Rabid raccoons run loose in Walton County

aleonard · 05-08-2008, 08:01 AM

Rabid raccoons run loose in Walton County

WALTON COUNTY – The Walton County Health Department has been notified of two rabid raccoons near U.S. Highway 83 in DeFuniak Springs at the north end of Walton County.

Individuals who have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal should contact the Walton County Health Department.

For more information, visit the Department of Health Web site at www.doh.state.fl.us or the Center for Disease Control’s Web site at www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies.

http://www.nwfdailynews.com/article/14255
Walton County Health Department Raises Rabies Alert

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24512939

sunspotbaby · 05-08-2008, 08:32 AM

Aww...poor raccoons... Rabies can't be funn.

Franny · 05-08-2008, 08:47 AM

And they become very aggressive with rabies. I know of three family members attacked while camping in the Georgia mountains.

NoHall · 05-08-2008, 09:02 AM

Shouldn't it be "rabid raccoons run rampant?"

Recently, we had animal control come door to door (in Georgia) to warn us of rabid skunks. How scary is that?!?!

SGB · 05-08-2008, 09:11 AM

Just this week we called Fish and Wildlife about a raccoon that has been roaming our neighborhood for the last few weeks. This raccoon is not afraid of people and is always out during daylight hours, which is unusual for a raccoon. We're afraid it might have rabies. We can't let our dog out in the yard by itself. We were told no one would come out to capture it. We could hire someone to do it. We were also told it's illegal to relocate raccoons.

Franny · 05-08-2008, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoHall

Shouldn't it be "rabid raccoons run rampant?"

Recently, we had animal control come door to door (in Georgia) to warn us of rabid skunks. How scary is that?!?!

I guess I'm following you around nohall.

I read several years ago that skunks were no longer in Florida. You were supposed to call Wildlife authorities if you saw one.

Ocean Lover · 05-08-2008, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGB

Just this week we called Fish and Wildlife about a raccoon that has been roaming our neighborhood for the last few weeks. This raccoon is not afraid of people and is always out during daylight hours, which is unusual for a raccoon. We're afraid it might have rabies. We can't let our dog out in the yard by itself. We were told no one would come out to capture it. We could hire someone to do it. We were also told it's illegal to relocate raccoons.

Is it illegal to shoot it?

aleonard · 05-08-2008, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoHall

Shouldn't it be "rabid raccoons run rampant?"

Recently, we had animal control come door to door (in Georgia) to warn us of rabid skunks. How scary is that?!?!

That would have been my headline

Stinky and mean, yep, that's scary.

aleonard · 05-08-2008, 09:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenroomsurfer

Attachment 8761 The raccon probably obtained the rabies from the folks off 83

singinchicken · 05-08-2008, 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenroomsurfer

Do you know Where and how far 83 goes?

83 runs north from 90 in DeFunial all the way to Alabama where it turns into 153...

aleonard · 05-08-2008, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenroomsurfer

Do you know Where and how far 83 goes?

Yep

sunspotbaby · 05-08-2008, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGB

Just this week we called Fish and Wildlife about a raccoon that has been roaming our neighborhood for the last few weeks. This raccoon is not afraid of people and is always out during daylight hours, which is unusual for a raccoon. We're afraid it might have rabies. We can't let our dog out in the yard by itself. We were told no one would come out to capture it. We could hire someone to do it. We were also told it's illegal to relocate raccoons.

Animal Control wouldn't come get it?? If it's out during daylight hours, chances are something is not right with it. I would Keep track of the officials you've spoken with. Maybe Aleanord can follow up with her resources on what you've been told. If it was in my yard, I have no doubt Mr. Sunspot would shoot it as much as he loves raccoons.
The poor thing must be suffering.

aleonard · 05-08-2008, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunspotbaby

Animal Control wouldn't come get it?? If it's out during daylight hours, chances are something is not right with it. I would Keep track of the officials you've spoken with. Maybe Aleanord can follow up with her resources on what you've been told. If it was in my yard, I have no doubt Mr. Sunspot would shoot it as much as he loves raccoons.
The poor thing must be suffering.

PM me SGB with who you've talked to and the area it was in and I'll make some calls tomorrow morning when I get into the office.

DuneLaker · 05-08-2008, 09:39 AM

The news brief in the Northwest Florida Daily News on this has a dateline of DeFuniak Springs and says "along US Highway 83 near here."

gotothebeachmom · 05-08-2008, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunspotbaby

Animal Control wouldn't come get it?? If it's out during daylight hours, chances are something is not right with it. I would Keep track of the officials you've spoken with. Maybe Aleanord can follow up with her resources on what you've been told. If it was in my yard, I have no doubt Mr. Sunspot would shoot it as much as he loves raccoons.
The poor thing must be suffering.

