This is an incredible story. I see plenty of racoons that appear unafraid of people and cars, but didn't realize they can be aggressive. Did your dog get injured? Can someone with knowledge about racoons explain what happened here?

I witnessed the same thing happen 2 years ago on the College Terrace. A lady was walking her 2 dogs on California Ave. when a raccoon came out of the storm sewer and attacked her and her dogs. She was bitten on the leg and I don't know if she had to go through rabies treatments or not. Animal control and the police were out after the attack. In this case it was a mother with four young accompanying her so it was probably a case of maternal instincts.
We also had some aggressive raccoons and skunks on Wellesley St. a few years ago but that was due to people putting out food for the feral cats that the wild critters came for and became very territorial. You might look for large amounts of cat food or water being left out for ferals or peoples pets. That's what these animals are usually coming into our neighborhoods for.

The dog got a litthe scratch or bite at his front left leg and yesterday it was limping while walking througout the day. But what I want to bring up now is the fact that yesterday (Friday 07.29) I could not report the incident to the Animal Services of Palo Alto because they had the day off (each other Friday). Today (Saturday 07.29) I called and they didn't accept my complaint and take measures, the operator of the non emergency dispatch said to call a County of Santa Clara Office (800.675-1155) which handles animal nuissances like this one in the same category with rats and bird nuissances. And they have regular banker's hours M-F 9-5 so you are out of luck in weekend or after hours. This is your City of Palo Alto Gouvernement at work for you! People please take a stick with you or Mace when walking the dog in that area, nobody isn't going to do anythithing to stop this agresive racoons from atacking dogs, cats, who knows maybe children? I am bringing up a serious problem here but nobody cares from our authorities, until somethging more serious will happen.

I know of an even worse incident. Last year my brother walked from
a downtown restaurant to his car. And just when he took out his
car keys, two racoons came out of nowhere and attacked him.
They took his car keys and drove off withhis new Porsche.
I am sure that the racoons did not even have a drivers licence!

About 6 years ago at night my small dog barked at something small (turned out to be a young racoon) that ran across the sidewalk ahead of us. The mother racoon appeared on the other side and attacked my dog. Seemed to grab his face and try to bite his eye out. I hollered and started kicking at the racoon, which lead to her releasing the dog and chasing him across the street where she kept attacking him. I was learning how to kick with running shoes and not get bit, and I finally got her to back off. She appeared to be considering another round but I raised my shoulders and swelled myself and growled with determination. She backed off permanently.

I carried my traumatized dog home and saw a vet ASAP. A week or so of antibiotics fixed his scratched eyeball. I started carrying pepper spray and a long handled flashlight, and wearing steel toed boots on the dog walks. And I talked to my friends about the warrior-hunter spirit, and self-sacrificing for my little comrade, that I didn't know I had in my nature!

You should definitely call Vector Contol and have them check for raccoon activity in your neighborhood. I'm worried when I hear this, because raccoons can carry rabies of course, and other serious diseases like raccoon roundworm -- Can it affect their behavior? I don't even have a clue, Vector Control could tell you -- they should probably know about this incident, which is pretty scary.

Definitely ask Vector Control to check out whether there are raccoon "latrines" nearby, and express concern -- they take this sort of thing very seriously. Although rare, I'm told there have been some human deaths in our county from raccoon roundworm (children are the ones at risk if there is that kind of raccoon activity on a property).

Raccoons are not docile, they are very smart animals, and they can be dangerous. It's important to find out if the behavior is related to diseased animals.

There are racoons that live in the storm sewer on Melville and Waverley on the northwest corner. I have seen them come out as I walked my dog just a few feet away, but they just watched us pass by. Animal Control should try to deal with this situation before someone or their pet gets hurt.

People, don't we have larger issues in the world than aggressive racoons? If you are aware of this, I suggest you walk with a stick to protect your furry family member. don't rely on the city to protect you from nature, you need to take responsibilty for yourselves and your pets.

Coming soon to a theater near you!!!!

ATTACK of the KILLER RACOONS!

Thrills! Chills! Action!!

Maria, we're not living in nature. Palo Alto is, for better or worse, an urban area -- and rabies is not a laughing matter.

Currently I've got two raccoons hanging out in my backyard in broad daylight. Webster and Melville...maybe it's time to call Animal Control.

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