Not only will they eat your pets food, they leave behind real nasty droppings in your yard. Here's some medical facts to ponder.
Raccoon droppings may carry several potentially dangerous diseases. Rabies is one of the worst, but rare. Viral canine distemper is periodically a big issue as raccoon populations build to the point that crowding becomes common.
As the canine distemper virus builds, you may start seeing raccoons foraging in the daytime and acting more aggressively than usual. Other animals, including house pets, are vulnerable to the virus, which can be spread through contact with a diseased animal or through their droppings (which dogs find fascinating).
Recently, however, raccoons have been recognized as the main host for an even more dangerous parasite called Baylisascaris procyonis. This is a disgusting roundworm that can cause extremely serious disease conditions in humans.
Indeed, for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, as well as those with compromised immune systems, exposure to this roundworm can be fatal.
Most exposure occurs when humans have direct or indirect contact with raccoon droppings, which can contain millions of roundworm eggs. Although the roundworms themselves can survive only inside an animal host, their eggs are extremely tough and can remain viable for years in soil, sand or even water. Thus, people can come into contact with old and decomposed raccoon droppings without realizing it.
For people, exposure symptoms include nausea, skin irritations, fatigue, inattention, loss of coordination and muscle control, as well as liver enlargement, blindness and coma. If you have come into contact with raccoon droppings, seek medical assistance as soon as possible. If promptly treated, the worms can be killed before they migrate through the whole body (now there's a hideous image).
When cleaning up raccoon feces, always wear protective gear, including rubber gloves. Several health departments recommend wearing rubber boots, disposable overalls and a well-made respirator as well.
Double-bag all droppings and burn them if possible. If not, bury them deeply (at least three feet deep). Unless they are very well bagged, don't just toss them in the trash, since the eggs will remain viable for years and could infect a human or an investigating animal.
Raccoon droppings may carry several potentially dangerous diseases. Rabies is one of the worst, but rare. Viral canine distemper is periodically a big issue as raccoon populations build to the point that crowding becomes common.
As the canine distemper virus builds, you may start seeing raccoons foraging in the daytime and acting more aggressively than usual. Other animals, including house pets, are vulnerable to the virus, which can be spread through contact with a diseased animal or through their droppings (which dogs find fascinating).
Recently, however, raccoons have been recognized as the main host for an even more dangerous parasite called Baylisascaris procyonis. This is a disgusting roundworm that can cause extremely serious disease conditions in humans.
Indeed, for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly, as well as those with compromised immune systems, exposure to this roundworm can be fatal.
Most exposure occurs when humans have direct or indirect contact with raccoon droppings, which can contain millions of roundworm eggs. Although the roundworms themselves can survive only inside an animal host, their eggs are extremely tough and can remain viable for years in soil, sand or even water. Thus, people can come into contact with old and decomposed raccoon droppings without realizing it.
For people, exposure symptoms include nausea, skin irritations, fatigue, inattention, loss of coordination and muscle control, as well as liver enlargement, blindness and coma. If you have come into contact with raccoon droppings, seek medical assistance as soon as possible. If promptly treated, the worms can be killed before they migrate through the whole body (now there's a hideous image).
When cleaning up raccoon feces, always wear protective gear, including rubber gloves. Several health departments recommend wearing rubber boots, disposable overalls and a well-made respirator as well.
Double-bag all droppings and burn them if possible. If not, bury them deeply (at least three feet deep). Unless they are very well bagged, don't just toss them in the trash, since the eggs will remain viable for years and could infect a human or an investigating animal.
