Animal Control rant/ideas?

[carpaltunnel]

In Nebraska a Game Warden from the State Game and Parks department could help you with that. Do you have a corresponding department in your area?
The symptoms you listed are good reason to be concerned.

[firenze11]

I've pretty much called every ministry/agency I can think of. This is the amazing/frustrating part.

The Humane Society ("call animal control")
Animal control (only dogs)
A vet our vet told us to call
The Police (no answer, glad we didn't need them for a human emergency)
Ministry of Natural Resources (they have a Rabies Unit)
Food Inspection Agency - Animal Services (they had a rabies info hotline which led me to an emergency number)
The emergency number led to a woman in Alberta who told us to call local Animal Control and then was totally shocked they told us they would only get dogs.
And finally, as a last resort, a Pest Control company.

The run-around has been crazy. The vet told my Dad that there were no cases of rabies in raccoons in Ontario last year. No wonder why, they're no way to report it

Even if it isn't rabies I don't think my parents or I (since I'm here for awhile) should have to risk dealing with a sick, angry raccoon in a cage.

Hopefully one of those agencies will call us back but I don't think anyone is open until Tuesday.

Why couldn't it have been a cute Easter bunny?

[SouthernBelle]

Here it would be the Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. Part of your problem may be that it's been a holiday weekend.

[sundial]

I would contact Fish and Wildlife and see if they know of a vet that specializes in wildlife rehabilitation. If not, perhaps the authorities may know of a wildlife sanctuary for raccoons.

[roadie gal]

I don't know about Canada, but in the US, racoons are in the "big three" for rabies. Be very careful if you see it again and stay away.

Btw, the other 2 are bats (you just assume bats are carriers) and skunks.

[kat_h]

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/csb/new...ug17fs_07.html - scroll down to the end

Diseased or Dead Wildlife
If you suspect there is a public health risk from a sick wild animal, such as rabies, or you or your pet had contact with a suspected rabid animal, contact your local Public Health Unit immediately. Rabies is fatal for humans and animals if not treated. Symptoms of rabies and several other diseases in animals can include tremors, aggressive behaviour, partial paralysis, convulsions, and loss of fear of humans.

To report a dead crow, raven or blue-jay bird contact your local Public Health Unit. To report other dead animals or birds contact the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre (CCWHC).
Contact Information:

* Public Health Units:
o call 1-866-532-3161 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday, or visit http://www.health.gov.on.ca/english/...phuloc_mn.html for a list of offices.
* Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre:
o call 1-866-673-4781, or visit http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/toce.shtml.

[firenze11]

Thanks Kat_h, we've called them and have messages into them and the Ministry of Natural Resources. Nothing is open until Tuesday, though.

I guess we have to sit tight and see if we can trap it again, it snowed yesterday and there are no raccoon tracks around the barn, so it's probably around somewhere. My Dad think it hides out in the wheel well of the horse trailer. I also found scat in the empty stall next to my horse. The private pest control company called back and told us they would come pick it up - but we don't need them anymore. I'd rather have the proper agency deal with it first just to see what's actually going on with the animal (if it is actually sick and what with? Otherwise it could be relocated or rehabilitated or whatever)

They've been pretty successful with the bait drops around here that have rabies vaccines in them, but they aren't perfect. I had a really great geography lecture on how they do it that actually.

The house also had bat problems one year. (We've taken care of how they got in, of course) . Ah, nothing like sitting in the living room watching tv when a bat flies into the room around the ceiling - even better is trying to trap it and release it again outside. Now we just need skunks and we could have a "Big 3" Party