ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – Raccoons are becoming a huge concern in Atlantic Beach.
Neighbors say the “masked” furry animals are all over the area, appearing sick and being aggressive.
“There's been a lot of large ones around here in the neighborhood,” Atlantic Beach resident Patrick Peya said. “One of our neighbors got bit by one under the truck. He was trying to lure him out and it nipped him pretty good.”
Neighbors said they've seen several raccoons in the streets or in trees showing symptoms of distemper. The sickness does not affect humans but can affect pets and can make raccoons become aggressive.
It's spread when animals have direct contact with body fluids or droppings from an infected animal.
Symptoms of distemper can include discharge from the nose and eyes, a rough coat, emaciated appearance, and unusual behavior, such as disorientation or wandering aimlessly. The symptoms are similar to rabies but the diseases are different.
A local veterinarian told News4Jax that it doesn't matter if a raccoon seems friendly, healthy and lovable. Residents should stay away because the animals can be carriers of rabies, even if they're not showing any symptoms.
“When I saw the one under my neighbor's truck, he seemed kind of timid. He looked hungry, but he wasn't foaming or anything like that, but raccoons are dangerous in general,” Peya said. “They're just like little people. They have opposable thumbs, so you have to be careful.”
The sightings have residents on high alert, and also up in arms. They said they don't know what to do, because the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission doesn't have the ability to come get them.
FWC officials said residents should not try to catch the animals and should make sure their pets are properly vaccinated.
If a person or animal is bitten, alert the health department and seek the care of a doctor immediately, because symptoms might not show for several days, wildlife officials said.
It's also important to secure trash and not to feed raccoons or leave food out, including pet food, that might attract them.
Officials said that if a raccoon dies in a yard, the resident should place it in a thick garbage bag and dispose of it with the garbage.
The Atlantic Beach Police Department said that anyone who spots a potentially sick raccoon is asked to call Animal Control at 904-247-5866.
The FWC also has a database, searchable by county, of nuisance wildlife trappers in Florida.