Canine Distempter. Raccoons are a common sight in urban settlements these days and whether it is the park in the neighborhood or your yard, you may often stumble upon these animals scurrying about. Since their natural habitat has been taken over by human settlements in recent years, raccoons have accustomed themselves to our surroundings too, scavenging for food on our properties and even setting up nests in them. There have been several incidents of confrontations between raccoons and pet animals, and even humans. In some cases, raccoons have left pets as well as people with nasty bites. Now, while a raccoon bite does leave you with the risk of contracting the deadly rabies virus, there are also several other health hazards associated with these animals.
If you want to get rid of the raccoons in your home, contact Raccoon Removal Toronto to solve your raccoon problem!
What are the Health Risks Posed by Raccoons?
Every year, in Toronto alone canine distemper, is a serious issue with raccoons, and since these animals have been known to attack when confronted, pet animals as well as humans are constantly at risk of contracting the disease. Apart from the dangers of the injuries caused by a raccoon’s scratches and bites, the risk of rabies is real too.
However, injuries and rabies aren’t the only health hazards posed by the presence of raccoons. The feces and the urine of raccoons carry several viruses and bacteria that have the ability to cause serious diseases in both humans and other animals. Therefore, even if a raccoon doesn’t directly attack you, they are always capable of transmitting some nasty diseases.
Some of the most common diseases or conditions that pets and humans contract from raccoons include Raccoon Roundworm, Leptospirosis, Giardiasis and Salmonella.
A raccoon roundworm infection is caused by the Baylisascaris procyonis parasite. The eggs of this parasite is passed on to the feces of a raccoon and when pets, children or even adults unknowingly ingest them, they can get infected. Some of the serious side effects of this disease include blindness, liver complications and loss of muscle control.
Leptospirosis is passed on through the urine of raccoons, and the side effects of this bacterial infection include jaundice, severe diarrhea, a high fever, and painful body ache.
Salmonella is another disease associated with several animals, including raccoons. Salmonella poisoning poses several adverse health effects such as severe abdominal pain, diarrhea and high fever. Giardiasis too exposes infected humans and animals to similar side effects.
Should You Hire Professionals?
People often assume that setting a dog on raccoons or scaring them away is a risk-free affair. However, raccoons have been known to launch open attacks when confronted and more often than not, stand their ground even when you try to scare them away.
The risk of being bitten is always high, especially if a female raccoon is trying to protect her nest or her young. It is therefore advisable to contact a raccoon removal agency to do the job for you. These raccoon control experts have all the knowledge and tools in their arsenal to get rid of raccoons with minimal risk and are always a safer bet than taking on the problem yourself.
Call us today if you are experiencing a problem with a raccoon or a raccoon family: 647-557-7932