The number of sick raccoons spotted around Barrington spiked last month. 

According to Barrington Police, the department responded to 12 calls involving raccoons that appeared to be sick or acting strangely. 

The dozen incidents also continued a trend for increasing numbers of sick raccoons in Barrington. In September there were three sick raccoon responses, and in October there were six calls for sick raccoons. 

Barrington Police Chief Michael Correia said all indications are that the raccoons are sick with distemper. In the vast majority of recent police incidents involving sick raccoons, officers have euthanized the animals. 

According to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, canine distemper is a virus that is prevalent in canids and other wildlife such as foxes, raccoons, skunks and coyotes. It is highly contagious and the symptoms often resemble those of rabies. It is not transmittable to humans. 

“Although rare in Rhode Island, domestic dogs are highly susceptible to canine distemper and should be vaccinated. There is no cure for an animal once it is infected. Keep pets away from wildlife and do not feed pets outside,” stated an informational sheet from RIDEM. 

It is not clear whether all the raccoons euthanized in Barrington were tested for distemper or any other disease. 

In Westport, Mass., the animal control officer has reported a significant increase in the number of rabies cases. The Westport Shorelines reported that Animal Control Officer Nicholas Vidmar counted 10 cases of rabies in 2024, which is double the number from most years. 

“2024 is the most I’ve seen since I’ve been here,” Vidmar said. “We have had quite a few.” Most of the cases have involved woodchucks and raccoons, and there have been no reports of bites to humans. 

Numbers spiking

Calls for sick raccoons in Barrington began surfacing in the summer months, but have increased this fall. 

Three in September led to six in October and then a dozen in November. Barrington Police responded to multiple calls on some days — there were two separate sick raccoons on Oct. 16, and three sick raccoons on Nov. 17. 

The last week of November yielded more calls for sick raccoons in Barrington than any other week this fall. During the seven-day span from Nov. 24 to 30, Barrington Police euthanized five sick raccoons. There was a sixth incident on Dec. 1. 

On Nov. 24, police responded to Knapton Street for a report of a sick raccoon. A day later, police responded to Barrington Beach around 1:20 p.m. for a sick raccoon. About two hours later, police were en route to Chapman Lane for another sick raccoon. On Friday, Nov. 29, a resident called police to report a sick raccoon in the area of New Meadow Road and Fireside Drive at about 9 a.m. On Saturday, Nov. 30, police responded to Glenfield Road for a sick raccoon. And on Sunday morning, Dec. 1, Barrington Police were called to a Grassy Plain Road residence for a sick raccoon. 

In all the recent incidents, police officers euthanized the sick animals. 

Barrington Times reached out to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management but has not heard back yet.