Tag Archives: rabies

Communicable Diseases That Can Be Carried By Raccoons

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Wild raccoons are common carriers of various infectious and transmittable diseases. These maladies are unfavorable ailments to contract and treat. In humans, most of these communicable diseases are treatable, but nonetheless painful and unpleasant.  In pets, the more serious infections are difficult to treat and are sometimes incurable.

Continue reading to learn some interesting and helpful facts about common transmittable raccoon diseases, and who to call to remove nuisance raccoons from your residential or commercial property.

Indianapolis Raccoon Removal and Control
Indianapolis Raccoon Removal and Control 317-535-4605

Rabies Virus

Almost everyone has heard the term, “rabies”, before. If you have seen ravenous dogs foaming at the mouth on television, this is most likely the directors take on a rabid animal. The truth is that rabies is not a disease to brush off as a light matter. It is a very real and common threat to our outdoor pets, as well as, us and our children. The rabies virus can be transmitted through saliva or other bodily secretions such a blood. If mixed or ingested with another person or animal’s system, the disease can be born and can also be fatal. 

Rabies vaccinations are available to the public and for pets. It is strongly suggested to take advantage of such vaccinations; especially if you have kids and pets, and live near wooded areas or communities. Other treatments include several infections, shots, immunizations, and medication. Unfortunately, in animals, rabies is almost always fatal.

Leptospirosis Bacterial Infection

The bacterium known as Leptospirosis is another infection that can be transmitted by wild raccoons.  This bacterium is carried in raccoon urine, and can be accidentally digested or contacted by humans and pets. Most of the time, contaminated water that comes into contact with the skin, eyes, nose, throat, or mouth is how the infection in contracted.

The infection causes influenza-like symptoms such as fever, core throat, coughing, and fatigue. It can also cause serious liver and kidney problems, which is why it is important to seek treatment as soon as you are aware there is something wrong. This disease does not have to be fatal so long as preventative care and treatment are implemented.

Baylisascaris Infection (Roundworm)

Roundworm is a very unpleasant disease that is also commonly carried and spread by wild raccoons. The Baylisascaris eggs are laid in raccoon feces, and spread by consumption or contact. People and animals can unintentionally swallow these eggs in water or soil. Because of this, children who play outside and pets are higher at risk for roundworm infection. Symptoms include fatigue, loss of muscle control and coordination, dizziness, and at worse stages, coma or blindness.  Although this infection is rare to contract, a large percentage of North American raccoons are carriers of this bacterium.

Indianapolis Raccoon Removal and Control You Can Trust

Call 317-535-4605 for Indianapolis raccoon removal and control services you can trust. We are DNR licensed and insured nuisance wildlife removal contractors who offer a wide range of raccoon removal and control services, including raccoon cleanup, raccoon proofing, minor restorations for raccoon damages, and more. Request a free estimate or emergency service, today.

Are Raccoons Dangerous?

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Depending on the situation, raccoons can be dangerous even though they rarely pose a risk to humans. If you ask the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only one human in the United States has ever died from a raccoon and that raccoon had rabies. Rabies can be found in any warm blooded animal; however, in the United States, the most common carriers of rabies are raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes.

How to Tell if a Raccoon is Rabid?

Most importantly, please be safe and not be sorry. The information giving is not a full proof plan that guarantees that the animal does or does not have rabies. These are only suggestions on what to look for. The only way to tell, with 100% accuracy, is to get the animal tested by a professional.

Here are 6 Signs an Animal May have Rabies:

1) Walking uncontrollably, or looking funny while walking; such as staggering around, etc.
2) Oblivious to their surroundings and ignoring activities normal raccoons would be aware of; such as a car coming, etc.
3) Discharge or foaming of the mouth
4) Hair around the face is wet or looks like it has been wet in the past
5) May make crazy noises that make high pitch sounds
6) Hurting itself by picking or biting itself

If you see a raccoon or any other type of animal that may have these signs of rabies, please call the Raccoon Removal Specialist in Indianapolis at 317-535-4605 right away.

Rabies is not the only thing that may be dangerous. Raccoons are known to carry infectious diseases that humans are susceptible to. A disease such as Baylisacaris, also known and roundworm, can be found in raccoon poop (feces). This disease not only has the potential to infect humans, they also can infect pets such as dogs and cats. Be sure to keep raccoons out of your house, attic, and crawl spaces. Once they get into your house, these guys or gals are not potty trained. They can destroy the inside of your home within a matter of hours. Another disease known to be carried by raccoons is called Leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can be carried through the urine of a raccoon. So if a human or pet were to come in contact with a raccoons urine, he or she may be contaminated. So please avoid touching the urine of a raccoon or any other type of wild animal.

If you suspect a raccoon has entered your house or attic, please contact a wildlife animal removal company as soon as possible. Please be weary of, not only the inside of your house, but also the outside. If you are aware of an area around your home that you suspect raccoons of using the bathroom, you may want to give us a call to help. We not only remove raccoons from the house, we are also experienced at keeping raccoons away from your whole property; not just your home.

The last thing to be worried about when seeing a raccoon is that fact that it may bite. This type of aggression toward other animals and especially humans is highly unusual. Usually when a raccoon bites a human or pet, they feel threatened or their young are nearby. If you don’t corner the raccoon and you leave it alone, the majority of times it will leave you alone as well. However, as mentioned before, if you see uncharacteristic behavior, please be weary of some of the dangers mentioned above. Or to be safe, don’t wait tell you see signs, call an animal removal company to relocate the raccoon as soon as possible.