I talked with a USDA person today, and this is definitely (as many of you assured me - thank you!) on the up and up. Rabid raccoons have been found in the neighborhood, though not necessarily near our house. The USDA person said they chose houses at random to ask permission to set up traps. What they will do sounds very humane, balancing human and animal needs. Any animals (like rabbits or squirrels) that are caught in the traps will be released (unless of course they show signs of rabies) and the raccoons they catch will be vaccinated and released (unless etc.) A few people told me they had raccoons near them and would like the phone number. I called USDA Wildlife Services 724-238-7320. They will be happy to talk to anyone who has a raccoon problem/sighting. They will set up a couple of traps on our lawn in about two weeks, and then check them every day for about 10 days. To be on the safe side re rabid raccoons, I'm going to try to get my walks in in daylight rather than after dark. jai Begin forwarded message:
From: janet jai <jai@vision-and-values.com> Date: October 10, 2018 8:57:30 PM EDT To: brett mason via Neighborhood <neighborhood@highlandparkpa.com> Subject: Alert re rabid raccoons
When I got home today, I found a note on our door from "a USDA (Dept. of Agriculture) Wildlife Technician" saying that "in recent weeks multiple rabid raccoons were discovered within a short distance of our property" (near Jackson and Euclid) and asking if they could put cage traps on our property and vaccinate the wildlife they capture.
This was the first time we heard anything about rabid raccoons around here. Does anyone else know about them and did anyone else get that kind of note?
It was too late to call the number on the note today, but I plan to call tomorrow and find out more about this. I don't think this could be some kind of scam, but I was surprised not to have heard anything until this note.
I will let everyone know what I find out. In the meantime, be alert re rabid raccoons. janet jai