A woman was forced to flee her home after 50 to 100 raccoons surrounded it and demanded food – hounding her day and night.
She told officials in Poulsbo, in the US state of Washington, she started feeding a family of raccoons decades ago.
That seemed harmless until the number showing up at her property rose from a handful to dozens – with some scratching at her front door and at her car.
Some of those who turned up were aggressive, said Kevin McCarty, a spokesperson for Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office.
Footage from the sheriff’s office showed between 50 to around 100 raccoons milling around trees outside the woman’s home.
“She said those raccoons were becoming increasingly more aggressive, demanding food, that they would hound her day and night – scratching at the outside of her home, at the door,” said Mr McCarty.
“If she pulled up her car, they would surround the car, scratch at the car, surround her if she went from her front door to her car or went outside at all.
“They saw this as a food source now, so they kept coming back to it and they kept expecting food.”
He added: “This is a nuisance problem, kind of her own making, that she has to deal with.”
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It is illegal to feed large carnivores, such as bears or cougars – but while some areas may have local statutes forbidding the feeding of other wildlife, it is not against state law to do so, said Bridget Mire, a spokesperson for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.
However, the agency does discourage people from feeding wildlife, she said. Raccoons can carry diseases, and food can also attract predators such as coyotes and bears.
“The raccoons appear to have started dispersing now that they are no longer being fed, and we are glad for a positive outcome to this case,” she added.