Capitol Hill residents are distressed this week after news that three local raccoons are to be trapped and euthanized by animal control.

The issue started on January 26, when Homer Park resident Teddy Rozz posted, "I just found out a group of raccoons (3 of them) will be trapped and removed from our neighborhood next week. The neighbor that called the removal service let me know that they will be euthanized. I am really sad about this."

Concerned neighbors flooded to the comments of Rozz's post, hoping to get more answers and offer better solutions to the raccoon problem. Some suggested calling PAWS animal rescue, a rehabilitation and relocation program that does not euthanize innocent wildlife. Others suggested Rozz trap the raccoons and release them himself before animal control gets to them.

Unfortunately, Rozz, or any other concerned raccoon lover, cannot legally trap and relocate a neighborhood raccoon on their own without a permit. According to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's regional office, a hunting and trapping license is required for all civilians hoping to trap raccoons during an open hunting season. An additional license is required for anyone to trap a raccoon and relocate it off the property where it was originally found. (However, the Department of Fish and Wildlife specifies that a property owner, their immediate family, employee, or tenant is allowed to trap or kill a raccoon if there is evidence they are causing property damage or pose a threat to anyone on the property.)

However, Rozz says the raccoons are not living on the neighbor's property, as they wander throughout the neighborhood.

According to Rozz, the animal control organization his neighbor contacted refuses to relocate raccoons because they have not acquired this second permit.

"They all talk about humane capture, but they never talk about what happens after. Why can't they obtain the permits to relocate?" Rozz asked.

The great raccoon controversy raised a sharp debate among Capitol Hill residents about whether or not the animals are helpful neighbors or dangerous nuisances. "It's my understanding raccoons help keep the rat populations in check," said Leschi resident Nancy Sharma. "It's a food source for them."

"There are often parasitic roundworms in their poo," fellow Leschi resident Linda McBlane replied.

"This is a ridiculous and heartless policy. There must be a process for relocating 'nuisance' raccoons to some forested area rather than kill them as the only course of action to take?! That's inhumane and makes no sense there isn't a legal alternative," said Capitol Hill resident Levi Johnson.

What to do when wildlife invades
WDFW policies against raccoon relocation exist because the animals do not "relocate well" and may carry diseases that could spread to other raccoon populations.

While the WDFW declined to comment on any raccoon-related issues over the phone, they directed me to their website, which warns against releasing animals outside their original habitat since those have higher mortality rates. They also warn that distant relocation can lead animals to harm or be harmed by those in their new habitat.

The best way to prevent raccoons from roosting near your home is to avoid feeding them. Even those who enjoy wildlife may be doing a disservice to raccoons if they provide food for them. This creates a false sense of trust between the raccoons and people and may lead them to wander further into city areas, where they face many dangers.

Before trapping a "nuisance" animal, the WDFW suggests attempting several alternatives, including removing vegetation on buildings (which raccoons can climb), installing a barrier, or applying a scare tactic.

Raccoons can also be deterred by keeping lids on garbage cans secured. They are notorious dumpster divers and will remain where they can get easy access to food. For those with pets, experts recommend feeding them indoors and making sure any access points are locked after dark to prevent raccoons from entering homes.

Because trapping can cause harm to both the animal and the trapper, it should be considered a last resort. "It is rarely a permanent solution if other animals are in the area, and food and shelter remain available to them," the WDFW says.

The department also warns never to trap an animal caring for dependent offspring. It urges all those considering trapping wildlife to check for young, even if it is outside the species' usual birthing season.

The WDFW also warns never to trap an animal during poor weather events, such as a cold snap, as the experience of being trapped causes the animal to panic and expend large amounts of energy that are necessary for winter survival. Most animals trapped and released in the winter months do not retain the necessary energy to survive.

The WDFW also warns against attempting to care for abandoned baby animals. While orphaned wildlife will likely not survive without a mother, it is dangerous and illegal to care for them without the proper permit. The department suggests contacting a local wildlife rehabilitation center if you or someone you know has found an injured or orphaned animal.

While the WDFW condones euthanasia for "nuisance" animals once trapped, it also explains that this is the last resort, and animals often specified as problems are usually innocent. "When a conflict exists between humans and animals, it is usually because the animal is only doing what it needs to do to survive. It is simply following its instincts, and intends no harm or discomfort," the WDFW says.

It also notes that as long as raccoons are kept out of people's homes, not cornered, and not treated as pets, they are not dangerous. Raccoons are also not considered pack animals, so a group of three traveling together is likely a mother and large kits. The trapping and euthanasia of such would not be legal under WDFW restrictions.

Regardless of differing opinions on the furry food bandits, experts from the WDFW want all Washington residents to remember that raccoons are wildlife, and that any encounters are likely due to a loss of their habitat. With minor lifestyle changes, humans and raccoons can safely and happily coexist, even on Capitol Hill.