'Safety first': Expert tips on what to do if you spot a sick raccoon

A raccoon in a trap after being taken from a Port Orange, Fl., home, Tuesday, May 1, 2012. (AP / Daytona Beach News-Journal, David Tucker)

Concern about rabid raccoons is on the rise in southern Ontario after two new cases of rabies were reported in Hamilton.

There are now 12 confirmed cases of raccoon rabies in the area, and Toronto Public Health has warned that distemper is also on the rise in southern Ontario.

In light of the increase in ailing raccoons, Toronto.CTVNews.ca talked to an expert about what residents of the area need to know about the diseases.

Rabies vs. distemper

Ontario went 10 years without a confirmed case of raccoon rabies, until an animal tested positive for the disease in Hamilton in early December. Since the first report, officials have found 11 more cases in the area.

Rabies is a viral disease that causes inflammation of the brain. It can spread to other animals and humans, and can be fatal to both. Those that have been exposed to the disease can be treated if given the vaccine within 10 days of infection.

No cases of rabies have been confirmed in Toronto, but the city warned of an increase in Canine Distemper Virus in late October.

Distemper is similar to rabies, but generally less aggressive, Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control CEO Bill Dowd told CTVNews.ca. Distemper cannot be transmitted to humans, but can be fatal for dogs.

Rabid animals often appear "angry or vicious," while those with distemper often seem disoriented and lethargic, he said.

In both cases, affected animals often have matted fur, and are seen "acting strangely." They may not be afraid of humans, and can often be seen limping or dragging a hind leg.

Animals with distemper can also have a "very foul smell," he said.

Fighting against the diseases

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry has spread more than 200,000 vaccine baits in the Hamilton region in an attempt to prevent further spreading of the rabies virus.

The baits were dropped in an area spanning from Haldimand County to Burlington, with the highest density baiting concentrated where rabies cases were confirmed.

Distemper is common in the spring and fall, and cannot be treated or prevented with vaccines. Animals with the disease are euthanized by municipal organizations on a case-by-case basis.

What to do if you spot a sick raccoon

Dowd recommends a "safety first" approach to dealing with raccoons that may have one of these diseases.

"Make certain that you get into an area (where) the animal is not going to be attacking you and then phone the proper authorities—in most cases, animal control—that would come out and capture the animal," he said.

Pets and children should be kept inside until the potentially ill raccoon is taken away.

"With any wild animal, it's very important for us to educate our children that raccoons can be cute and cuddly, but just as you teach your children not to approach a stray dog, you should teach them the same thing about a raccoon," Dowd said.

Homeowners should not set live traps and release animals into other parts of the city, as this can cause the disease to spread further across the area.

Residents should never try to dispose of the animal themselves, he said. There is no safe way to prevent exposure to the diseases, which can spread through bodily fluids.

The animals are often collected by city organizations to be tested as part of an analysis of the patterns of distemper and rabies.

Who to call

Those who believe they've seen a sick raccoon are asked to contact Toronto Animal Services at 416-338-7297 (PAWS), or email [e-mail] for non-emergency matters. The call-taker will ask for the location and time of the sighting.

Other Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area municipalities have similar phone lines set up for reports:

Some cities do not offer removal, and will advise residents to call a licensed, private wildlife removal company.

If you think you've been exposed to rabies, see a doctor or contact your local public health unit.