Rabid Lactating Raccoon Recovered at 34th and R Streets NW

The DC Department of Health (DOH) learned Thursday that a lactating female raccoon captured in an alley behind 34th and R Streets NW was infected with rabies.

"On Wednesday July 10, 2013 a sick raccoon that was picked up from the alley on 34th  and R St. NW was recently determined rabid by the DC Department of Health.  The raccoon was a yr. old lactating mother  that left her young ones behind and possibly also rabid," according to an email from Maria Hille, a supervisory biologist, for Animal Disease Control at DC DOH. 

Hille advises residents to do their part to prevent attracting wild animals by addressing sanitation issues. She suggests properly securing trash cans and blocking or filling in holes near crawl spaces, porches and attics. 

"The main message here is prevention and caution on approaching any suspicious animals including loose cats and dogs," Hille wrote in an email.