Raccoon Goes on the Run
By Emma Knights
Raccoons are a common sight across North America but not what you would expect to see roaming around the Norfolk countryside.
But yesterday one of the cheeky little creatures was spotted going on a mini-adventure around Stoke Holy Cross.
The animal, dubbed Rocco the raccoon, first gave Mike Green, of Long Lane, a surprise when he saw Rocco on the roof of his garden shed at 7.30am.
“It was certainly an unusual sight. I was very, very surprised - at first I thought that it was a strange looking cat,” he said.
“Then it climbed down my plum tree and I realised it was a raccoon. I went out to take some photographs. He was quite tame and did not seem frightened at all.”
Rocco then left the Greens' home and carried on with his trip, ending up in the Nobbs' garden on the same street just before 8am.
Jason Nobbs said: “I was amazed to see the raccoon. I opened my back door and it just walked in. I let him in our back room and he just went and sat on my sofa!”
With Rocco safely enjoying a comfy sit down Mr Nobbs contacted the RSPCA which, along with Norfolk County Council's trading standards department, took Rocco away and reunited the raccoon with its owner.
While the owners, who live close to Stoke Holy Cross, did not want to be identified the EDP understand they were delighted to have their pet returned to them. It is thought Rocco had been missing for a couple of days.
Jackie Tooby, senior trading standards officer, said: “We are delighted that this quirky tale has a happy conclusion.
“We worked with the RSPCA to ensure the animal was safely handled, before tracing the owner via the animal's microchip and checking that they had proof of ownership.
“It was important to establish if it was recorded as being in the country, in order to rule out it having diseases, such as rabies.
“This was certainly one of our more unusual animal welfare pieces of work, but we are delighted the story has a happy ending.”
Sophie Wilkinson, the RSPCA's press officer for the east, said the charity had no recorded sightings of raccoons in the region and that there was no known established wild population in the country.
She said: “We are very happy the raccoon is back home safe and well. It shows how important it is for people to microchip their pets.”
She added that although raccoons are not native to the UK they are very adaptable and so if a pet raccoon escapes from its home in the UK it can survive by eating small mammals, fish, crustaceans, berries, fruit and nuts.
EDP 24: 22nd May 2008
