Would YOU make room for a raccoon? They tear down Christmas trees, steal car keys, rip off wallpaper and are VERY messy eaters. But these besotted owners insist they make loveable pets

Tipping his spaghetti supper out of his bowl and smearing the strands throughout the desk earlier than making an attempt to stuff them into his mouth, it is truthful to say Cody's desk manners go away room for enchancment.

However together with his button-black eyes and inquisitive little face even the toughest coronary heart could not fail to soften at Cody's antics, whether or not it is making a multitude of consuming dinner or enjoying disguise and search below a blanket with 'mum'. It is no shock Cody's quick turning into an web hit with a rising following on Fb.

As a 13-month-old raccoon, nevertheless, that is one burgeoning social media star who's unlikely to be spoilt by fame.

With facial markings that make them appear like miniature robbers carrying masks — therefore their nickname 'bandits' — and tendencies that imply they're as playfully mischievous as toddlers, raccoons are amongst nature's most interesting creatures.

Playing around: Raccoon tough and tumble is commonplace at Ian Middleton's home. He and his associate Carole Rose, haven't one, however 5 of the animals. Right here he's pictured with Rascal

Taking the lead: Rosemary Bean, who has two raccoons, takes Rhara for a stroll by means of the streets of Cardiff (pictured) close to her dwelling. However new EU laws may quickly make this unlawful for brand new raccoon homeowners

They have been immortalised within the standard Eighties cartoon The Raccoons whereas, extra not too long ago, many youngsters and their mother and father have been charmed by crafty and duplicitous raccoon RJ, the cartoon star of movie Over The Hedge.

However current pictures of a lady strolling her raccoon on a lead by means of a metropolis centre highlighted the truth that, for some individuals, these bright-eyed animals have develop into beloved household pets.

'Cody's my finest buddy and I really like him to items,' says his proprietor Kasey Valentine, 24, from Stevenage, Herts, who's finding out for a politics diploma. 'It is like having an especially hyper toddler at occasions, however it retains me on my toes.'

She adopted Cody after recognizing him on labeled web site Gumtree whereas searching for a brand new automotive. 'I noticed a publish for somebody attempting to rehome a raccoon he had acquired as a pet however was unable to take care of. I do not know why however one thing simply clicked and three hours later, he was dropped off at my entrance door and Cody had come to reside with me.'

She says she by no means anticipated Cody to be so standard on-line, and solely arrange a Fb web page for him as a result of she did not wish to bore her buddies. Nonetheless, Cody now will get feedback from individuals throughout the globe.

Nonetheless, she admits that raccoons reside as much as their harmful reputations, with the animals helped of their mischief-making by their extremely dextrous entrance paws, which might unscrew jars or open door and window latches.

handful: Ian Middleton and associate Carole Rose have 5 of the animals. Ian, 59, who runs a birds of prey rescue centre in Warrington, began off two years in the past with a female and male pair however unbeknownst to him, the feminine was pregnant

Household buddies: Ian and Carole's daughter Vicki Barton with rascal at six months previous (left) and granddaughter Ella with Rascal aged simply ten weeks (proper)

Kasey says Cody has brought about '1000's of kilos' of harm by shredding wallpaper and knocking over treasured objects, together with collectible figurines and different collectibles.

'Cody enjoys peeling off wallpaper together with his mouth and claws. He by no means will get left on his personal,' Kasey admits. 'He can undo door latches and open home windows, so everybody has to maintain a detailed eye on him to ensure he would not trigger any mischief.'

He can undo door latches and open home windows, so everybody has to maintain a detailed eye on him 

He lives in a specifically constructed enclosure — which has ropes, tunnels and slides — that value 1000's of kilos to construct within the backyard of the home she shares along with her mother and father Garry, 51, a courier, and Jan, 56, in addition to her boyfriend Joey Fekete, 23, a retail supervisor.

Cody's favorite meals are at the moment broccoli, sweetcorn, spinach and canine biscuits, and she or he often spoils him with toys — his favorite is a fluffy blanket that he likes to wrestle with.

