Commentary
As winter approaches, raccoons seek to fatten up in preparation for torpor, a semi-hibernation. They group together in what is called a gaze or nursery. In 2016, John Hadidian told National Geographic, “Raccoons have adapted to urban living. They’ve figured out how to cope with these environments just as well or better than they used to do in the wilderness.” Gazes are often found in attics, under buildings, in abandoned groundhog dens and haystacks.
Every city block probably has a raccoon living on it . . . we need to find better ways to coexist with them.”
In this article, Scott Weese, DVM, features raccoons, distemper, rabies risks and reinforces the need to keep dog vaccinations up to date. The situation in Toronto he describes can happen in cities, towns and farmsteads everywhere. “Many urban areas have abundant raccoon populations, and when you have lots of an animal species, you have greater risk for outbreaks,” Weese says.
Additionally, raccoons are the primary host of Baylisascaris procyonis, a roundworm that can be harmful to people. Leptospirosis is a common bacterial disease in raccoons caused by several different species of Leptospira. Their fecal piles, called latrines, are attractive to dogs and can be found in backyards, along trails and in buildings near raccoon nurseries increasing potential pathogen exposure. <Link>.
Source: Worms and Germs Blog, November 13, 2022. Link.
INSIGHTS: To coexist with wild animals in urban environments, it is important to educate on risks of disease and the possibility of injury, as well as restricting carte’ blanche access to food from pet bowls, garbage cans, compost piles, chicken coops and bird feeders.