[ODFW-News] Wildlife officials confirm disease outbreak in Portland-area raccoons

[ODFW News]

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 	
Contact: 	Anne Pressentin Young (503) 947-6020	
Internet: www.dfw.state.or.us  Fax: (503) 947-6009
	

For Immediate Release	Wednesday, April 21, 2004

Wildlife officials confirm disease outbreak in Portland-area raccoons

PORTLAND - Raccoons in western Portland suburbs that appear lethargic and have mucous discharge from their eyes and nose may be suffering from the canine distemper virus, wildlife officials announced today. 

This disease does not affect humans. However, dogs that have not been vaccinated for distemper are vulnerable to the disease.

The canine distemper virus affects certain mammal species and is always present in the environment at low levels. In most years, a few scattered cases will occur in individual raccoons throughout the Portland Metro region. Every five to seven years, the Metro region experiences a major outbreak of distemper in the raccoon population, usually in a limited geographic area. Such events usually are tied to fluctuations in raccoon populations. 

"When populations are high, disease outbreaks are more common. It is nature's way of bringing populations back into balance," said Bob Sallinger of the Portland Audubon Society Wildlife Care Center, which is coordinating the disease response. 

At least six raccoons from the Southwest Portland area have been positively diagnosed with distemper in recent weeks and many more have been observed with distemper symptoms. 

Early symptoms typically include a mucous discharge from the eyes and nose, and lethargy. As the disease progresses, the animal may have seizures or twitching muscles. Other symptoms may include a rough coat, emaciation, coughing and sneezing. Infected animals also may exhibit unusual behaviors such as appearing tame or wandering aimlessly. In wild animals, distemper is not treatable and almost always results in death. However, not all raccoons will get the disease. 

Wildlife officials note that some of the symptoms are similar to rabies. The two diseases are not the same and rabies is extremely rare in Oregon. 

Raccoons are a common resident of Oregon's urban and suburban ecosystems, according to Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologists. Wildlife officials have no reason to attempt to eliminate all raccoons from the Portland area because this disease poses no risk to humans and minimal risk to pets, provided a few common sense precautions are taken. This distemper outbreak will not have long-term impacts on local raccoon population levels.

The Portland Audubon Society Wildlife Care Center is coordinating the response to this outbreak. Concerned citizens should call the Wildlife Care center at (503) 292-0304.

 [Question and Answers sheet follows.]

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Questions and Answers on Raccoon Distemper

Does distemper pose a threat to humans? 
No, humans cannot contract distemper.

Does distemper pose a threat to pets? 
Cats cannot contract canine distemper. Dogs that have not been vaccinated are susceptible to canine distemper. It is standard veterinary practice to vaccinate all dogs against canine distemper. Those who vaccinate their dogs have nothing to worry about. Those who do not vaccinate their dogs place their pets at risk regardless of whether they see sick raccoons or not. 

What can you do to minimize the impact of this outbreak?
§	Do not feed raccoons. Feeding Raccoons promotes unnaturally large concentrations of animal and increases the severity of the outbreak. 
§	Feed pets indoors. If pets are fed outdoors, bring in feeding bowls right after pets have eaten.
§	Vaccinate dogs and other pets against distemper and other common diseases.
§	Keep children and pets away from sick raccoons.  As the disease progresses, the animal may appear calm and tame, but can become aggressive if approached.

Can raccoons be relocated?
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife is prohibiting the relocation of all raccoons in Multnomah, Washington and Clackamas Counties. Even raccoons that are not showing symptoms can carry the virus and prior outbreaks have been made worse by the relocation of sick raccoons.

What should be done if you see a raccoon? 
§	Healthy Raccoons: Many raccoons will not contract distemper. Raccoons that are not showing symptoms should be left alone. There is no reason to interfere with these animals. Under no circumstances should raccoons, even ones that appear healthy, be trapped and relocated. 
§	Sick Raccoons: The Audubon Society of Portland will be coordinating a multi-agency effort that includes Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Multnomah County Animal Services, and the Oregon Health Division's Veterinarians Office to address this distemper outbreak. Members of the general public with concerns about sick raccoons should contact Portland Audubon at (503) 292-0304 during normal business hours. Response resources are extremely limited. Response needs will be assessed on a case by case basis with priority given to sick raccoons located in heavily human trafficked areas. Distemper cannot be treated in wildlife populations, and sick raccoons will be euthanized. 
§	Dead raccoons: Dead raccoons may be buried or triple bagged and placed in the garbage for transport to the landfill.

How Long Will this outbreak last and how far will it spread? 
Prior outbreaks have lasted several months. This one may extend into early summer. Outbreaks tend to be limited geographically so long as sick raccoons are not relocated to non-impacted areas.

Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002