There are all kinds of people in the world and they are all entitled to their opinions. I recently stumbled across a web site where a great deal of time is being invested. One of its purposes seems to be slandering coonhunting and coonhunters. He/She? is also spending a lot of time promoting the "rehabilitation" of  raccoons. This means about $1000 dollars to raise a raccoon and reintroduce it into the wild.
I would like to offer my opinion in rebuttal. I do not feel that this person has ever taken the time to really think his/her views through completely. I think he/she is acting out of emotion and drawing conclusions that are not based on any sound reasoning. Why would a reasonable person rehab raccoons for release? Raccoons are like rats where I live. Every year I am contacted by homeowners who are suffering raccoon damage. Raccoons tear up yards, buildings and spread disease.  In one yard alone I livetrapped 55 raccoons between May and August. Crop farmers and in particular sweet corn producers have their fields ravaged by raccoons. One 40 acre field I know of had 80% of its crop ruined by raccoons a few years ago. Raccoons are not endangered and they never will be. How can a person justify hand raising raccoons and releasing them into the wild? In fact the DNR in my state is not supportive of rehabbers at all.
I have met a few rehabbers here in town and they seem to be decent well meaning people. I just can't get over how emotional they are and what poor judgment they use. There are plenty of serious wildlife and environmental issues that need to be addressed in our world today. I wish rehabbers would devote all of this time and energy towards something more useful.
Well these are my opinions and I admit I may be a little biased. I really hope that you don't just take my word or anybody else's on these issues. Please go find out for yourself. And beware, there is an abundance of misinformation floating around that people are accepting as facts.

If you are curious, here is a link to a  Fruitcake/anti-coonhunting/rehabber page. I'm sure there are others out there. Just remember, most of what you read there is the product of a deranged mind.