What To Do If You See a Rabid Racoon
As a pest control technician I've learned how to deal with rabid raccoons in a safe way. Read this article for the inside scoop from a pro.
If you spot a raccoon acting strangely, remain composed.
Don't come near the creature and stay far away.
Key Takeaways
- Keep a safe distance.
- Report the raccoon.
- Take precautions.
- Don't try to hold or capture it yourself
- Wear protective clothing if you must approach the raccoon
- Wash your hands with soap and water after contact
Raccoons are usually nocturnal, but if they are hurt or have an illness, they can be seen in the day.
It is essential to know the symptoms of rabies on a raccoon if you may come across it.
Rabid Raccoon Symptoms: frothing at the mouth, loss of direction, and no fear of humans.
If the raccoon you see has any of these symptoms, keep your distance and promptly inform the local authorities or animal control.
Make sure that all children and pets are away from the animal. Infected raccoons may act aggressively when somebody gets close or startles them. When raccoons have rabies, they can be as dangerous as a bear.
Don't try to hold it or capture it yourself - let trained raccoon removal professionals take care of it in a secure & humane way to reduce any danger to you and your family.
1. Keep a Safe Distance
A rabid raccoon? Keep away! In general, they won't attack if not provoked. But if it does show aggression, take action! Here are tips to help you:
1. Remain at a safe distance.
2. Make sure others around you are safe.
3. Take the necessary precautions.
Do not approach the raccoon
Raccoons that look disoriented, partially paralyzed, or aggressive may have rabies.
Healthy raccoons can be active day and night, but a rabid one may show either more or less activity. Don't come close to such animals.
Stay 150 feet away!
Did you know? Rabies is spread through saliva, without a bite.
Rabid animals can be aggressive and attack if provoked. If you see signs of aggression or violence from a wild animal, call animal services right away.
Do not corner or trap the raccoon
If you see a raccoon with rabies, the first rule is keep away.
Don't corner or trap it. Stay at least 100 feet (31 m) away.
The more distance between you and the animal displaying strange behaviour like foaming at the mouth or standing still for a long time, the less likely it is to attack.
Don't make sudden movements. If it gets agitated by your presence or seems aggressive, back away. Keep an eye on it until it moves out of sight.
2. Report the Raccoon
Encounter a rabid raccoon? Alert the authorities! Give them the exact location and time. Quickly and effectively is key, as rabid raccoons are dangerous.
They can pass their condition to other wild animals and humans. So report them now!
Contact a local wildlife removal expert
If you've seen a rabid raccoon, contact animal control or call 911. Give them all the details, like how it's behaving & where it is. Wildlife removal services are trained to handle cases like this. They may see if medical attention is available or suggest how to avoid contact with it.
Remember, if a raccoon seems rabid, don't approach it. Leave it to experts who can handle animals in this situation.
Contact your local health department
If you spot a raccoon that could be infected with rabies, act quickly! Contact your local health department or wildlife removal company.
Provide them with any info you have, like the location. It is essential to do this fast, in case children or pets had contact with the animal.
Your local health department will give you instructions on what to do, depending on if anyone was exposed.
This may include getting an injection of antirabies vaccine with Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG). They will also tell you if extra monitoring is needed in the affected area.
3. Take Precautions
Beware! A rabid raccoon could cause serious harm. If you think you are near one, be careful. Take precautions.
Don't touch it. Stay away. Alert animal control.
Here's what to do if you find a rabid raccoon:
- Avoid contact.
- Maintain distance.
- Contact animal control.
Avoid contact with the raccoon
If you spot a raccoon, stay far away. Keep pets away and make sure they have rabies shots. Abnormal behavior, like stumbling or circling, could mean rabies.
Overly aggressive behavior - lunging or attacking - is another sign. Also be careful if the animal looks deprived. Rabid animals often become desperately hungry or thirsty, so they may approach people or pets.
If there's contact with a wild animal, take pictures. Don't try to restrain the animal. Call the local Department of Health for help.
Never try to capture the animal.
Contact professionals who can handle it without endangering you or your pets.
Wear protective clothing if you must approach the raccoon
Never approach a raccoon alone. Put on protective clothing that covers your skin. Raccoons can be dangerous.
So, always be careful and give them a wide berth. Don't try to pet, capture or touch the raccoon. Even if it doesn't look sick, it might have rabies.
In case of aggression, raise your arms and speak loudly. Stay in a bright area so you can see the animal's movements.
Wash your hands with soap and water after contact
If you spot a wild animal that could be rabid, be sure to take extra precautions. Wash your hands with soap and water if the animal had saliva, mucus, or blood on you.
Use an antiseptic such as rubbing alcohol or Betadine. Check for wounds and scratches - these can be points of entry and exit for rabies.
Seek medical attention if you have an open wound when you come in contact with a potentially rabid animal.
Vaccines are available to stop rabies from entering your system. Vaccinate domestic animals against canine parvovirus and distemper.
This lowers the chances of them getting sick after coming into contact with a wild animal carrying rabies.
4. Seek Medical Attention
When you spot a rabid raccoon, get medical help right away. Tell local animal control about the incident. They'll help contain the situation.
Visit a doctor and get a rabies vaccine. This disease is deadly if not treated soon.
Check if you have been infected. Start a post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies if necessary.
Seek medical attention if you have been bitten or scratched by a raccoon
If a raccoon has bitten or scratched you, it is essential to get medical help.
Rabies is a virus that affects warm-blooded animals, including humans. It can be fatal if not treated quickly.
Rabies can only be passed on through bite or saliva of an infected animal. Even if the raccoon seemed tame, assume it had rabies.
Alert medical personnel about the contact with a raccoon. They can best decide what treatment is needed.
Seek medical attention within 24 hours. Tell the clinicians about the bite or scratch. They may give you post-exposure prophylaxis to protect against rabies virus.
Get a rabies vaccine as soon as possible
If you were bitten, scratched, or exposed to a raccoon's saliva, seek medical attention right away. If a raccoon is acting aggressively and is foaming at the mouth, it may have rabies.
Human rabies can be deadly if not treated soon.
Your doctor will give you the first dose of post-exposure vaccine and order tests.
These tests involve testing the brain tissue from the infected animal. When rabies is confirmed, the doctor will start you on an anti-rabies post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Your doctor will give you at least one initial vaccine right away and more doses over days or weeks. The recommended schedule depends on your age.
Incomplete doses can increase the risk of getting rabies.
Your doctor might also suggest taking antibiotics to reduce the chances of getting other diseases related to rabies, such as tetanus.
Province or local health departments may also recommend ways to avoid potential rabies exposure and protect other people from possible infections.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I see a rabid raccoon?
Rabies is a serious disease that can be transmitted to humans through the saliva of an infected animal, so if you see a raccoon exhibiting unusual behavior such as difficulty walking or aggressive behavior, it is important to stay clear and call animal control as soon as possible.
What are the symptoms of a rabid raccoon?
Rabid raccoons may exhibit abnormal behavior such as aggression, disorientation, and excessive vocalization. They may also appear weak and have difficulty walking, appear overly friendly and approach humans, or have excessive salivation.
What should I do if I've been bitten by a rabid raccoon?
It is important to seek medical attention immediately after being bitten by a rabid animal. You should wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and contact your local health department to report the incident and receive further instructions.