A deadly animal disease that causes their eyes to glow green has become an epidemic among Colorado raccoons, police warned this week.
The Greeley Police Department said it received reports of animals in people’s yards acting strangely and showing no fear of humans.
Nocturnal animals suffer from distemper, a virus most commonly seen in dogs that causes loss of fear of people, eye discharge, confusion, aggression, seizures, vomiting, and bright green eyes.
The condition is usually fatal to the raccoon that contracts it. While humans cannot get sick from the virus, humans who are exposed to it can spread it to pets.
The department has warned people to keep their pets and children away from any raccoons they see during the day, especially if they appear to be wandering aimlessly or acting in any strange way.
Distemper is not the same as rabies, but the symptoms overlap. Regardless of what may seem bad about a raccoon, Coloradans should call animal control.
If the raccoon has died, the person should handle it only with rubber gloves (if absolutely necessary) and call a trash removal service from a list of available companies.
The department said, “Do not approach raccoons or attempt to feed them.” Also, do not leave food for the raccoon, as this may attract other sick raccoons or other wildlife. It is advisable to bring trash cans inside or ensure the lids are closed.’
Typically nocturnal animals have distemper, a virus most commonly seen in dogs that causes loss of fear of people, confusion, aggression, seizures, vomiting, and bright green eyes.
Greeley’s local Fox News affiliate spoke with First Choice Wildlife Services owner Eric Brady, who saying Last week he found four raccoons in two days suspected of having distemper.
Brady said, “The only raccoon I had in my eyes looked like it had pus or something on it and it was completely scabbed.”
‘(The raccoon) was like hiding in a bush. People had reported that they had passed by. The raccoon had been there for two days and had not moved.
The virus causes mineral deposits to build up on the surface of the eye, which alters the way lights reflect in the eyes and causes a bright green appearance.
officials believe that the outbreak in the city of about 113,000 people began in October.
Douglas County residents filed several reports with authorities about raccoons they initially believed were rabid.
Over the past month, they saw an increase in reports of sick or dying raccoons. In one day they received 15 calls about the issue.
Rural Douglas resident Kelly Ruedeen, who saw a sick raccoon in her driveway, said, “It’s heartbreaking to see an animal suffer.”
The virus causes mineral deposits to build up on the surface of the eye, which alters the way lights reflect in the eyes and causes a bright green appearance.
It was obvious that he was not feeling well. As he got closer it was obvious that he couldn’t see. He was constantly tripping, sniffing odors and falling.’
This year there have been outbreaks in other parts of the United States.
In North Carolina, the Nags Head Police Department issued a similar warning last month, adding that the state Wildlife Resources Commission confirmed that the higher-than-average volume of calls about raccoons acting strangely was due to distemper.
Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the state’s Humane Society said its Wildlife Rehabilitation Center received about 350 raccoons with canine distemper this year. three times more than usual.
Brittni Kaplanek, director of the WHS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, said, “This year has been very bad for raccoons.
“This disease is fatal and in raccoons it is very contagious.”
And last January, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene warned That distemper’ has been circulating among raccoons and skunks in the Greenwood Heights, Sunset Park, and Windsor Terrace sections of Brooklyn since November 2023.
“To date there have been reports of dead animals (eight raccoons and one skunk) and sick animals (three skunks and two raccoons) in these areas.”
It is difficult to pinpoint the number of raccoons that become ill and die from distemper each year, but it is generally always present among the raccoon population and is the second leading cause of death in raccoons (the first being human interference).
The distemper virus transmitted through a human exposed to their dog is highly contagious and usually fatal.
However, there is one vaccine that most dogs receive as a routine series, as it is a core vaccine recommended by the influential American Animal Hospital Association.
No state agency disposes of dead sick raccoons, but the Greeley Police Department recommended a number of private services in its facebook page.
The department added: “We are unable to trap or relocate raccoons with our animal control officers as they are responsible only for calls involving domesticated animals.”
“We also cannot relocate the raccoons, as that would only help spread the virus outside the immediate area.”