Voice of the Outer Banks – Naga Police Chief Warns Residents About Sick Raccoons

TO Posted story November 4, 2024

(Nagsa Police Headquarters)

(File photo: Ken Taylor/NCWRC)

We have had an increase in calls for sick raccoons in the area over the past few weeks. We contacted a biologist with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission about this. They confirmed positive cases of plague in the Dare County area. Please read this information below to keep yourself and your pets safe.

Raccoons can become infected with canine distemper, a viral disease that affects foxes, coyotes, skunks and unvaccinated dogs. The disease does not affect humans.

The disease is more likely to occur when raccoon populations are large or concentrated. Wildlife biologists note that this occurs in cycles of 5-7 years. Not all raccoons contract this disease, and many survive these outbreaks.

The disease is spread by direct contact of animals with body fluids or droppings of an infected animal. Plague is always present in the environment, so the best prevention for dogs is vaccination. Contact your veterinarian to make sure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date.

Symptoms of distemper may include nasal and eye discharge, rough fur, emaciated appearance, and unusual behavior such as disorientation or wandering aimlessly. Symptoms of the disease gradually worsen in animals, and the disease is usually fatal. Distemper is not the same disease as rabies, although some symptoms are similar.

Keep children and pets away from sick raccoons. As the disease progresses, the animal may appear calm, but may become aggressive if approached too close.

To repel raccoons, remove attractants from your yard. Feed pets indoors. If you are feeding outdoors, bring out feeding bowls immediately after pets have eaten. Make sure trash cans are securely secured and cannot be tipped over or have lids removed. Place trash cans in an enclosed garage or shed. You can also secure them by tying them to a stable object or inserting a long stake into the handle and driving it into the ground. If you have a compost pile with fruit and vegetable scraps, make sure the compost is securely covered in containers that raccoons cannot access.

Sick raccoons may walk through your yard and leave. If a raccoon dies in your yard, bury it deep enough so that pets cannot dig it up.

For up-to-date information on raccoon problems or specific questions regarding raccoons or other wildlife, contact the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission on their website: or call 866-318-2401. You can also contact the Nags Head Police Department if you live in Nags Head, NC and notice a sick raccoon on your property.

Keep in mind that just because you spot a raccoon does not mean the animal is sick.

PLEASE DO NOT FEED RACCONS! Providing artificial food sources can lead to unnaturally large concentrations of animals and increase the spread of disease.