Dogs and drones search for escaped raccoons

UK

Tracker dogs and drones are scouring the Isle of Wight for four escaped female raccoons.

The animals broke free of their compound overnight and haven’t been at Amazon World Zoo Park for very long.

Locals are being asked to keep an eye out, but the zoo said the raccoons are “not normally aggressive”.

“Everyone is out searching and we have tracker dogs and drones looking for them,” said supervisor Rowena Welsh.

“They are not dangerous and the protocol is for people to call us straight away and don’t try to approach because they would be very frightened.

“They are not dangerous and they would be more frightened of us than we would be of them.”

Posting on Facebook, the zoo said the raccoons “are not normally aggressive but will be scared”.

More on Animals

“If you live locally please check sheds, bonfire piles, they sleep during the day and become active at dusk,” it added.

Read more from Sky News:
Man’s squirrel seized in New York raid

Planned Tube strikes suspended

Follow Sky News on WhatsApp

Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News

Tap here

Raccoons are nocturnal animals and the most recognisable one, the North American raccoon, can grow up to 90cm long with large males sometime weighing over 20kg (three stone).

They are recognisable by their black “mask” and black-banded tail.

Amazon World Zoo Park, near Arreton on the east of the island, describes itself as having the largest collection of exotic animals on the Isle of Wight.

Articles You May Like

Germany set NL record with 7-0 rout of Bosnia
Tesla (TSLA) soars on Trump making easier path for Tesla’s non-existent self-driving tech
Italy tops Swiatek’s Poland to reach BJK final
Trump can seek dismissal of hush money case as sentencing postponed
Ukraine fires UK-supplied missiles at targets inside Russia