Document text
2 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Morning Jolt: Single mom of 4 is one of Powerball winners Today in the News: Poll shows most Americans favor mandatory vaccinations Morning Jolt: Colleagues dispute Bill O’Reilly’s ‘war zone’ story Morning Jolt: ‘Parks and Rec’ exec dies Morning Jolt: Most of US in deep freeze Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Politics and Elections Education Environment State News Nation - World Defying GOP, Obama vetoes Keystone XL pipeline bill Nigeria bombers kill at least 27 in bus station attacks Abe turns to veteran of TPP trade talks as new farm minister Eurozone backs Greek reforms; key hurdle to extend bailout Mayor: At least 8 dead in Czech restaurant shooting Obituaries Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable We found the real Ron Swanson, and he's just like the one on TV Warren and Kenny G mash-up of "Regulate" is awkward Warm up to living longer: 5 things about saunas and healthier living Watch the witty 'House of Cards' parody by Sesame Street Live webcams show progress of two bald eagles and their two new eaglets Sports Latest Stories Joey Logano gives Roger Penske another Daytona 500 win Kyle Busch injured in Xfinity Series race at Daytona North Carolina coaching great Dean Smith dies at 83 Sons represent late Junior Seau at Hall of Fame announcement Varsity 541 College Sports Pro Sports Community Sports Business Latest Stories Real Estate News People In Business Transportation Agriculture Opinion Latest Editorials Letters to the Editor Columns Guest Opinions Lifestyle Latest stories Worldwide ticket sales shake up Hollywood box office figures Directors announce topic, give sneak peek of new 'Frozen' short to air before Disney's 'Cinderella' Food Home and Garden Health Hiking Biking Faith Worldwide ticket sales shake up Hollywood box office figures Directors announce topic, give sneak peek of new 'Frozen' short to air before Disney's 'Cinderella' Milestones and Achievements Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Theater Music Community Events Dining Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Two dogs perish in east Medford house fire ... Our View: Homeless food proposal is the best solution yet ... Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding ... Two dogs perish in east Medford house fire ... Our View: Homeless food proposal is the best solution yet ... Guest Opinion: Bill would shore up legal aid funding ... Officials tracking distemper outbreak in raccoons Wildlife biologists are investigating an apparent outbreak of canine distemper that's racing through the local raccoon population. Comment By MARK FREEMAN MailTribune.com By MARK FREEMAN Posted Jan. 26, 2013 at 12:05 AM Updated Jan 26, 2013 at 3:05 AM By MARK FREEMAN Posted Jan. 26, 2013 at 12:05 AM Updated Jan 26, 2013 at 3:05 AM » Social News Wildlife biologists are investigating an apparent outbreak of canine distemper that's racing through the local raccoon population. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in the past two weeks has collected eight raccoons that turned up dead in Ashland, Talent, Phoenix, Jacksonville and south Medford, and six already have been confirmed as suffering from distemper. Last year six dead raccoons collected in Jackson and Josephine counties tested positive for the disease, said Mark Vargas, ODFW's Rogue District wildlife biologist. "We've had it before in foxes, and now we're starting to see it a lot more in raccoons," Vargas says. "When the raccoon population gets high, you often see distemper outbreaks, and I don't think there's a storm drain in Jackson County without a family of 'coons in it." Distemper does not affect people, but pets are susceptible, particularly if pet owners haven't kept up with distemper vaccinations, Vargas said. Distemper is a highly contagious and generally fatal virus that regularly spikes in urban areas of the Pacific Northwest when local populations of raccoons, skunks and other animals surge. Infected animals often have runny noses and eyes, are listless in daylight, and often appear disoriented and uninterested in food or water. Biologists are keeping tabs on distemper-infected raccoons and foxes around people, Vargas said, because symptoms can be similar to rabies. Biologists want to check every raccoon that died near people to test for distemper and rabies, which can pose health threats to people. Anyone who finds a dead raccoon near a house should call ODFW at 541-826-8778 to report it. If possible, double-bag it, and wear gloves when handling it, Vargas said. Residents who find a live raccoon with distemper symptoms can euthanize it if they live outside of city limits, Vargas said. Biologists don't plan to go out to find and euthanize sickly raccoons, he said. Similar outbreaks swept through the Rogue Valley's raccoon populations in the early 1990s and mid-2000s. In a 2005-06 outbreak, ODFW banned the trapping and release of raccoons in the wild, and the outbreak eventually stopped. But biologists said it was unproven that the ban on releases alone ended the outbreak. The cause of the outbreaks was unknown, but animals can spread it from nose-to-nose contact or a shared food source, which is not common in the wild and is associated with people feeding wildlife. Humans should avoid touching any wild animals, especially those suspected of carrying a disease, Vargas said. Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470 or [email protected]. By MARK FREEMAN MailTribune.com By MARK FREEMAN Posted Jan. 26, 2013 at 12:05 AM Updated Jan 26, 2013 at 3:05 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501