If you live in an urban setting, or if the year has been bad for food, raccoons will change their habits to fit when food is most available. If you always put your garbage out at in the afternoon, the raccoons in the area will learn that. A raccoon out in the daytime that is lingering in your yard, seems overly friendly, is acting unstable, lethargic, or is walking in odd patterns, should be reported to the police.
Most police stations will come out and shoot a raccoon that may be ill. The body is then sent to the health department where it will be evaluated for possible infectious disease. Aside from odd behavior, seeing a raccoon out in daylight does not always mean the creature is ill.
Click to learn more about other raccoon diseases other than rabies. Click here for my full guide on raccoon trapping tips. Is a raccoon that is active during the daytime rabid? Rarely is a raccoon rabid when it is active during the daytime. While daytime behavior could be an indicator of rabies, finding a raccoon during the day isn't sufficient evidence to qualify that raccoon as rabid.
As most people are already aware, raccoons are primarily nocturnal creatures. They normally spend the lighter hours of the day near their den, asleep. However, since raccoons have high adaptability, and can change their habits to find the best available source of food, it's not surprising to see them active during the day.
This is especially true of urban raccoons that forage from commercial and residential garbage cans, and of raccoons that are brave enough to seek handouts from passersby. Rabid raccoons do exhibit abnormal behaviors, including walking around during the day, but finding one during the lighter hours isn't enough to call a raccoon rabid.
Depending on the time of year, it's likely that a diurnal raccoon could be partaking in the mating season, if it has not done so already. Additionally, a mother raccoon out with her kits during the day is more than likely taking them on a hunting trip, to show them how to forage.
There are a number of reasons why raccoons will venture out into the sunlight. If a daytime raccoon is in fact rabid, it is easily distinguishable from its healthy counterparts. There are several, telltale symptoms of a sick raccoon which most people can recognize immediately, with careful observation and a little forehand knowledge. Normal raccoons behave deliberately, with steady physical movements, but sick raccoons will appear disoriented, and have been known to walk in circles, stagger, and even fall over.
Also, sick raccoons will appear lethargic, overly aggressive, or overly friendly though this may also be true of raccoons adjusted to being fed by humans. A raccoon with apparently paralyzed hind legs, or a raccoon dragging its hind legs behind it, are also indicative of rabies. Of course, foaming at the mouth and sensitivity to light and sound are both dead giveaways.
In short, if a raccoon looks and acts sick, then it should be clear what's going on. Caution should be exercised around all wildlife, including raccoons. If you happen to come across a raccoon in the daytime, do not approach. More often than not, a healthy raccoon out and about will be on its merry way without a human's intervention.
If it appears that the animal is foraging from local dumpsters or garbage cans, try locking the lids or putting them out at different times of the day, respectively. Rabies and distemper are two illnesses that can cause raccoons to behave in a strange manner. If you spot a raccoon on your property that seems to be sick, off balance or lacking a genuine fear of humans, contact wildlife services immediately.
Juvenile raccoons are much less likely to be strictly nocturnal as compared to adults. If you see a raccoon near your home, you most likely have an infestation somewhere nearby. Take a look around your home. Have you noticed a new strong and weird smell? Have you seen damage to the exterior of your home that was not there before? Have you heard sounds at night such as scratching, rustling or whimpering?
If you have seen raccoons regularly around your home, then the creatures have probably found an area nearby to call home, perhaps a crawlspace or even the attic of your house. Once you begin to notice such signs, wildlife control must be contacted. The home will need to be inspected by an expert to ensure that raccoons are not present. If a problem is found, a plan of action will be created to see the raccoons removed humanely and quickly. Preventative measures will also be provided to keep the raccoons from coming back into your home.
Raccoons are more active during dusk and dawn and during the night, but being out during the day can be normal too and does not necessarily mean the animal is rabid. The only reason, being out during the day might be cause for alarm is if the animal is behaving oddly in other ways — combined, these could be signs of rabies. If you suspect a rabid raccoon, do not approach it. Call animal control or pest control and leave the animal alone. To recap, while being out during the day may seem odd to you, raccoons might just be out scavenging for food for themselves or their young, or avoiding danger near their dens.
If you notice other odd behaviors in a raccoon out during the day, including poor motor function, aggression, foaming at the mouth, or disorientation, these could be signs of a sick animal. Call for help and remove yourself from the situation as best you can. Our FREE search tool can help you find professional pest control services in your area and give you a detailed quote based on your needs.
Click on the button to get started! Why would a Raccoon be out During the Day? Here are common reasons why raccoons come out during the day: If there is an available food source. Raccoons are opportunistic little omnivores and will come out during the day if food is available.
If there are babies to feed. Mother raccoons require more food during birthing and nursing seasons and may venture out during the day to meet those needs. What to do if you see a Raccoon out During the Day Leave it alone. If you see a raccoon during daylight hours, no matter how cute they are, leave it alone.
But even healthy raccoons can spread disease or bite. Never feed it. Feeding raccoons encourages close contact, which can be dangerous to you and the raccoon. Exercise caution.
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