[Paddlewise] Racoons

>Date: Sat, 20 Nov 1999 18:36:41 -0500
>From: "Vivian Oliva" <snook_at_gate.net>
>Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] everglades>
>
>> -Keep your water out of reach of the racoons, they have few sources of fresh
>> water and will chew into water bottles.People have had to turn back because
>> the racoons stole their fresh water. We keep our water in our tents at night
>> or inside the kayak hatches.
>>
> Good advice by Bob on all points except for water storage in tent:
>
>Do not keep your water in tent even at night.  Some friends last winter had
>a racoon tear up their tent at Pavilion Key looking for the water jug they
>stored in their tent.  Safest place to store food or water is inside kayak
>hatches.

I don't know 'bout Everglades racoons, but in the Pacific Northwest we have seen
racoons claw through both a cockpit cover AND THE BULKHEAD to be able to get at
food stashed inside a kayak, so we hesitate to keep food in the kayaks.  Most
racoons are very smart, aggressive and difficult to intimidate.  In racoon
country, we always hang everything that could possibly be a temptation.  And
even hanging the food is no guarantee unless it's very well hung (the food, that
is), since the racoons are smart enough to gnaw at the ropes, if accessible.

Evan Dallas
Woodinville, WA


***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not
to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************