Watch What Happens When This Curious Raccoon Gets Too Close to an Electric Fence

If you ever wanted to know if electric fences are effective against raccoons, you will get your answer in this clip. It’s nighttime at the chicken coop and all is not well! Several sneaky raccoons are looking for a midnight snack. Even though the coop is entirely enclosed with a wooden structure and strong wire netting, the owner has had problems with raccoons in the past. They have cleverly installed an electric fence around the perimeter to keep their chickens safe.

One raccoon finds out just how effective this can be. Security lights flash on and off it rises onto its back legs. Then it moves just a little bit too close to the fence and ‘zap’ it gets a big shock. The last thing we see is the raccoon making a hasty retreat into the darkness. As the clip at the bottom of this page shows, the chickens are safe for tonight!

Where Do Raccoons Normally Live?

The scientific name for raccoon is Procyon lotor which roughly means ‘the washer’, after their habit of dipping food in the water before they eat it. They are distantly related to bears and are small to medium-sized mammals. They are one of the most common mammals that you will come across in North America and divide public opinion. Whilst some people see them as a nuisance others find them fascinating and intelligent. Their natural range is anywhere between southern Canada and Panama.

Residents of North America will be familiar with the common or northern raccoon but there are two other species. These are the South American raccoon and the Cozumel raccoon. There are also more than 20 recognized subspecies.

When it comes to habitat, these guys are like temperate and tropical environments. They are very adaptable and can be spotted in woodlands and grasslands. However, they have adjusted to living close to humans and are frequently spotted in suburban and even urban areas where they may be considered a nuisance.

What Do Raccoons Normally Eat?

The raccoons in this clip are interested in both the chickens and the eggs. On the whole, they have a plant-based diet and live off seeds, berries, and nuts. However, they also supplement this with fish, insects, eggs, and small birds if they can get hold of them. They are experts at snatching eggs from nests but clearly can’t get around an electric fence!

Watch the Shocking Clip Below!