Durae Gisclair
February 14, 2019
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February 14, 2019
Louisiana is home to a massive raccoon population – especially along the state s coast.
This week, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is warning locals about heavy reports of a disease in the creatures, which could put locals at risk of attack if near tie animal.
LDWF said its received a large number of reports about raccoons being infected with canine distemper in recent weeks-with most of the reports coming in southeast Louisiana-tie Houma-Thibodaux area included.
Distemper is a virus that infects raccoons, foxes, coyotes, skunks and unvaccinated dogs.
The disease does not affect humans and its more likely to occur when raccoon populations are large or concentrated – like tie local area.
The disease could make raccoons overly aggressive, which is why LIWF is urging teals to keep children and pets far away from sick raccoons and other wildlife until the issue is remedied LDWF warns that raccoons can become aggressive if they are approached too closely-especially if infected with the virus.
So how to tell if a raccoon is sick or slewing symptoms of canine distemper?
LDWF sent out a release this week, which offers tips and advice for how to spot the disease tie creatures. as well as ways to keep them away from your property.
Distemper is spread in susceptible animals through direct contact with body fluids or droppings from otter infected animals, which frequently happens in Louisiana because-of how-many critters there are in such a small area.
LDWF said stray dogs are at risk, if they are not vaccinated, and all locals are asked to contact their veterinarian this week to make sure that their dogs shots are current to avoid tie spread of the virus.
Symptoms of distemper include discharge from the nose and eyes of an animal, as well as rough coat of hair. As symptoms programs, the animal will cough, have an emaciated appearance and will usually appear disoriented and wander aimlessly or have seizures. The symptoms will get progressively worse until becoming fatal, in most cases.
Distemper is not the same as rabies, though LDWF says the symptoms are very similar. When animals – especially wild animals – get sick, they often become combative and aggressive when near unfamiliar surroundings. LDWF says an infected raccoon is more likely to attack a pet or person if it has the virus, which could put humans at risk in highly populated areas.
HOW TO KKKP RACCOONS AWAY
OF course, hooping raccoons away is easier said than done – especially in Louisiana’s bayous.
So how does one succeed in running off the food-hungry creatures who love to rummage through garbage cans, bird feeders and other inviting structures common on property?
LDWF released a to-do list to locals in an effort to discourage raccoons this week, giving tips and tricks to discourage them from invading a property especially in the cloak of darkness when they like to hunt.
LDWF recommends property owners to remove attractants from the yard and to keep pets indoors when possible – until the distemper threat is lessened.
If you food your pets outdoors consider bringing their bowls in right after pets have eaten. Often, bowls with leftover food – or even the scent of food – will attract hungry raccoons throughout the day.
Locals are also urged to secure garbage cans so that they cannot be knocked over or have their lids removed.
Raccoons have an acute sense of smell. They will be able to smell garbage from long distances which will bring them to dumpsters and garbage cans.
Often, they’re smart enough to remove loose bins to get to the trash inside.
And also. LDWF reminds locals that the worst thing one could do is to actively feed a wild animal.
Officials say that feeding one animal may seem innocent enough at first, but it’s an active invitation for other animals to get scent of the situation and parade the territory – which helps spread the disease.
Providing artificial food sources for raccoons and other creatures may lead to unnaturally large concentrations of animals in one area, which Increases the probability of the spread of disease and alto the contact between raccoons and pets and people.
