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Watch out for raccoons in Oregon!
By Tammy Walro
Maumee Bay Press Editor
They’re here, they’re there and just about everywhere. The influx of a raccoon or two into a neighborhood may not be cause for concern or even notice, but when 10 or 20 or a whopping 50 show up and they’re standing 42 inches tall, most would say it’s time to call animal control.
But not in the City of Oregon where the raccoons mean it’s time to celebrate.
Located on the shores of Lake Erie, Oregon on the Bay is celebrating its golden anniversary, and as part of the festivities, 50 raccoon statues decorated in their best anniversary finery will be popping up throughout the area. The 42-inch, fiberglass and resin raccoons will be paid for by sponsors, who have decorated them in an effort to win a communitywide decorating competition.
Yes, Chicago hosted cows in honor of the Great Chicago Fire -- purportedly started by an old lady’s cow kicking over a lantern in a shed. Six years ago, Toledo used frogs to recognize its start from the Great Black Swamp.
Like Toledo’s frogs, the raccoons were chosen because they were - and continue to remain - a prevalent small mammal in the swamplands of the Maumee Bay region.
Though there are many eagles in the Oregon area, the city chose not to use it to mark the city’s golden anniversary because the fiberglass statues that will be decorated and displayed around the city are supposed to be “dressed up” in a fun, whimsical manner. City officials were concerned that to do that with an eagle was not really befitting a bird that is one of America’s national symbols.
The raccoons will be a big part of the first celebration planned for the city’s anniversary, with 50 completed critters scheduled to be on display outside sponsoring locations.
On July 8, there will be a concert and family event to kick-off the “Raccoon Round-Up” – a contest that challenges members of the community to find all the raccoons on display. Using a map, raccoon hunters can look for the identifying codes on the back of each critter and mark the numbers down. Winners will be chosen from correct forms.
The concert, featuring Phil Dirt and the Dozers, will be held at 8 p.m. at Vail Meadows Equestrian Center, 6118 Cedar Point Rd., Oregon. The family event, sponsored by Sunoco, will include food, carriage rides available by Colonial Carriage for a small fee.
Other events are also planned for the rest of the summer through the end of the year.
For more information about the celebration, visit www.ci.oregon.oh.us or www.embchamber.org.
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