Raccoons on the run: Dogs and drones search for escaped animals on Isle of Wight

Tracker dogs and drones are scouring the Isle of Wight for four escaped female raccoons.

The animals broke free of their compound overnight and haven’t been at Amazon World Zoo Park for very long.

Locals are being asked to keep an eye out, but the zoo said the raccoons are “not normally aggressive”.

“Everyone is out searching and we have tracker dogs and drones looking for them,” said supervisor Rowena Welsh.

“They are not dangerous and the protocol is for people to call us straight away and don’t try to approach because they would be very frightened.

“They are not dangerous and they would be more frightened of us than we would be of them.”

Posting on Facebook, the zoo said the raccoons “are not normally aggressive but will be scared”.

“If you live locally please check sheds, bonfire piles, they sleep during the day and become active at dusk,” it added.

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Raccoons are nocturnal animals and the most recognisable one, the North American raccoon, can grow up to 90cm long with large males sometimes weighing over 20kg (three stone).

They are distinctive due to their black “mask” and black-banded tail.

Amazon World Zoo Park, near Arreton on the east of the island, describes itself as having the largest collection of exotic animals on the Isle of Wight.