Frankfort, KY - The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) recently received reports concerning sick raccoons in Franklin, Warren, Oldham, McCracken, Shelby, Fleming, Calloway and Wolfe Counties. Canine distemper is suspected of causing these illnesses.

The reports started in January and continued into March. Most reports involve isolated raccoons. Calloway County had four reports in February with one confirmed case and a report from McCracken County identified two sick raccoons from one location.

"Canine distemper is not a threat to humans," said Jim Lane, KDFWR Furbearer Program Coordinator. "It often occurs in raccoons throughout the southeastern United States and is cyclic in nature.

"Symptoms of the disease are distress, coughing, sneezing, discharge from eyes and/or nostrils and diarrhea," said Lane. "Infected animals may have convulsions, tremors or chewing fits, and may lose their fear of humans and appear blind and stumble, fall, walk in circles or backward.

"Canine distemper runs its course rapidly," he said. "Death is often attributed to a secondary infection such as pneumonia."

Gray foxes and coyotes can also contract the disease. A healthy animal can contract canine distemper from direct contact with an infected animal or its body secretions and waste. Most transmissions, however, occur directly between animals.

Unvaccinated dogs are susceptible to contracting the disease. Pet owners should keep their pet vaccinations current. Those who feed pets outdoors should remove any leftover food. It can attract infected animals not completely debilitated by the disease.

Lane advises persons who are feeding raccoons to cease doing so.

"Concentrating them in small areas makes disease transmission more likely," he said. "Never attempt to capture or aid any sick wildlife."

Canine distemper is almost always fatal to infected animals. For further information, request the pamphlet What Can I Do? About Nuisance or Diseased Wildlife from the KDFWR by calling 1-800-858-1549.

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