Safety alert as raccoon goes on the loose

Two raccoons escaped from their enclosure on Friday night after their cage door was left open.

One of them was recaptured on Tuesday, but it left gamekeeper Tim Gibbs with severe bites to his finger as he tried to grab it in a tree. He was treated at Chippenham Hospital for his injuries.

Staff warned police as soon as they realised the raccoons had escaped because they are classified as dangerous animals. Countryside management lecturer Helen Woodgate, said: "You need a dangerous animal licence to hold raccoons and they can be quite aggressive.

"We had to inform the council when we found the cage empty to raise public awareness. This is the second time that the raccoons have escaped so they are getting pretty good at being fugitives.

"If anyone finds the raccoon please don't attempt to touch her or pick her up."

North Wiltshire District Council officers visited the site to inspect the cage and set up traps around the campus. Staff found small footprints leading out towards the edge of the campus.

They left food and set traps hoping to lure the animal back to the enclosure.

The pair escaped last summer when their cage was left open. They were out in the wild for three weeks before being recaptured.

The college also has resident meerkats, wallabies, primates and reptiles. It had to apply for a licence from the to keep the animals.

Andy Inkpen, of the council's environmental services department, which is responsible for dangerous animal licences, said: "The investigation is still very much underway and no decision has yet been made. If found guilty of not adhering to the rules of the act, the council has the power to revoke licences and even prosecute.

"After the racoons escaped last summer, a full review was undertaken and improvements were made to the secure the cages. If someone finds the racoon contact the police and under no circumstances attempt to capture it."

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