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Friends of the Environment Abaco, Bahamas | ||||||
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Raccoon Eradication Program | ||
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Abaco has experienced a rapid growth in its raccoon population over the past five (5) years. Raccoons have been sighted frequently in North Abaco, especially in the vicinity of Blackwood and Cooper’s Town with increasing sightings in Central and South Abaco. Raccoons are NON-NATIVE animals to this area. They are excellent climbers and strong swimmers, though they venture into deep water only as an escape route from trouble. They prefer to live in forested area with nearby water. Being mostly nocturnal, raccoons have a strong sense of hearing and acuity of sight. They occasionally venture out during the day if they are hungry. While some people believe that those seen out during the daytime are rabid, this is a myth, but it may be an indication that there is a food competition due tot he population growth. | ||||||||
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Despite the fact that raccoons have devoured farms, they are primarily meat eaters; they have been attacking chickens and killing many of the local population. Several raccoons have been trapped, with the largest weighing in at twenty (20) pounds. The Ministry of Agriculture has occasionally sent caught raccoons to the CDC to be tested for rabies, fortunately they are free of the disease. | |||||||||||
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Raccoons also have a highly developed sense of touch. This characteristic enables them to open doors, over turn and raid trash cans, find their way into attics and under houses. There have even been incidents of raccoons frequenting the luncheon area of S.C. Bootle High School in Cooper's Town | |||||||||||
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In addition to the health hazard posed by raccoons and the agricultural losses, FRIENDS’ concern is that the raccoons pose a serious threat to Abaco’s already endangered Bahama Parrot population. The Abaco species nests in the ground and would be easy prey for the raccoons. The local Department of Agriculture and FRIENDS are working with various foreign agencies to develop a plan for getting and keeping the raccoon population under control. | |||||||||||
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