I had a raccoon incident at our house here in Seagrove. We were told animal control only handled cats and dogs, and to contact the Walton County Sheriff Dept. Sounded odd to us. However, a deputy came and took care of removing the pesky critter from my yard.

Sand Angel · 05-08-2008, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Franny

I guess I'm following you around nohall.

I read several years ago that skunks were no longer in Florida. You were supposed to call Wildlife authorities if you saw one.

There are still skunks in Florida, but the wild populations seem to be getting very low. I've seen more recently than I have in a few years (but no rabid ones

). I think a few years ago wildlife biologists were trying to do some population studies.

Sand Angel · 05-08-2008, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunspotbaby

Animal Control wouldn't come get it?? If it's out during daylight hours, chances are something is not right with it. I would Keep track of the officials you've spoken with. Maybe Aleanord can follow up with her resources on what you've been told. If it was in my yard, I have no doubt Mr. Sunspot would shoot it as much as he loves raccoons.
The poor thing must be suffering.

Call Walton Co. Health Department (267-3686). They cannot remove it, but since they handle rabies exposure issues, they will know who to call locally to remove it.

SGB · 05-08-2008, 11:21 AM

We called the Sheriff's Department, they told us to call the health dept, the health dept told us to call animal control. Animal control took a report, but told us to call Fish and Wildlife. Fish and Wildlife told us we could hire someone to trap it, or trap it ourselves. We then asked what do we do with it once it is in a trap. We were told we could humanely kill it. The raccoon is in the Mack Bayou area.

aleonard · 05-08-2008, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenroomsurfer

Wrong answer, it starts at the
in blue mountain and is the same road as 331 all the way till ya hit the trash in Bama
http://maps.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTExNmIycG51BF9TAz I3MTYxNDkEc2VjA2ZwLWJ1dHRvbgRzbGsDbGluaw--#mvt=m&l at=30.382626&lon=-86.239419&zoom=14

You can find "trash" in any neighborhood. You don't have to wait till you get to the State line. There is also a big difference between country people and "trash."

aleonard · 05-08-2008, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenroomsurfer

I'm not talking about people, next time ya pass the state line you will notice a big difference in crap on the side of the road. I'll take pictures cuz I'll be up there this afternoon.

Paxton that is!

Thanks for clarifying

I'll be passing through Paxton as well this afternoon.
My mom lives in Florala. Although I grew up in the area, I will admit Gaskin can be a little scary at night

aleonard · 05-08-2008, 01:05 PM

NoHall · 05-08-2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sand Angel

There are still skunks in Florida, but the wild populations seem to be getting very low. I've seen more recently than I have in a few years (but no rabid ones

). I think a few years ago wildlife biologists were trying to do some population studies.

They've moved to my neighborhood. Another cat story: Our recently deceased fur-baby, Smudge, looked just like the black cat that Pepe LePew chased in Looney Tunes. It wasn't until he showed up that we had a sudden surge in skunk "smellings" (we only saw them when they had been hit by a car, so I hate to call them "sightings.") Since he's been sick, they seem to have disappeared...

Coincidence?

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGB

We called the Sheriff's Department, they told us to call the health dept, the health dept told us to call animal control. Animal control took a report, but told us to call Fish and Wildlife. Fish and Wildlife told us we could hire someone to trap it, or trap it ourselves. We then asked what do we do with it once it is in a trap. We were told we could humanely kill it. The raccoon is in the Mack Bayou area.

Humanely trap and kill a rabid raccoon. Wow. Not sure how to think about that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by aleonard

You're beautiful.

bdub · 05-08-2008, 02:30 PM

Let's see --in recent days we have read on these pages about wolves, coyotes, poisonous snakes, frog infestations, stinging rays, sharks and now rabid racoons. What's next -- a plague of locusts? This isn't Sowal.com -- this is becoming Animal Planet.

Sand Angel · 05-08-2008, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGB

We called the Sheriff's Department, they told us to call the health dept, the health dept told us to call animal control. Animal control took a report, but told us to call Fish and Wildlife. Fish and Wildlife told us we could hire someone to trap it, or trap it ourselves. We then asked what do we do with it once it is in a trap. We were told we could humanely kill it. The raccoon is in the Mack Bayou area.

