What should New Mexicans do if they come across a raccoon?
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – New Mexicans say they are seeing more raccoons inside and outside their homes, but before you try to trap them, you should ask yourself, what exactly do raccoons do for our ecosystem? "What don't they do! Raccoons are among many things, they are part of nature's cleanup crew," said Laura Siegel, Communications Specialist, New Mexico Wildlife Center. Raccoons play a beneficial role in the ecosystem by distributing plant seeds, eating mosquitoes, and removing dead animals from the environment.
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The NMWC said it is breeding season for raccoons, and it's important to understand what to do if someone comes face-to-face with one. The center said people should take preventative measures, like putting motion-detection lights in their yard, playing the radio, or even spraying vinegar around their home.
Whatever you do, do not pick up a raccoon with your bare hands or displace the adults from the babies. "A lot of the times, people will call a wildlife removal service, which we are not, but people will call services like that and say, 'Hey, there's a raccoon in my attic, can you please get her out?' So she's removed, there are babies left behind, and now those babies are orphans," said Siegler.
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