Betsy, you are taking a huge risk letting raccoons play with your children's toys, and with your children. Please read this:

http://www.austinpug.org/4-com...

My daughter-in-law is a pediatrician in Salt Lake City, and says that at this point a large proportion of the raccoon population in the area is rabid.

Oh dear.... Here we go again...

(Someone from back east)

Let's get the facts straight. Your daughter in law is either from back east or has been educated (fear mongered) by someone from back east. Being a pediatrician doesn't mean she has accurate info on raccoon populations.

1- there has never ever been even 1 case of raccoon rabies in Utah or the mountain west. Rabies runs in a small population in Florida and on the east coast. So no.

We are not in danger. 😊😊😊

2- you can leave de wormers and parasite tablets in the food just like you do a dog and they will eat them.

There has never been found 1 single rabid raccoon in Utah. NOT 1.

Also. There is no case ever of raccoon rabies being spread to humans. There was one case back east where a certain man contracted rabies and the autopsy said they found cells similar to what they see in raccoons... But he never came in contact with raccoons. Raccoon fear mongered use that case to say it has transferred to humans.

They just blame it on the coons without a shred of evidence. There are many strains of rabies. 😉 Of course they will have "similar cells."

I have had all sorts of people try to fear monger me about the raccoons and bats.

They just need to educate themselves a little more but I certainly appreciate your concern.

I already did massive amounts of homework on the subject.

She was born in Utah and lived her whole life in Salt Lake. As a pediatrician she sees everything bad that happens to kids including kids dying from exposure to raccoons. She has two kids of her own, and they are very outdoors-y but she is adamant about raccoons being a big risk for kids.

I do hope you are right about the rabies, and she is wrong but I wouldn't risk my child's life on it. She did do her medical training back east but her residency and present practice are in Salt Lake.

Here's Utah State University's paper on raccoons: Look under the paragraph "Raccoon problems" where it states that 80% of the population of raccoons tested there have been exposed to the rabies virus.
https://extension.usu.edu/file...

Where are you getting your information?

I am right and she is wrong.

She has never seen kids infected with raccoon rabies. Possibly bitten by a coon just like kids get dog bites. If she claims kids in Itah are getting rabies she is not being truthful. It would be on the news for one thing.

The stats are published on line by the animal control and health department.

Ya... That's what I thought... She was educated about raccoons back East.

The article does not say they have found cases of raccoon rabies in Utah.

She just thinks that because she comes from back east.

Thank you for your concern... I'm not risking my children's lives. And your DIL can raise her kids however she feels comfy.

If you want to see who is risking their children's lives with animals google how many children are mauled to death by pit bulls in the US alone.

There you will see who is really risking the lives of their children and every one else's.

Any kid, no any person for that matter, that is bitten by a raccoon MUST be treated for possible rabies infection immediately. They can't wait for symptoms to manifest.

Only one person has ever DIED from raccoon-carried rabies on record in the US. Thousands have been infected and then treated for it. The treatment - postexposure prophylactic protocol is not fun. Ask your own kids' doctor about it next time you're in. Here's the Humane Society's article on it:
http://www.humanesociety.org/a...

This from the CDC's site:
Rabies postexposure prophylaxis consists of a dose of human rabies immune globulin and rabies vaccine given on the day of the exposure, and then a dose of vaccine given again on days 3, 7, and 14.

They're your kids, Betsy. It's your risk. I am very happy to know that my grandkids will not be directly exposed to any wild raccoons if their parents can help it.

As you can see the raccoons that are testing positive are on the east coast. 😊😊😊

Right where all you folks live who jump in and start fear mongering those of us on the opposite side of the continent. But I can see why you do it. I forgive you. 😊



http://www.rogerknapp.com/medi...

Gosh....

I've been bitten at least a dozen times over the last few years when they try to get into stuff I don't want touched. . Lol

How many years does it take for those "symptoms" to begin? 🙃🙃

If these raccoons were rabid I should be dead by now.

Or at least frothing at the mouth...
Or something...

Another animal control article says any person who has been exposed to a skunk. Dog, cat, rabbit, or raccoon whether they were bit or not MUST seek medical attention... Even if the animal is acting normal.

glad your daughter in law is a pediatrician because it would get pretty expensive for your grandkids to run see a pediatrician every time they patted an animal.

But I can see why Pediatricians would want them to... $$$$$$$$$$$$$

JuneOntario said:Betsy, do they have a favorite toy? I'm thinking I might leave some toys outdoors for the kits, but I'm not sure what sort they would play with.

If you tie something like this on the end of a rope and put dried cranberries or raisins in it they will love it.

Betsy. I will go shopping for toys.

No rabies in wildlife in this area, thank goodness, just canine distemper. I had not thought about putting worm medication in their food, but the raccoons don't come indoors or have direct contact with me. I keep my hands off, because I have not seen any touching or grooming happening between the raccoons, and I don't think they would understand my human desire to stroke their fur!

The little guys are so darn cute!!

JuneOntario said: Betsy. I will go shopping for toys.

No rabies in wildlife in this area, thank goodness, just canine distemper. I had not thought about putting worm medication in their food, but the raccoons don't come indoors or have direct contact with me. I keep my hands off, because I have not seen any touching or grooming happening between the raccoons, and I don't think they would understand my human desire to stroke their fur!

Raccoons groom each other when they are snuggling down to sleep. They don't usually do it when they are competing for food. They lick themselves and groom themselves like cat does. They even purr like a cat when mom or a sibling is grooming them.

The raccoon are very smart. I have been bitten in simple circumstances where I'm in a tug of war with one over my shoe on the front porch. They don't attack viciously. . They just nip to get you to let go of their prize. It doesn't hurt much... When that happens I grab them by their neck scruff so they can't bite and take my shoe way.... then push them away in case they try to reclaim the shoe. (They usually do) lol

Those coons stick like velcro to anything they have a hold of.

Newyorkrita said:The little guys are so darn cute!!

Agree.

SpringGreenThumb said:





Agree.

Oh they sure do like to play with water.