RACCOONS: We heard from Dollie Wilber of Smethport about our column the other day mentioning the midnight bandits.
“I was coming home from the BCPAC show Tuesday night, going down West Corydon towards South Avenue when I saw something crossing the street. I slammed on my brakes (good thing no one was following) — there were at least six little racoons crossing, heading for the high side. I had to wait for all of them to cross. Just had to let you know they are in the city.”
Raccoons can be cute, but aren’t exactly cuddly. In the wild, the animals are common carriers of rabies and other serious diseases that can be passed to people or pets.
While some breeders will sell baby raccoons, they aren’t great pets. They are very clever and mischievous creatures, and if left unsupervised, can quickly destroy a home and its furnishings. Adults raccoons can be unpredictable around people and pets, too. And they like to bite.
It is illegal in many states to keep a raccoon as a pet, and it is illegal to remove any animal from the wild and keep it as a pet.
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NOTE: An Era reader dropped us a note about volunteering. Sure it’s a great idea, but how does someone know where to volunteer?
“Recently I acquired a copy of the ‘Tri-State Senior News’ for July 2019 and noticed it included an interesting feature — a list of 32 volunteer opportunities with various organizations. I’ve often thought Bradford or any community should establish a book, perhaps located in City Hall, of local organizations looking for volunteer assistance. There are probably individuals desiring to assist, but just don’t know what/where/who to contact about such. As for who would maintain such a book, how about a volunteer? As the business axiom goes, ‘advertising doesn’t cost — it pays,’ or the slogan about volunteerism, ‘volunteering is great, if you just knew where.’”
Just a few opportunities we know of off hand: Bradford Area Public Library, Friendship Table, BRMC, Bradford Ecumenical Home, YMCA, Special Olympics, Red Cross and Bradford Landmark Society.
