Brownwood News – The Brownwood Police Department released information regarding two animal control calls for raccoons exhibiting unusual behavior.
On Tuesday, May 8, 2018, at 11:30 a.m., Animal Control Officer Donald Plate received a phone call from the owner of Andy’s Pest Troopers on W. Commerce regarding a possible rabid animal. It was explained to ACO Plate that a raccoon was caught at the Kohler plant and the caller was concerned that the raccoon was rabid. After a conversation and assessment of the animal, it was believed that it was safe to release into the wild.
At approximately 2:30 p.m., this same date, ACO Plate received another call from the company. At this time, it was explained that the animal’s behavior had drastically changed and it appeared to be sick and dying. Given the grave condition of the animal, ACO Plate took possession of the animal and euthanized it. Contact was then made with the Small Animal Clinic where the animal was processed and sent to Austin for rabies testing. Test results confirmed the animal had rabies.
A second raccoon was picked up today and it is also displaying odd behavior. For this reason, the raccoon is being sent off for testing. This second raccoon was trapped in the 600 block of Avenue W. Test results are pending.
“It is important to remind all citizens of the dangers of interacting with animals that are exhibiting odd behavior or signs of sickness,” Assistant Police Chief James Fuller said. “If you are concerned about an animal you encounter, please contact the Animal Control Office at the Brownwood Police Department so that we can attempt to accurately assess it and properly care for it.”
The Brownwood Police Department would like to remind the community to be safe around wild animals. Do not attempt to pet, touch or contain them. Wild animals typically want to avoid human contact so if you see them out during the day and they show no concern for your presence, it’s best to stay away from them. If they look sickly, slobbering or foaming at the mouth or don’t appear afraid of humans, it’s best to contact our animal control office so that we can investigate. Typically, raccoons, foxes, skunks, and coyotes avoid humans and are rarely out in the open during the day.
Rabies is a fatal disease that is easily prevented with vaccination. The virus that causes rabies is transmitted through the saliva of infected animals.
If your animal is exposed to a potentially rabid animal and is overdue for a rabies vaccination, it is required that the animal be either euthanized or kept under a strict six-month quarantine. Domestic animals accounted for 7% of all rabid animals in the United States in 2008, and rabies is still responsible for 2-3 human deaths each year.
Rabies vaccination is required by law, and is essential to protect both pets and the community.
