Beware of the masked bandit: Raccoons invade Plain City neighborhood

PLAIN CITY -- Raccoons seem to be enjoying the scenery in a Plain City neighborhood and that has residents a little worried and upset.

Parlena Covington said she started finding animal droppings in her yard last month. She scooped them up and threw them away.

"I thought maybe they were from a dog but I couldn't figure out how the dog could get through the fence," she said. "Come to find out we had raccoons. My husband trapped two of them."

The Covingtons quickly learned they weren't the only ones in the neighborhood trapping the furry bandits.

"We have talked to a ton of people who have been trapping them," Covington said. "I called my brother, who is a health and recreation director in Tacoma, and he told me that raccoons have been spreading roundworm to children in California and Oregon. It has scared me to death."

Raccoons are not native to Utah, said Weber-Morgan Health Department environmental health director Louis Cooper. It's just in the last 15 to 20 years that more of them have made their way into the Beehive State; now, they live in most cities across the state.

Raccoons like to rummage through garbage cans and set up house in chimneys and attics. Pet food sitting out is a great attraction. So are other animal droppings, chicken coops, bird nests and farms.

Diseases carried by raccoons include rabies, distemper, plague and raccoon roundworm. Roundworm is passed through the raccoons feces. The eggs left in the soil can hatch millions of roundworms. When ingested, the parasite can cause nausea, fatigue, skin irritations, coma and even death.

"When we talk about raccoons in Utah, we're certainly concerned about roundworm but we're even more concerned about rabies," said Cooper. "Some people like to catch them and have them for pets. Other people feed them in their yard. That's not a smart thing to do."

Cooper said he hasn't seen a case of raccoon roundworm in Weber County for years, but avoiding direct contact with the animal and its droppings is extremely important.

"People certainly need to take precautions," he said. "Expose of the droppings right away. Wear protective gloves when you do this. Keep your pets away from the animal and its droppings as well."

Cooper also said to keep your garbage covered with a tight lid, eliminate food and other animal droppings from your yard and wash your hands after you clean up.

Covington said she got rid of the droppings but she's still worried about her grandchildren crawling around in the yard.

"We don't have any raccoon attractions here at our home at all," she said. "In fact, in the 30 years I've lived here I've never even seen a raccoon until now."

Brook Zscheile, a wildlife disease biologist for the state wildlife department, said raccoons do well in human environments and while the Covingtons may not be attracting them, something or someone else is.

"We provide food and shelter and everything they need," he said. "But people need to realize that these animals, although they might be cute and cuddly, are very dangerous. You don't want to feed them and bring them close to your habitation."

Zscheile said while the likelihood of contracting roundworm is low, it's still smart to take precautions.

"After you dispose of the droppings, you can pour boiling water over the area. You can also burn the droppings or bury them deep or just put them in a bag and throw them in the trash. High temperature heat will kill the roundworm eggs, though."

Zscheile and Cooper said it's legal in Utah to trap raccoons without a permit but it's illegal to relocate the animals.

Covington said if people realized the danger raccoons pose, maybe more of them could be trapped.

"To me this is a big concern," she said. "People should know the dangers and the risks. If I had known, I would have dumped boiling water everywhere I picked up the droppings."

Tips to prevent roundworm infections

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Have your pets "wormed" three to four times each year.

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To prevent your children from encountering roundworm eggs, keep them away from areas that are frequented by raccoons. Cover their sandboxes. Train them to wash their hands and scrub their fingernails after playing outdoors, especially if they were in your garden or the sandbox.

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Discourage raccoons from living in and around your home by keeping garbage cans covered, dog droppings picked up and pet food out of sight.

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Prompt removal and destruction of raccoon feces will reduce the risk of human exposure. Raccoons typically defecate at the base of trees, on fallen logs, on large rocks, and wood piles, and in barns or other outbuildings. Raccoon feces may also be found in children's sandboxes, attics, fireplaces, garages, decks, rooftops, haylofts, and compost piles.

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Areas of soil or concrete are best decontaminated by a thorough flaming using a handheld propane torch (weed burner). Wooden decks and patios can be cleaned with boiling water. Soil can be turned over with a rake or shovel, then flamed. Repeat this process several times. To decontaminate a fireplace or wood stove and chimney, build a roaring fire.

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If a human is bitten by a raccoon the animal should be regarded as rabid. The raccoon should be humanely euthanized and the brain tested for rabies. If human exposure occurs, it should always be reported to the local or state health department. Bites or scratches should be thoroughly washed immediately

SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention