Kentuckians Warned About Diseased Raccoons

POWELL COUNTY, Ky. (WTVQ) – Kentuckians are urged to be cautious around raccoons, after reports of distemper in other parts of the country.

Powell County Search & Rescue says raccoons with distemper can appear confused and emaciated, with glowing green eyes. While there are no reported cases in Kentucky, raccoons with distemper have been seen in Illinois, New York, and Ohio. People are urged to report any raccoons behaving strangely.

Distemper is a highly-contagious virus that can lead to fever, breathing problems, and symptoms affecting the nervous system. People cannot catch it, but pets can – and once it reaches the brain, the damage is permanent.