Deer Run residents don’t have heart to evict raccoons
Homeowners opt to coexist with mother, two babies in suburban yard
Last summer, Yaro Van Esch spotted a pair of raccoons spending time in the backyard of her house in Deer Run — a rare sight after going years without a glimpse of the animals in her neighbourhood.
But for the past few weeks, her property near Fish Creek Provincial Park has once again been visited by the creatures. This time, a mom and two baby raccoons have set up a makeshift home in her yard.
While she and her husband did trap one of the animals with a plan to move it back to the park, they ended up letting the raccoon go, and have since been coexisting with the nocturnal creatures.
“Momma and (the) baby, who was trapped, were out there making such a ruckus ... so we ended up letting him go,” Van Esch said.
“I’m like, how can you break up a family? If you let one of the little gaffers go in the park, he’s going to be coyote bait because they’re nocturnal too.”
Van Esch believes the raccoon babies are a few months old.
“They ’re still a little bit clumsy,” she said. “We have a pergola in the backyard, and they’re using it as a jungle gym.”
Van Esch suspects an apple tree next door is what keeps drawing the masked mammals back. They’ve also been tempted by the strawberries in her garden, but haven’t touched the greenhouse or raised garden bed, she said.
Other than trapping the raccoons and separating the family members, she’s unsure what else to do to keep the critters away.
According to Alberta Environment and Parks, raccoons have typically lived largely in Alberta’s southeast, but in recent years, the population has expanded to include central Alberta.
The creatures are omnivores that can adapt to any food source available, typically feeding on fruits, nuts, berries and insects. Raccoons are known to make their dens in places like culverts, attics, chimneys, tree hollows and barns.
Officials advise residents to remove food or shelter from their property that raccoons are seeking. Before closing a space that raccoons are using as a den, make sure none of the animals are still living inside. Tips also include keeping garbage in a garage or shed until it can be removed from the property, or buying a bear-resistant garbage can.
We have a pergola in the backyard, and they’re using it as a jungle gym.