That is insane! Let me check with a couple of biologist friends and I'll send you a PM if we can get anyone to commit to removing this animal before someone or their pet ends up with rabies. I can trap it, but I'm not interested in killing anything or handling potentially rabid animals. That's a job for FWS whether they like it or not.

seagrovegirl · 05-08-2008, 04:25 PM

I love Paxton...I have a weekend home on the stateline. Some places are messy/trashy...but for the most part...very nicely kept homes. Grayt folks too! Very friendly and helpful. It's where I go to get away from the pretencious beach b.s.

luvthebeach · 05-08-2008, 05:00 PM

Whenever I hear of Paxton I always think of that little furniture resale shop on 331 run by a cute old couple (I think it may be called Jerri's?) We've stopped in on our way to SoWal whenever we managed to drive by during business hours. Found a couple of cute lamps, a vase and some other miscellanous things.

aleonard · 05-08-2008, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvthebeach

Whenever I hear of Paxton I always think of that little furniture resale shop on 331 run by a cute old couple (I think it may be called Jerri's?) We've stopped in on our way to SoWal whenever we managed to drive by during business hours. Found a couple of cute lamps, a vase and some other miscellanous things.

Drove by there this afternoon. There are some really cool shops in Florala as well. The one with Elvis out front has almost anything from the 40's, 50's and beyond. I have found great evening bags and retro jewelry there as well as furniture.

luvthebeach · 05-08-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aleonard

Drove by there this afternoon. There are some really cool shops in Florala as well. The one with Elvis out front has almost anything from the 40's, 50's and beyond. I have found great evening bags and retro jewelry there as well as furniture.

I've always wondered about the Elvis place! Will make a point to stop in next time we're in the area. Thanks for the tip!

aleonard · 05-08-2008, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenroomsurfer

Just returned from Paxton. Hey Aleonard when is the farmers market up there open? We were doing some work up there and stopped by to see a friends weekend get away. It was in Walton Plantation. First time seeing the house, and now I know why he did not want me to see it. The house is almost a replica of my own.

I would guess on Saturday mornings, but I haven't been up there at that time in awhile.

Imitation is the highest form of flattery

isacksphoto · 05-09-2008, 08:00 AM

I'm in on that too! We have a racoon in our yard that has been wondering during the day & I have two outdoor cats!!!!!!!!! I actually saw the racoon walk through my backyard last week, and climb into the creek in my yard and swim across. But he is also aggresive enough to have been on my porch during the day. I called Fish & Wildlife as well and was told they would not come out. I live in Old Seagrove and we have four kids, two outdoor cats as I mentioned and an old dog...they need to do something about this!

Smiling JOe · 05-09-2008, 08:41 AM

I caught a Blue Crab, yesterday, which began foaming beautiful bubbles like I've never seen. I wonder if Crabs can get Rabies? I do have a Raccoon living at the water's edge, close to where I caught the Crab. I threw the foaming crab in with my other catch. If they are all foaming by the end of the day, I'll have to reconsider eating them. --- NOT.

DuneLaker · 05-09-2008, 09:13 AM

[quote=greenroomsurfer;405959]Wrong answer, it starts at the
in blue mountain and is the same road as 331 all the way till ya hit the trash in Bama
http://maps.yahoo.com/;_ylc=X3oDMTExNmIycG51BF9TAz

I think we need some more work on our directions. I never entirely trust these internet maps. If you mapsquest my address, you get my mother's beachhouse around the corner! There are streets that don't exist to turn on.

Anyway, need to confirm, don't have all my maps handy, but lets check this out. Maybe things have changed since this map was produced.

The 83 near Blue Mountain is a County Road.
According to a County Map I have handy at the moment, State Road 83 does join up with 331 at 98 in South Walton by the Tom Thumb and TDC, but does not connect with County Road 83 in Blue Mountain. At State Road 90 in DeFuniak Springs you turn left to pick up 331. You must turn right at 90 to continue on 83.

State Road 83/331 runs from 98 in South Walton, up through Freeport and to 90 in DeFuniak Springs. Then you turn right, or East, and after a light or two you turn back north and continue on 83 (not connected with 331) up to Alabama going through Walton County communities like Glendale and Gaskin.

You deadend at Hwy 90 in DeFuniak. Turn left or West at the light to go a mile or two to pick up 331. Turn North at the light at Tom Thumb and head North to Paxton and then Alabama border. My county map shows it as 331/187 at this point.

I'm sure someone out there can confirm or correct this.

