Billy Bob is a blonde raccoon. I bought him
September 2005. Billy Bob was already
weaned when I bought him. I bought him at an
auction. I don't know who the breeder was,
but, it was sad when I seen the condition of him and
his of carrier. It was not clean, there was no
water or food, and he was covered with his own
feces. After I bought him, I had to clean him and
the carrier before putting him and the carrier in
the car. Billy Bob was starving, I stopped at
a store to get him some food, and he gobbled it
down. It is sad, that there are breeders that
show lack of care. These type of people make
the good breeders and responsible exotic animal
owners look bad.
When Billy Bob arrived at his new home. I kept
in a very large dog cage. This was only so I can
introduce him to my foxes and Larry (my raccoon). In
his cage, he had a litter pan, food, water and cat
carrier. I also had a cover on less than
half the cage (This was to help him feel secure).
The picture shown to the right is him in a small
carrier, (which you will see in his photo gallery
also) that was the carrier I kept in his large
dog cage.
Billy Bob was neutered and had all his shots.
I can't remember how long it took for the foxes and
Larry to accept Billy Bob. I think when Billy Bob
was
almost half grown. They now all get along
great. However, when Billy Bob got a little
older, he became
shy. He stayed in his pen or room most of the
time. But, he is now overcoming his shyness
and will come out of his room more often.
Billy Bob has never shown any aggression. But, he
don't have the same personality as Larry does.
Billy Bob is not near as active as Larry is. (but,
his activity level seems to be changing to the good)
Billy Bob is a big boy. I don't know how much he
weighs, but, he is a lot bigger in size and weight
than Larry is.
The picture to the left is Billy Bob with Trixie
(now deceased)
Sometimes he would nap with her. Some raccoons
do get along
fine with cats. Trixie didn't mind him taking
a nap with her.
Billy Bob never showed any aggression at all toward
the cats.
He gets along with the foxes and the dogs. He
is not afraid of the dogs.
Sometimes his expressions looks intimidating, but, he is a good guy. He
loves hard candy as a treat and will gladly take
them out of my hand. He will let me pet him
and seems to enjoy it. He has never tried to
bite me. Billy Bob is a very calm raccoon. He
never got into any trouble. Most young raccoons will
open cupboards, refrigerator where Billy Bob never
did any of that. He was always very calm and
quiet and would play quietly.
In his room (which he shares with the foxes and
Larry) he has a very large cylinder that he seems to
enjoy. He spends a lot of time in there, mostly when
it is too hot outside or to cold outside. He has
blankets and toys in there. Sometimes Larry
will nap with him in the large cylinder.
I think Billy Bob feels secure in there. When he
naps outside, he has a tower where it is enclosed at
the top, he will nap up there also. Billy Bob
is more nocturnal than Larry is. Billy Bob
seems to prefer sleeping through the day, and up at
night. The picture to the right is Billy Bob
in his cylinder.
DO RACCOONS MAKE GOOD PETS?
Yes and No. In order to have a pet quality or
close to pet quality, it is a MUST to understand
their behavior prior to buying one. Raccoons
MUST have a lot of enrichment. They are NOT
like dogs or cats. If they get bored, they
will make a bad pet. If the owner don't
understand their behavior, they will make a bad pet.
If the owner lacks patience, they will make a bad
pet. If the raccoon don't have ample space,
they will make a bad pet. If the owner don't know
how to handle them, they will make a bad pet.
If the raccoon is not neutered or spayed, they will
make a bad pet.
If the raccoon don't have daily enrichment, they
will make a bad pet.
If you are looking for information on raccoons or
would like to ask questions, please join my message
board:
http://sybilsden.com/bb/ (scroll
down to "Little Critters")
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