't bother to remove them if I don't have time now), and it seems confined to just the rose blooms (which of course weren't anywhere near open when I sprayed). It's supposed to be systemic and not wash off (ha ha like we get rain anymore). I don't usually recommend spraying because sprays kill good bugs and bad bugs, but I have never seen anything like this (OK, the carpenter ant infestation we found when we moved into our house was pretty bad too but that's a whole other story...) and was concerned they would munch the plants enough to kill them. Here is a link that might be useful: Stuff I used on the plants

Please do get that spooker up quickly. A male HOSP will not give up. I fear he will be back with a new mate. Could you put up a second, cheap box to use for trapping him with a Van Ert? You can just stick it on anything, even a Shepard's hook. Just remember to take it down or close it off once you've gotten him so no native bird will try to nest in there.

Busy, busy days so I couldn't get here for an update - better late than never, right? What a difference 24 hours can make. For starters, Ross seems to have gotten a much better night's sleep (no racing thoughts) and that alone will start a day with a better perspective. He texted me first thing Friday to say that he's put a lot of things together in his mind and has a better understanding of why he 'crashed' and feels more in control, at least in the context of the program he's in. Two days ago he wanted to bail but last night he felt empowered to stay, glean what he can, and let go of feeling inadequate for the program - most of the students are feeling the same way. We've spoken a few times since but between his 18 hour days and the time difference, we don't have a chance to get into long conversations. He sounds so much better, though and I can breathe a bit again. He's coming home the day after the program ends, will have a week here with us and his cousins/my nieces and their kids. It's an interesting dynamic because there's a 1/2 step generation difference - my nieces are like my little sisters and his older sisters at the same time. I've been speaking with my middle niece who has dealt with anxiety issues and she will be great council for Ross. He has really isolated himself at college by choosing the location he did and much as he loves the place, the mountains, the snowboarding, it seems he is feeling the distance as he comes to the end of his college years. And I really think the state of the world, economy and job market are weighing heavily on him. It's damn scary to think about having to launch yourself at this time - I feel so sorry for all of our kids! But coming home will let him see what a large and varied support system he has - just wish his brother could be here also. We'll be doing some research to find a good medical fit for him at school. He has a horrendous fall schedule between classes, labs and research so I know going in he's going resist carving out time for regular sessions if that's needed. With his background, he's been 'therapied' up one side and down the other but maybe he's ready to approach it from the standpoint of an adult in control of the choices as opposed to a child being directed by mom and dad. I appreciate every perspective given here and don't want anyone to think their words were misplaced. In my mind, any information is good information and it's always in my power to sift through and use what fits. Or not. I think the internet can be a great place for advice but it's only a first step, nothing more - no expectations for instant cures. Chickadee I don't know the program you're referring to but there are no guarantees with this one so doesn't seem to be the same. Again, way too long! Thank you all for your comments and support. When I know more, you'll know more.