All raccoons in North America
belong to the North American Raccoon
species, though there are more than
20 subspecies. Raccoons on Kiawah
fit within the Hilton Head Island
subspecies that lives in South Carolina
from the coastal area into parts of the
interior. They have a dense coat that
appears more solidly gray than that of
the Eastern Raccoon, which is found to
our north. Whatever their subspecies,
all raccoons are members of the genus
Procyon. This name derives from the
Greek and means “pre-dog,” referring to
the raccoon’s distant relation to canines.
Given their kinship with dogs, their
intelligence, and their undeniable
cuteness, some may think a raccoon
would make a good pet. That’s what
President Calvin Coolidge and his
wife, Grace, thought back in November
1926 when they received a live
raccoon intended to serve as part of
the presidential Thanksgiving dinner.
Instead of dining on the little creature,
the couple took a liking to her. They
named her Rebecca and kept her as
a pet, occasionally walking her on a
leash around the White House grounds.
However, things did not always go
smoothly as Rebecca, true to her wild
n ature, frequently escaped and was also
known to bite and scratch her doting
owners.
The reality is that raccoons should
not be pets. Today many states ban or
restrict keeping them. Not only can
these wild animals inflict injuries on
humans, but they may also harbor a
number of diseases including rabies,
distemper, roundworms, salmonella,
and leptospirosis. So while it’s fun
to watch the antics of our backyard
bandits, as with all wild animals, it’s best
to enjoy them from a distance. NK
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