TWRA issues a warning about raccoons in West Tennessee showing signs of rabies or distemper, so please do not feed the animals

 

By Leanne Fuller

January 18, 2023

                                        The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency has received multiple reports of raccoons exhibiting signs that are similar to rabies or canine distemper, therefore it is urging residents in West Tennessee to stay away from raccoon interactions.

Although the TWRA claims that raccoon-variant rabies has not been discovered in West Tennessee and that the Tennessee Department of Health does not currently suspect the disease, the TWRA cautions that rabies can harm people and is fatal if left untreated.

Distemper and rabies have several symptoms in common, making the two diseases interchangeable. Animals suffering from either disease may act aggressively or abnormally.

Canine distemper does impact numerous species of meat-eating animals, including raccoons, dogs, coyotes, and foxes, despite the TWRA's claims to the contrary. According to the EPA, distemper naturally occurs in wild animal populations, with epidemics happening roughly every five to seven years. Raccoon outbreaks have been documented when their populations reach critical mass, according to the TWRA.

Because distemper may be transmitted from raccoons to dogs, the FDA urges dog owners to take care to prevent their pets' potential exposure to the disease. The illness, which has a 50% fatality rate, has no known treatment. To avoid potential illness, dogs and other pets should have their vaccines updated.

The TWRA requests that people keep their children and pets away from sick wildlife and not approach or handle those animals in order to protect themselves and their pets.

Raccoons should not be fed, and any potential food sources outside of houses, including garbage cans, pet food bowls, feeders, and compost piles, should be removed, advises the EPA.

The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency advises calling the nearest municipal health department or the Tennessee Department of Health for an animal bite consultation and risk assessment if a human or pet has been bitten by a raccoon or another wild animal.

Click here to locate a local or regional Tennessee health agency near you. Call 615-687-7033 or 615-741-7247 to get in touch with the Tennessee Department of Health.

The TWRA advises contacting neighbourhood animal control or pest control agencies if an animal has to be removed from a property. Although the TWRA does not offer those services, it does have an internet tool that may be used to locate an animal damage control operator in your area. Click here to access that tool.

Click here for further details from the TWRA on canine distemper and other wildlife illnesses.

Click here for additional information about rabies from the Tennessee Department of Health.

Under the terms of a Creative Commons licence, this article has been taken from WPSDLOCAL6. Go here to read the original article.