The Bylaw Services Department reminds residents that it is illegal to keep raccoons as pets

Bylaw Services is reminding residents that it is illegal to keep raccoons as pets after discovering a raccoon had been living in an Ottawa apartment its entire life.

According to Ottawa Bylaw and Regulatory Services, the Bylaw Enforcement Unit responded to a report on July 6 of a raccoon being kept indoors in an apartment, in violation of the Animal Care and Control Bylaw.

“After investigation, our officers removed the raccoon from the unit and turned it over to the Ottawa Humane Society,” Bylaw Services said on X.

“The raccoon was comfortable with human interaction and indicated to officers that he had likely been domesticated his entire life.”

The raccoon was taken to Holly’s Haven Wildlife Rescue, where the raccoon, now named Diesel, was dewormed, vaccinated and housed with other raccoons “to learn to socialize with them.”

“Diesel is adapting very well!” says Bylaw Services.

The city says it is illegal to keep raccoons and other wild animals as pets in Ottawa.

“Furthermore, keeping wild animals as pets is unfair to the animals and reduces their chances of survival in their natural habitat,” Bylaw Services said.