DuneLaker · 05-09-2008, 09:18 AM

State Road 83 up in DeFuniak runs near the County Jail. Maybe it isn't a racoon, but a rabid inmate. The stripes on their prison uniform could have been mistaken with the racoons black and white stripe face!

singinchicken · 05-09-2008, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DuneLaker

The 83 near Blue Mountain is a County Road.
According to a County Map I have handy at the moment, State Road 83 does join up with 331 at 98 in South Walton by the Tom Thumb and TDC, but does not connect with County Road 83 in Blue Mountain. At State Road 90 in DeFuniak Springs you turn left to pick up 331. You must turn right at 90 to continue on 83.

State Road 83/331 runs from 98 in South Walton, up through Freeport and to 90 in DeFuniak Springs. Then you turn right, or East, and after a light or two you turn back north and continue on 83 (not connected with 331) up to Alabama going through Walton County communities like Glendale and Gaskin.

You deadend at Hwy 90 in DeFuniak. Turn left or West at the light to go a mile or two to pick up 331. Turn North at the light at Tom Thumb and head North to Paxton and then Alabama border. My county map shows it as 331/187 at this point.

I'm sure someone out there can confirm or correct this.

Right...83 between 30A and 98 is a county road as depicted by a square box around the number. 83 from 98 all the way to Alabama is a state road / hwy as depicted by an elipse around the number...

Sand Angel · 05-09-2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

I caught a Blue Crab, yesterday, which began foaming beautiful bubbles like I've never seen. I wonder if Crabs can get Rabies? I do have a Raccoon living at the water's edge, close to where I caught the Crab. I threw the foaming crab in with my other catch. If they are all foaming by the end of the day, I'll have to reconsider eating them. --- NOT.

I don't think blue crabs can get rabies. Those bubbles were probably caused by stress

. To them, you look like a great big predator that might eat them. Oh wait, you ARE a great big predator that is going to eat them!

Sand Angel · 05-09-2008, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by isacksphoto

I'm in on that too! We have a racoon in our yard that has been wondering during the day & I have two outdoor cats!!!!!!!!! I actually saw the racoon walk through my backyard last week, and climb into the creek in my yard and swim across. But he is also aggresive enough to have been on my porch during the day. I called Fish & Wildlife as well and was told they would not come out. I live in Old Seagrove and we have four kids, two outdoor cats as I mentioned and an old dog...they need to do something about this!

I have been told to shoot the raccoon

, but NOT in the head, and then call Walton County Health Department to come out and collect the carcass to be tested for rabies. FWS has no regulations on raccoons, but you might be breaking some WC ordinance against discharging firearms in residential areas (not sure about that one).

A better idea may be to contact Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge to see if they would trap the animal and either relocate it or have it euthanized, whichever is appropriate based on its condition. Raccoons love to steal food and other stuff that looks interesting to them, and they become pretty bold over time, especially if they have always been in an area with a lot of people. I have worked in state parks where they would walk right up to you and take anything within reach. We used to tell campers to lock their coolers in the trunk and not to leave their car keys lying around.

The point is that a very bold raccoon might not necessarily be rabid, but they are not sweet, cuddly animals either. They only look cute. Trust me when I say that a trapped raccoon is no longer cute, and they have some serious teeth and claws. DO NOT get too close, even if you think they are not rabid.

scooterbug44 · 05-09-2008, 09:23 PM

If there is a rabid anything in my yard, I want a professional whose salary is paid by my tax dollars to deal with it!

I'll deal w/ spiders, cockroaches, run off feral cats, and tee off on an intruder, but rabies should be dealt with by pros!

Lisa_at_the_beach · 05-11-2008, 04:05 PM

Wow, this is so weird. I watched a raccoon yesterday walk around my driveway....I opened the door and was going to try to take photo of it with my cell phone....I got within 25 feet of it and it just stood there staring at me....then he hopped on a tree and just hung there. I tried to get a photo but it didn't come out. Then this morning Lola was going nuts at the back door...and there walking across the back yard was the same raccoon carrying a pretty big baby in it's mouth.....it drug it to the neighbor's fence....then climbed the fence and went over the other side. This was around 2:00 pm.....I've always heard if they are out in the day, to stay away from them....

but the baby was REALLY cute ;)

jdarg · 05-11-2008, 04:15 PM

Distemper is a common problem with raccoons, so many of the raccoons that are hanging out during the day behaving strangely are probably sick with distemper, not rabies.

Another reason to make sure your pets' vaccines are up to date!

Distemper info here- pretty good article--

http://www.state.tn.us/twra/pdfs/distemper.pdf

ShallowsNole · 05-12-2008, 08:53 AM

Fuzz's grandma - who lives not very far from Hwy 83 in Nowal - told me a story today of the time a rabid cat chased her in the house and tore the screen off their front porch door AND the screen door to the main house, and was throwing itself/scratching at the main door. The only lock/reliable way of keeping the door shut was a hook and eye, and it was on the verge of giving way when the cat expired.

