Raccoons have a reputation for being clever, sly, and mischievous. They also have the same industrial-strength Cute Factor of the Giant Panda and woolly lambs. But recently, coons have become Public Enemy No.1 for many pet lovers living in Olympia, Washington.

According to reports, a pack of raccoons is on a killing spree that has killed ten cats, attacked one small dog, and bit a human. The pet owner got bitten when she attempted to rescue her cat from three killer raccoons. "This year, things changed. They went nuts," says one local resident and former raccoon fan.

But Bob Sallinger, urban conservation director for the Audubon Society of Portland, is cautious about the reports. According to Sallinger many parts of the story remain unconfirmed by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The killer coons, he says, could be hysteria fuelled by sensationalized news reports.

For one, Sallinger says coyotes are most likely responsible for sudden cat disappearances along with cars and poison. He did say that raccoons and dogs engage in clashes but with the canines as the aggressors.

Sallinger also said conflicts between wildlife and people and their pets are almost always caused by food. Leaving pet food outdoors or in trash bins will attract raccoons. It's even worse when people leave food for wild animals. "Almost all of our problem raccoons or coyotes are precipitated by feeding," he said. "Someone feels sorry for them and starts putting out dog and cat food."