Raccoons survive the week in Barrington — no sick animal sightings

Since early September, Barrington Police have put down 30 raccoons

Posted 12/24/24

For the first time in nearly four months, Barrington Police went an entire week without receiving a call for a sick raccoon in town.  

From the end of August through the middle of December, …

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Raccoons survive the week in Barrington — no sick animal sightings

Since early September, Barrington Police have put down 30 raccoons

Posted

For the first time in nearly four months, Barrington Police went an entire week without receiving a call for a sick raccoon in town. 

From the end of August through the middle of December, dozens of Barrington residents called police and reported sick raccoon sightings. In most responses, police officers euthanized the sick animals. 

As of Dec. 14, Barrington Police had put down 30 raccoons. 

But from Monday to Sunday, Dec. 16 to 22, there was not a single police incident involving a raccoon.

Morgan Lucot, the RIDEM Furbearer Specialist, said the cause of any fluctuation in wildlife disease can be hard to pinpoint. Lucot added that residents are strongly encourage to vaccinate their pets against distemper, and rabies vaccinations are required by law.

Dr. Shelly Pancoast, a veterinarian who lives in Barrington, wrote a letter to the editor recently, urging caution by residents and pet-owners. “Because there is no evidence thus far as to what disease is affecting the raccoon population in Barrington, we should assume it is likely to be rabies, and take necessary precautions to protect public health,” Pancoast wrote.

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