Everyone knows what raccoon looks like and what color they are, right?

This Wisconsin raccoon is different, looks to be blonde says Randy, the fellow who caught him raiding his chicken coop.

According to Scott Craven Professor of Wildlife  at University of Wisconsin wild raccoons colors can “vary from buff brown, black, yellow or orange variations can occur.”

Advanced Wildlife Control in Southeastern Wisconsin report they have caught and released 100 yellow phase raccoons.

The raccoon population in West Central Wisconsin seems to be significantly reduced this year.  During the spring I found dozens of dead raccoons lying about woods probably due to them getting distemper which is fatal to raccoons.  There are many accounts of raccoon populations dying off due to this.  Raccoons can pass on canine distemper to dogs including coyotes and fox.  My sightings of these during the summer months are sharply down.

Back to our blonde, in case you are wondering what happened to the yellow chicken coop raider;  he was released in an undisclosed location and hopefully he will not find his way back to the coop.