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Handling baby raccoons puts residents at risk
By Tracy Wheeler
Beacon Journal medical writer
Published on Sunday, Jul 27, 2008
With their fuzzy faces and doe-eyed black masks, it might be tempting to take in an abandoned baby raccoon.
Don't do it, warns the Akron Health Department.
At least three times in the past few weeks, people have tried to care for baby raccoons, even allowing children to pet them in some cases.
''People need to be reminded that they are . . . putting themselves and their children at risk because of the known presence of raccoon rabies in Northeast Ohio,'' said health department spokesman Chris Partis.
No cases of raccoon rabies have been found in Summit County in recent years, although in 2007 nine cases were discovered in Lake County, along with one each in Cuyahoga and Mahoning counties.
''Since raccoons are notorious hitchhikers — they like to travel — a raccoon strain can come into our county any time,'' said Dr. Marguerite Erme, the health department's head of epidemiology.
''It hasn't gotten here yet,'' added Jim Kuder, the department's environmental health manager, ''but it's all around us.''
Once rabies symptoms appear, the disease is 100 percent fatal. However, a series of shots can prevent people from devel
oping the disease after coming in contact with infected animals.
Ohio law requires that all animal bites be reported to the local health department within 24 hours.
Nationally, an average of three people die each year from rabies and 16,000 to 39,000 people undergo preventive shots. Ohio has not had a confirmed human case of rabies since 1970.
Last year in Ohio, 86 animals — 66 bats, 11 raccoons, and nine skunks — tested positive for rabies.
If you find an orphaned animal, the Ohio Division of Wildlife's Web site suggests you ''leave it alone.'' For one thing, the animal might not be orphaned at all; the parent simply might be away in search of food.
However, if the animal is obviously hurt or orphaned, Summit County wildlife management supervisor Dan Kramer suggests calling the local Division of Wildlife office (330-644-2293 in Summit County) during normal business hours or the state hot line at 800-WILDLIFE, which operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Division of Wildlife experts can offer callers guidance on whether they should help or leave the animal as it was found.
It's illegal for anyone to possess a native wild animal without a permit through the Division of Wildlife.
''Just leave wildlife alone,'' Kuder said. ''You shouldn't feed it. You shouldn't try to take it into your home as a pet. You shouldn't pick it up or pet it.''
Added Erme: ''Wild animals, even if they're cute, they're still wild and they can still carry diseases.''
Tracy Wheeler can be reached at 330-996-3721 or tawheeler@thebeaconjournal.com.
With their fuzzy faces and doe-eyed black masks, it might be tempting to take in an abandoned baby raccoon.
Get the full article here.
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