Racoons at SVR... but where are the cats?

[booklvr]

We're at SVR right now. This is our 4th stay and we love it here! Quick question; have you noticed racoons on the property? We've seen a couple of them. They aren't a problem or anything but we hadn't seen any in previous visits so wondered if it has to do with weather... we don't have much experience with Racoons!

Also, I haven't seen a single cat all week. We used to see several black cats that had a colony near the pool. No cats this year. Does anyone know what happened with them? There was a really friendly one... hoped to see him again.

 

[pedro47]

Cats sometime help to keep them rodents.

 

[Sea Six]

Reminds me of the night my wife and I were walking from the Contemporary to the Magic Kingdom and a rat ran across the sidewalk in front of us. I said to my wife "That was the real Mickey Mouse!".

 

[vacationhopeful]

A wild population of either of those animals could be a source of rabies ... there may have been an issue or it was a precaution to limit guest exposure.

One of the trailer parks (manufactured homes) in my area, regularly invites the local Animal Control people in to "catch and release" their wild cat population. When captured, they are test for a slew of diseases ... rabies, luekimia, cat fever, some tick fever thing, etc. If disease free, they are neutered and returned with a "clip" ear to their home turf. If a very young kitten or overpopulated, they are put up for adoption.

One of my friends, just loved the crap out of a particularly small WILD kitten ... tea cup size miniature one. He has been waiting for her to become old enough to be tested and neutered ... hoping a hawk or eagle doesn't eat her first. He has built her a hut with electric pad heating ... for her to make it thru the winter. And he has been feeding her .. only when she is near as the other and bigger cats in the area do not need her food.

 

[silentg]

Years ago we were passing the journey to Imagination as the Epcot park was closing and we saw a little cat( or so we thought) a cast member went to catch it and it turned and growled at her, she stepped back said that's not a cat its a wild animal! Turned out to be a bobcat cub. Very bold to be walking among the guests. Disney animal control took it into a wooded area where it belonged.

 

[Weimaraner]

We were at Lakeshore Reserve and noticed live traps. Didn't know what they were for until we went to the pool at night. It was like a Possum Pool Party!

 

[Rascalsmom]

Raccoons are cat-eaters.