I am a father of two living in San Bernardino. I moved to a single-family home a few years ago because I wanted to raise my kids closer to nature rather than in the city.

It has a backyard, the air is good, and the kids can run around freely, so at first, I thought, 'I really made a great choice.' But lately, I've been having a headache because of an unexpected guest.

The main character is... a raccoon.

That's right, the furry thief with a black mask around its eyes.

The kids think it's cute... but I can't find it funny.

At first, I just laughed it off. I heard some rustling in the trash can, and when I went out to check, there was a pretty hefty creature rummaging through the garbage.

At a glance, it's bigger than a cat, and its eyes shining in the dark can be a bit scary.

The kids are completely excited. "Dad! It's cute! Can we name it?" they say.

Sure, it looks cute on the outside. It does look adorable. But every time I hear them say that, I feel my insides burning.

These aren't just cute wild animals; they are dangerous creatures that can carry rabies.

Living at the foot of the mountains, I knew that wild animals would occasionally come down. But it's a bit much for them to come so often and boldly, right up to the kitchen window.

When I turn off all the lights in the yard and lie down at night, I always hear noises within an hour or two. The sound of rummaging through the trash can, footsteps walking on the roof.

One time, I was shocked to see paw prints on the kitchen window sill. Since that day, I always keep the trash inside the house.

The real reason raccoons are scary is rabies.

In California, there have been quite a few reported cases of raccoons being carriers of rabies every year.

What if the kids get bitten by one of them? Just thinking about it makes me dizzy.

So I tell the kids repeatedly, "Don't ever touch it just because it's cute. Don't go near it."

They understand, but when they are young, curiosity takes over, so I have to be even more cautious.

These days, I make sure to secure the trash can lid, and I don't even need to mention the kitchen window; I never leave anything outside that might smell like food.

The problem is that these creatures are smarter than I thought. Even if I prevent them from eating a few times, they keep coming back. It's like they check, "Is it open today?"

But it's not just my house. When I talk to the neighbors, they all have similar stories.

San Bernardino County does have a wildlife reporting system.

But the funny thing is, if they don't come inside the house, they don't really take any action.

Just rummaging through the trash in the yard is met with, "That's just how wild animals are."

In the end, it means we all have to defend ourselves.

Honestly, I don't completely hate raccoons. They are cute from a distance.

But the problem is that they come into my house, my yard.

What if the kids encounter one while playing outside? What if one sneaks in through the window at night? Thinking about that, I can't just let it be.

Raccoons are cute, but they are definitely not pets. They are wild and can be dangerous.

Even now, I check the trash can and turn on the yard lights every night because of raccoons.

If I ever see the kitchen window open one day and one comes in...

I'm ready to fight with a broom in hand.

Don't let your guard down just because they are cute. Raccoons can be more troublesome than you think...