Are raccoons getting sicker or are we just noticing more?

Reports of sick, injured animals jump as people spend more time at home

Sightings of diseased raccoons and raccoon-related injuries skyrocketed last year — but it’s probably not because Toronto’s masked dumpster-divers are getting sicker and more violent.

During the pandemic, we’re spending more time roaming our neighbourhoods, instead of visiting other cities or commuting to work. As a result, we’re running into raccoons more often — and probably getting a little too close for comfort.

According to the city, Toronto Animal Services received 13,712 requests to help sick and hurt raccoons last year, compared to 4,172 in 2019.

And they clearly weren’t keeping the required two metres apart, either. Between January last year and February this year, Toronto Public Health saw a 62 per cent increase in reports of people being bitten or scratched by raccoons, compared to the two-year average between 2018 and 2019.

There doesn’t seem to be any safe haven, either: Raccoon reports came from all areas of Toronto, according to the city.

Animal behaviourist Suzanne MacDonald said in an email that the city’s data is hard to interpret.

“There could be an increase in sick or aggressive raccoons, but in my mind, it is much more likely due to the fact that people are spending more time at home and thus are interacting more with raccoons that they otherwise wouldn’t even be aware of,” she said.

In fact, in its news release, the city speculates that the increase could also have been caused by Torontonians spending more time outside exercising in their neighbourhoods during the pandemic.

Like most things nowadays, raccoons — and all wild animals — need to be kept at a distance, the city warns.

The main reason Toronto Animal Services gets calls about sick raccoons is because they are suffering from canine distemper virus. It’s easy to spot, causing affected raccoons to stumble around in apparent confusion and suffer from gastrointestinal distress — and it can be spread to dogs.

“An outbreak of distemper started in fall of last year,” said Sande Terry, owner of Sande Wildlife Control. “It spreads when people trap and release the animals without checking for diseases.”

Distemper incidents have since levelled off, Terry said, as is usually the case once winter starts.

“Raccoons don’t typically bite unless people are trying to touch them,” said Terry.

“They’re very gentle animals.”

If bitten or scratched by a raccoon, TPH advises you to immediately wash the wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes, apply antiseptic to it and seek medical attention.