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Raccoon disease is no danger to humans
MDC
5/9/03
Many raccoons are sick, but the disease is canine distemper, not rabies.
JEFFERSON CITY--State officials attribute a rash of sick raccoons to canine distemper and say the disease poses no danger to humans.
Furbearer Biologist Dave Hamilton with the Missouri Department of Conservation said reports of sick raccoons are pouring into animal-control agencies around the state. Raccoons with the disease show some of the same symptoms as animals with rabies.
"When people see weak, confused raccoons out in the middle of the day, showing no fear of humans, it's not surprising that they think the animals are rabid," said Hamilton. "We haven't had any confirmed cases of rabies in Missouri recently, but canine distemper is very common in raccoons right now."
Hamilton said that while canine distemper isn't dangerous to humans, it can kill dogs and cats that have not been vaccinated against the disease.
"The virus is devastating to canines," he said. "Foxes and coyotes get it, but they die so quickly that you hardly ever see a sick one. Some raccoons survive, and those that die take a while to succumb. It's pretty distressing to see a raccoon in such bad shape, but there's nothing you can do for them."
In populated areas, animal control offices can euthanize sick raccoons humanely.
Hamilton said Missouri isn't the only state dealing with an outbreak of canine distemper in wild animals. The entire Midwest is affected. He said the paramyxovirus that causes canine distemper is always present in wild raccoon populations. Outbreaks occur when the number of raccoons is high, increasing the ease of transmission.
Hamilton estimates Missouri's raccoon population at 1 to 2 million. That is about twice as many as Missouri had 20 years ago. He said the upward trend began when global fur prices fell in the early 1980s. Trappers and hunters, who had been taking 250,000 raccoons annually, reduced their take in response to depressed fur prices. In recent years, the annual raccoon harvest has been 70,000 to 100,000.
"Raccoon populations have increased throughout the Midwest for the same reason," said Hamilton, "and so has the distemper outbreak. Many states--even the East--are seeing significant distemper outbreaks this year."
The outbreak will run its course, and raccoon numbers eventually will recover. Hamilton said dog and cat owners should be extra careful to ensure that their pets' vaccinations are up to date.
"Other than that, about the only thing to do is to buy a fur coat and hope the price of fur goes up soon. Without substantial trapping and hunting to put a brake on raccoon numbers, this kind of phenomenon will continue."
- Jim Low -
MDC
5/9/03
Many raccoons are sick, but the disease is canine distemper, not rabies.
JEFFERSON CITY--State officials attribute a rash of sick raccoons to canine distemper and say the disease poses no danger to humans.
Furbearer Biologist Dave Hamilton with the Missouri Department of Conservation said reports of sick raccoons are pouring into animal-control agencies around the state. Raccoons with the disease show some of the same symptoms as animals with rabies.
"When people see weak, confused raccoons out in the middle of the day, showing no fear of humans, it's not surprising that they think the animals are rabid," said Hamilton. "We haven't had any confirmed cases of rabies in Missouri recently, but canine distemper is very common in raccoons right now."
Hamilton said that while canine distemper isn't dangerous to humans, it can kill dogs and cats that have not been vaccinated against the disease.
"The virus is devastating to canines," he said. "Foxes and coyotes get it, but they die so quickly that you hardly ever see a sick one. Some raccoons survive, and those that die take a while to succumb. It's pretty distressing to see a raccoon in such bad shape, but there's nothing you can do for them."
In populated areas, animal control offices can euthanize sick raccoons humanely.
Hamilton said Missouri isn't the only state dealing with an outbreak of canine distemper in wild animals. The entire Midwest is affected. He said the paramyxovirus that causes canine distemper is always present in wild raccoon populations. Outbreaks occur when the number of raccoons is high, increasing the ease of transmission.
Hamilton estimates Missouri's raccoon population at 1 to 2 million. That is about twice as many as Missouri had 20 years ago. He said the upward trend began when global fur prices fell in the early 1980s. Trappers and hunters, who had been taking 250,000 raccoons annually, reduced their take in response to depressed fur prices. In recent years, the annual raccoon harvest has been 70,000 to 100,000.
"Raccoon populations have increased throughout the Midwest for the same reason," said Hamilton, "and so has the distemper outbreak. Many states--even the East--are seeing significant distemper outbreaks this year."
The outbreak will run its course, and raccoon numbers eventually will recover. Hamilton said dog and cat owners should be extra careful to ensure that their pets' vaccinations are up to date.
"Other than that, about the only thing to do is to buy a fur coat and hope the price of fur goes up soon. Without substantial trapping and hunting to put a brake on raccoon numbers, this kind of phenomenon will continue."
- Jim Low -