They're going to typically snuggle up on the couch within the night to observe TV collectively and whereas he not sleeps in her mattress — as a sleeping companion he proved a little bit too boisterous — Cody is available in each morning for a cuddle.

Regardless of the challenges of maintaining Cody on the straight and slender, Kasey has no regrets.

She suffers from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a dysfunction of the connective tissue, and myalgic encephalomyelitis, ME, which causes persistent exhaustion, and she or he says Cody has given her a brand new focus: 'Getting Cody is the most effective factor I've ever achieved. I can not think about life with out him now.'

Enjoyable: Rascal sits on the again of the couch in what's a uncommon second of rest for each the pet and the homeowners because the animals are well-known to be fairly boisterous

Household: Ian and Carole initially had a mating pair, feminine Mischief and male Bandit, who now reside in an enclosure at his rescue centre. Triplets Rascal, Chaser (pictured with Vicki) and Chaos reside of their dwelling 

Rosemary Bean understands precisely what she means. She's the 68-year-old retired hairdresser who brought about a sensation when she took her domesticated raccoon Rhara for a stroll by means of the streets of Cardiff final week. In addition to eight-month-old Rhara, she additionally has a four-year-old raccoon referred to as Raccy.

'I feel they're fantastic as pets and a pleasure to have round', says Rosemary, a mother-of-three and grandmother who lives in Rumney, on the outskirts of the town.

They've already torn down my Christmas tree as soon as. But it surely would not cease me loving them to bits 

'I acquired my first raccoon, Raccy, 4 years in the past after I noticed a publish on-line for him to be rehomed. Earlier this yr I acquired Rhara as a buddy for him however they do not get on so Rhara lives within the conservatory and Raccy in a big enclosure within the again backyard.

'They're very affectionate with me. Within the evenings, Rhara likes to return within the entrance room with me and bury her head in my arms. She purrs whereas I watch TV and generally she'll go to sleep.'

Nonetheless, Rosemary admits her adopted infants could be a handful.

'I've to be very cautious as a result of raccoons are playful and so they get in every single place. They've already torn down my Christmas tree as soon as. But it surely would not cease me loving them to bits.'

One other complication is that new EU laws got here into power this yr which have made it unlawful to launch raccoons, which at the moment are classed as an invasive species, into the wild or to purchase or breed them for pets. Taking them for a stroll is barred due to the danger of escape. Breaching the laws is punishable below the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. 

Joyful dwelling: The triplets reside in an enclosure each inside and within the backyard of the indifferent home Ian shares with associate Carole, 51 and their 4 youngsters

Hair-brained scheme: The full of life raccoons climb throughout Carole as Vicki, 33, performs with Rascal and Chaser within the lounge

But there are nonetheless believed to be a whole lot of raccoon homeowners in Britain — it isn't unlawful in case you already personal one — although it is a quantity that is anticipated to dwindle now.

Carrying a purple woolly jumper embellished with raccoon paw prints, Rosemary, who feeds her quirky companions a food regimen of frozen hen and greens, insists she is not nervous concerning the new EU regulation — and that, regardless of the dangerous behaviour, they make nice household companions.

'Some individuals may be fairly shocked, just like the gasoline or electrical energy males after they come to learn the meter.

'However I've three grandchildren and I haven't got any issues about them being round my animals. They're very sociable and prefer to be stroked. Raccoons may be mischievous however they're mild and good enjoyable. They're straightforward to litter prepare, too.' 

Backing raccoons: Carrying a purple woolly jumper embellished with raccoon paw prints, Rosemary, who feeds her quirky companions a food regimen of frozen hen and greens, says that, regardless of the dangerous behaviour, they make nice household pets

Undercover: 4-year-old male Racca makes himself scarce at Rosemary's home close to Cardiff, the place she additionally retains skunks

Whereas Kasey and Rosemary insist raccoons are a delight to reside with, animal charities warn in opposition to them as pets. Nicola White, senior scientific officer on the RSPCA, says raccoons, which value round £500 to purchase on-line, have grown in reputation as pets largely due to how cute they're as infants, however as a result of they're at coronary heart wild animals it may be tough to fulfill their wants in a standard family.