Sometimes her stories are a bit embellished, but there is a corroborating witness for this one.

DuneLaker · 05-12-2008, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenroomsurfer

Before there was 331 etc. etc. etc. 83 was the only road north after the ferry quit running. Just for the info camp creek road is the oldest road in florida and St Augustine is the oldest city in the U.S. how do I know this? I'm surrounded by Knowitalls and ya didn't specify. Specifics Bob

I'm not really sure what you are talking about? What decade or century? The recent directions were for current conditions. BTW St. Augustine, 1565, was started after Pensacola, 1559. Pensacola just wasn't continuous. Before that, cities that were in what was earlier borders of Florida existed such as Ft. Caroline, 1564 and San Miguel de Gualdape, 1521. There were many native and early settlement roads in the area. For example, not really that old, but in 1931 the Walton County map shows what is now Hwy 98 at in South Walton as State Road 115. There is no bridge over the Choctawhatchee Bay (fyi Santa Rosa Bay for centuries previous). It shows unnamed county roads going down to the Seagrove Beach and Grayton area. Eastern Lake neighborhood is actually named "Miramar" at this point. On north side of bay, county road picks up around "Motes Point" and "Beatrica". Then connects up at Freeport and the road is called State Road 40 crossing over the Old Spanish Trail. Then you have road up to Paxton to West and another road up through Glendale and Gaskin to East.

DD · 05-12-2008, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShallowsNole

Fuzz's grandma - who lives not very far from Hwy 83 in Nowal - told me a story today of the time a rabid cat chased her in the house and tore the screen off their front porch door AND the screen door to the main house, and was throwing itself/scratching at the main door. The only lock/reliable way of keeping the door shut was a hook and eye, and it was on the verge of giving way when the cat expired.

Sometimes her stories are a bit embellished, but there is a corroborating witness for this one.

Oh SN, I love your stories!

DuneLaker · 05-12-2008, 11:22 PM

Worst case. If you did get bitten by a rabid raccoon, the rabies shots are not as bad as they used to be. My mom and brother had to take the shots back in the 1950s after an attact by a rabid cat up in DeFuniak. While I was on a trip in another country, I had a nasty dog bite which resulted in rabies shots. Really not that bad. Upside, I think I'm good for the next 10 years, so just call me if you have a rabid raccoon that needs to be taken care of. Just a heads up. For the shots, I had to go to the emergency room at Sacred Heart on the Emerald Coast in Miramar Beach near Sandestin to start the shots. It is important to start as soon as possible. South Walton Health Center between SWHS and Library did not have on hand. They did get for the remaining series of shots required.

Sand Angel · 05-13-2008, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisa_at_the_beach

Wow, this is so weird. I watched a raccoon yesterday walk around my driveway....I opened the door and was going to try to take photo of it with my cell phone....I got within 25 feet of it and it just stood there staring at me....then he hopped on a tree and just hung there. I tried to get a photo but it didn't come out. Then this morning Lola was going nuts at the back door...and there walking across the back yard was the same raccoon carrying a pretty big baby in it's mouth.....it drug it to the neighbor's fence....then climbed the fence and went over the other side. This was around 2:00 pm.....I've always heard if they are out in the day, to stay away from them....

but the baby was REALLY cute ;)

A mother raccoon with babies is not likely rabid or sick, even if seen during the day. Nursing mothers with babies are often seen foraging for food during the day, but they do not wander far from their babies. I would bet that she has a den close to your home. If you are worried about kids or pets, call Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge to see if they will relocate the raccoons. Nokuse Plantation may take them, too.

SGB · 05-13-2008, 05:28 PM

As it turns out, Lisa_at_the_beach and I live one street apart, so maybe we're seeing the same raccoon. I certainly don't want to separate a mom from its babies. We'll see if the raccoon persists and call Emerald Coast Wildlife to relocate if it becomes a problem. We'll just have to keep a close eye on our dog when she's outside.

NoHall · 05-13-2008, 06:05 PM

We had a couple of raccoons a few years ago who routinely broke into our screened in porch to eat the cat food. By "broke in," I mean they went through screens and wooden trellises to get through.

Dad finally had enough of it, and animal control around here is completely useless. He got a humane trap and relocated them himself to a secluded little park about 6 or 7 miles from here. The funny part is that every time we went past that park for the longest time, he would wave and say, "Hey, little buddies!"

Dad's a softy.