Raccoons gone wild

last updated 8 January 2015

Olympia, Wash.

A pack of ferocious raccoons has been terrorizing a neighborhood in Olympia. Raccoons have long been a fixture around homes near the Garfield Nature Trail, but in recent weeks, some especially aggressive animals have killed 10 cats, bitten a resident, and tried to carry off a small dog, which managed to escape. “It’s a new breed,” said resident Kari Hall. “They’re urban raccoons, and they’re not afraid.” Some locals now carry pepper spray or a club when they take out their garbage at night. A local trapper, Tom Brown, has tried to catch some of the animals, but they have learned how to avoid his traps. “They are in command up there,” Brown said.