Rabid raccoon?

[left field]

Woke up this morning to find a raccoon laying on the grass in front of my place. He was belly down with his face in the grass. At first, I thought he was dead, but then a shiver ran through his body. He wouldn't respond to any noise I made so I got a little closer and upped my volume. He finally raised his head and it took him a dazed moment to find me. 

We stared each other down for about 10 minutes until he rose then immediately collapsed. A few more tries and he slowly staggered to the woods, falling every few feet or so. He moved like an old man.

I thought he was wounded, but I couldn't see anything on him so I went to the spot where he was laying and there was a large pool of loose and liquid faeces. Maybe poison, but I'm pretty far from any farmer or resident that could poison him.

And then I thought rabies.

Ideas?

Assuming it was rabid, what are the proper steps? Who do I call? DEC? Cops. Pop him on the spot?

Edited May 18, 2017 by left field

[turkeyfeathers]

Could be distemper too I think


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[left field]

Seems like similar symptoms.

I left the faeces alone and won't be back until Friday. Hose it out or don't worry? It's in a high-traffic area for my wife and me. No pets.

[DirtTime]

Sounds like it won't be back in that condition. But if so, I would try Animal Control. They might respond faster. Or, SSS.

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[left field]

I could SSS but would like to know what the animal was inflicted with.

What kind of shitshow am I looking at if I shot it then called AC to say, "hey boys, just shot a rabid raccoon. Wanna come get it?"

[grampy]

As long as it's safe to do, if a critter is struggling like that, shoot, shovel, shudap. Over the last few years, I've had two rabid coons and a fox. All were walking in circles and foaming at the mouth along with growling. Didn't want them to infect any more critters, so I buried them deep. Also disinfect the the shovel with bleach. I'd pour some bleach on the area with the body fluids in your yard, just to be safe.

Also, could it have been hit by a car and made it to where you found him? 

Edited May 18, 2017 by grampy

[left field]

Will bleach, thanks.

A few months ago, I spent the afternoon at a Mexican hospital with my wife who thought it was a good idea to pet the alley cat that appeared in the backyard of our rental. I'm a little rabies phobic right now. 

[rachunter]

It sound more like mange/distemper then rabies.We got hit with mange a few years ago on the south shore of long island wiped out the fox and coons.There just starting to come back.Like grampy said bury it and bleach the area.

[bkln]

+1 on SSS

[stoneam2006]

If in your yard with sick like behavior I would shoot and call Dec to pick up every Dec officer I have met wouldn't give you any issue on that (but haven't met all of then). Personally I would want it tested if rabies or something along those lines chances are they will be more cases locally.

My dad had a rabid fox in yard last year fighting with neighbors dog. Luckily dog is quite big and managed to scare fox up under car and keep it there till Dec showed. Dad said he was going to shoot it but couldn't get clean shot and nothing was said against it.

Again I am not Leo but that's what I would do

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[Steve D]

Good idea to have it tested...call the county health dept. and find out if they will test it. If you shoot it do not shoot it in the head because if they test for rabies they test the brain material. More than likely it is parvo or distemper which are contagious. The county health dept. is usually the best place to start.

[bkln]

... or trap it if you have a cage, if the county gets him alive that would be most valuable to them. Otherwise, like I said for safety of your family I would still stick to SSS

[left field]

Thanks. It's long gone now, but I'll keep an eye open.