'Raccoons in captivity want an excessive amount of area, may be fairly harmful to houses and may be carriers of ailments that may infect people. We strongly discourage anybody from maintaining them as a pet,' she says.

They've rope swings, climbing tyres and a shower, as they love water 

Historically, raccoons reside in wooded areas however are extremely adaptable and may journey so far as 18 miles seeking meals, develop as much as 60lb and reside for 20 years.

Native to North America, the nocturnal, bushy-tailed, black-masked creatures have been launched into the wild in Europe by Nazi chief Hermann Goering for sport, however they unfold rapidly and there at the moment are estimated to be multiple million throughout Germany, with their numbers on the rise throughout the Continent.

Consequently, the animal has been added to a listing of invasive alien species in a bid to guard native wildlife, together with birds (they're keen on raiding nests) and amphibians akin to frogs and toads. In addition they carry ailments, akin to rabies and canine distemper, which might kill canine.

Raccoon tough and tumble is commonplace at Ian Middleton's home. He and his associate Carole Rose, haven't one, however 5 of the animals.

Standing proud: Ian proudly calls himself a raccoon proprietor, however he mentioned taking care of them is 'like having infants once more' as they're nocturnal and maintain you up all night time

Ian, 59, who runs a birds of prey rescue centre in Warrington, began off two years in the past with a female and male pair that wanted rehoming however unbeknownst to him, the feminine was pregnant. She had a litter of seven kits [baby raccoons] however 4 did not survive. Nonetheless, he discovered himself taking up what should be among the many nation's naughtiest triplets.

He says: 'I heard of somebody who was going to separate up a pair of raccoons that have been mates and had bonded and I assumed this was merciless so I took them each. Then we found the feminine was pregnant.'

Folks purchase them as a result of they're cute after they're infants however they do not realise it is a full-time job 

The unique pair, a male referred to as Bandit and a feminine referred to as Mischief reside in an enclosure at Ian's rescue centre whereas their three offspring — Rascal, Chaos and Chaser — reside in an enclosure each inside and within the backyard of the indifferent home he shares with associate Carole, 51 and their 4 youngsters. Dad and mom and youngsters must be saved aside to cease them preventing.

He, too, has spent 1000's of kilos on constructing an journey playground, full with rope swings and tyres to play on, that would depart most kids envious.

Ian says: 'I've by no means taken them for a stroll as I fear about them selecting up a illness, however they've a very good life right here. They've rope swings, climbing tyres and a shower, as they love water. Water is essential to raccoons as they like to scrub their faces.'

In addition to letting them take pleasure in splashy baths in the home, Ian explains they're additionally primarily nocturnal 'so that they'll maintain you awake all night time. It is like having infants once more.' 

Useful: Not like human infants, the raccoons are very intelligent with their arms from an early age. 'They can open locks and have been recognized to throw glasses out of the cabinets,' Ian says

The household have child gates to cease them roaming into rooms the place they'll trigger havoc.

Not like human infants, the raccoons are very intelligent with their arms from an early age.

'They can open locks and have been recognized to throw glasses out of the cabinets,' he says. 'They're going to additionally steal something they'll get their arms on, together with our automotive keys generally.'

For these causes Ian does warn in opposition to having a raccoon as a pet. 'Folks purchase them as a result of they're cute after they're infants however they do not realise it is a full-time job while you get wild animals,' he says.

'The cleansing, feeding and interplay is full on. I've deterred individuals from getting them as pets as I discover them onerous work — and I take care of animals for a residing. 'I feel the regulation change is an efficient factor to forestall individuals getting them after which abandoning them after they realise how a lot work a raccoon, or any wild animal, is for a pet.'

Regardless of the challenges, Ian, who's within the strategy of attempting to relocate his unique menagerie to greater premises, says he has no regrets. 'They seem to be a handful however I do love them, they're actual characters.'

No surprise these bandits steal so many hearts.

 

Tweet