An angry animal is a dangerous one that can seriously bit and scratch humans. They can also literally tear a house apart. Also, it is illegal in most stats to keep raccoons as pets. The raspberry cane borer may be a serious pest in some small raspberry plantings. It is often seen where wild brambles are plentiful.
Most injury is observed in early to mid-summer as the wilting of tips of new canes and laterals.
The females use their mandibles to girdle the tips with rows of punctures before depositing the eggs. Two or three puncture rings about inch apart may be seen about 6 inches from the top. Because sap flow is restricted, a blackening and abscission of the tips results within a few days. The egg is deposited in the pith of the cane in a space between the girdles. After the egg hatches, the larva burrows toward the base of the cane, usually reaching it by autumn.