Poll shows Toronto majority okay with euthanizing raccoons

Forum Research poll reveals that 53 per cent of Torontonians support population control when it comes to the masked foragers.

Aug. 29, 2014
thestar.com
By Samuel Greenfield

Raccoons now have more reason than ever to watch their furry backs: a Forum Research poll shows that a majority of Torontonians support euthanizing the nocturnal prowlers.

From a sample of 931 Toronto voters, 53 per cent support humanely euthanizing the critters as a means of population control and 27 per cent were against it. The remaining 19 per cent had no opinion.

The poll, conducted Aug. 25, is considered accurate plus or minus 3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.

“It’s not a good year to be a raccoon in Toronto, and these little second-storey operators should be grateful they have a friend in Mayor Ford, who has said he does not agree with euthanization,” said Lorne Bozinoff, president of Forum Research.

Last week at city hall, Ford told reporters that he has had standoffs with raccoons.

“I’ve seen it with the neighbours, and sometimes you open your blue bin or black bin, they jump out -honestly, it scares you when it’s pitch black,” said Ford.

But Ford also said he did not support euthanizing raccoons unless they were attacking people or being too aggressive.

And if raccoons could vote in this year’s municipal election, they might be dismayed to learn that John Tory backers were among the most supportive of population control, with 61 per cent okay with liquidating the masked foragers.

Voters who had planned on supporting Karen Stintz (Open Karen Stintz’s policard) were equally as likely to support a cull, while Ford supporters came in at 53 per cent.

Those most likely to support it included those older than 55 (59 per cent), men (60 per cent), those living in North York (57 per cent) and those voting for the PCs provincially (62 per cent). By contrast, only 36 per cent of New Democrats supported a cull.

The City of Toronto website offers tips and facts on raccoons.

“Raccoons have amazing dexterity and use their front paws to pry things open, turn knobs and handle objects,” says the webpage.

“Provide food and the animals will prosper,” said Harold Slater, a manager at Menagerie Pet Shop in Cabbagetown. He disagrees with euthanizing raccoons and said the problem lies with the people providing the raccoons with food sources.

“If there’s food available, then they’re going to reproduce. If there’s no food available, there’re not going to reproduce,” said Slater, who is more concerned about crossing paths with a skunk than a raccoon.