A woman in Washington State was shocked to find her home encircled by roughly 100 raccoons—and the determined critters aren’t showing any signs of leaving. While most people might tolerate houseguests within reason, even the most generous hosts have their limits. This woman, who has fed raccoons for over 30 years, now faces an overwhelming response from the growing raccoon population in her area, which has swarmed her property.
Reports from KUSA in Denver and Seattle’s KING 5 note that the raccoons seem to have spread the word among themselves, with hungry visitors arriving day and night, expecting a meal. At one point, their numbers were so great that they even blocked her from entering her own home.
Law enforcement and local wildlife officials were astonished. A spokesperson from the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office expressed surprise, stating, “Nobody ever remembers being surrounded by a swarm of raccoons. This was a first.”
Now, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife is looking into solutions to help ease the woman’s situation, which has certainly left her and local officials bewildered.