‘It was probably the sickest raccoon I’ve ever seen,’ said Aleigha McLean, a falconer and wildlife advocate

A local falconer is concerned a deadly virus could be spreading in the city’s raccoon population – and it’s one that poses a grave risk to pets.

Since Easter Sunday, two residents in the Bayview neighbourhood and surrounding area have reached out to Aleigha McLean about raccoons that she said were seriously ill.

It’s a common occurrence for McLean, who frequently connects injured wild animals with the care they need.

The first raccoon McLean was contacted about was particularly ill when she went to pick it up.

“A girl messaged me on Easter Sunday, and said that there was a raccoon in her yard. It wasn’t moving much,” she told SooToday.

“I picked it up. It was really not doing well. That was probably the sickest raccoon I’ve ever seen.”

McLean brought the raccoon to the Sault Ste. Marie Humane Society, where it was kept outside before getting euthanized.

She said this raccoon exhibited symptoms of canine distemper – a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease that can impact domestic dogs and ferrets.

While the disease has not been confirmed by a lab, McLean suspects that’s what it had, given the symptoms.

“The most telling sign of it is if they are not moving much, and then eye discharge and nose discharge,” she said.

“Those are the classic symptoms of it.

“Once the symptoms show, they don’t ever make it,” she said.

It’s a slow and painful death.

“It needed to be euthanized by the vet that comes there.”

Earlier today, McLean was contacted about another sick raccoon on Whitney Avenue, just a few blocks from where the first one was found.

“It had the same exact symptoms.”

She told the resident to contact animal control.

SooToday found the raccoon on Whitney Avenue, resting on a lawn in broad daylight. 

It did not get startled when it was approached.

To help prevent the disease, McLean said residents should get their pets vaccinated, as well as take extra precautions.

“Keep an eye on what your animal is doing outside,” she said.

“I wouldn’t let them approach any wildlife at all, or eat anything off the ground. Then wash their paws when they come inside.”

For those who see a sick raccoon, McLean recommends contacting Sault Animal Control at 705-949-3573.

SooToday has reached out to the Humane Society and Ministry of Natural Resources for more information.