Beware Of ‘Zombie Raccoons’ If You’re Traveling To This State
Hey New Englanders! If you're traveling to Ohio anytime soon, be on the lookout for "zombie raccoons." And no, this is not a late April Fool's Day joke.
Police in Youngstown, Ohio were being plagued with calls about these so-called "zombie raccoons" that were "approaching humans, baring their teeth and passing out" according to FOX NEWS on YouTube. Raccoons are nocturnal, so they are not normally active during the day. Wildlife experts say the raccoons probably have distemper, which is a viral disease. Distemper is not contagious to humans; however, it is to dogs, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The MDIFW also reports raccoons carry rabies and roundworms which can infect people, and their droppings carry a parasite that could be fatal to humans.
The best advice as we head into spring and more outdoor activities, is to stay away from raccoons, especially ones that are roaming around in the daytime.