Astoria has been besieged by raccoons. Some of our well-meaning neighbors feed them, and it has created a nightmare for most pet owners. I have lost a dear pet of 18 years (whom I hand-raised from a baby) to a raccoon attack. My dog was recently attacked in our yard and her leg split open – and she is a large dog. Quite often raccoons will just take advantage of pet food left outside; garbage not stored properly or even pet droppings left behind. It is our responsibility to make sure the attractive temptations are removed.

I spoke with animal control officersand have learned that raccoons are naturally aggressive. They are predators; they protect their area and are especially vicious when there are young nearby. We live very close to their natural home so we must be especially careful not to attract them to ours. They will attack anything. Let’s not wait until it is a child.

I have had to hire someone to trap raccoons for me. The number is now up to 18 caught, supposedly from my yard, but it’s my guess that I am taking care of the neighborhood. This has become prohibitively expensive. I received the bill for more than $1,000. I cannot continue to pay for this. Further, it is not my sole responsibility.

Raccoons are not successfully relocated. Because they are so dominant in their neighborhood, they become a loner in the wild when relocated, and are then attacked by others. Therefore, the people who knowingly feed them are actually creating a death sentence for them. If there is not food left around, they will go elsewhere to find it, hopefully, back in the forest where they belong.

I spoke with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in Tillamook to try to learn another way. There is not one. Also, they do not want raccoons relocated. They want them dead. City raccoons have become exposed to distemper and they do not want it introduced in the wild.

We really need a city ordinance to prohibit the feeding of the wild animals. Both Rockaway Beach and Garibaldi have such ordinances, and Fish and Wildlife report that the problem has ceased in those areas. The animals will have plenty to eat. We do not have to, and should not feed them.

Please stop feeding the raccoons. And, city council, consider passing such an ordinance. It will benefit the peaceful living in Astoria.

PATRICIA MORROW

Astoria