Wildlife Education - Information, Advice, and Techniques for the Safe Removal of Raccoons from Attics

Rabies Vector Species - RVS

In some states, the raccoon is classified as a rabies vector species (RVS), which means it's an animal that can carry and transmit rabies. Technically, any mammal can do so, but raccoons are a higher risk. Thus, the animal is subject to certain laws by state. Here is a response about raccoon relocation that I received from one wildlife expert who wrote to me:

"I just read your web site about raccoons. I don't know where you are located, but I am in Upstate New York. Our Dept of Environ. Conservation licenses us and regulates all wildlife in our care. Here in New York, rehabbers who take in rabies vector species, such as skunks, raccoons, and bats, must have additional training, specialized caging, and a series of three pre-exposure rabies vaccinations before handling any RVS. The vaccinations run around $600.00. This is at the expense of the rehabber of course. Then your facility must be inspected by the USDA. A separate log must be kept for each RVS. All RVS must be released back into the county they came from and the rehabber must be registered with the Health Dept. of each county he/she receives RVS from. The public is not allowed to transport any RVS, therefore the rehabber must drive to the initial site of where the RVS was found to pick them up and later release them. A rehabber in my area was caught two years ago accepting baby coons from someone who drove them to her. Her license was revoked for two years and she had to go through a hearing and respond to the charges brought against her. Needless to say, in a State of more than 17 million people there are fewer than 30 RVS licensed rehabbers in the entire state that can take RVS. Last year I got calls about baby coons from Queens in NY City. That is more than 6 hours one way away from where I live and I surely am not registered in that county. I have all I can do to respond to the calls from my own county. I LOVED your web site. It is well done and very informative. Please let people know however, that there might not be any rehabbers in their area that can accept RVS. In the far western part of NY there are no RVS rehabbers in 8 joining counties. I have bookmarked your site and will surely pass it on to everyone I know with raccoons in their attics. Where are you? I know each state has their own laws. I do believe that there are some areas that do not allow any rehabber to take RVS at all for any reason. Keep up the good work. You are doing a great job at educating the public."



The above was a good email about raccoons and rabies. You can check out my how to catch raccoons page for email examples of raccoon situations from my website readers. More rabies discussion below:

"This time of year we are all preparing for baby season. We are all budgeting our purchases towards the supplies we know we will need. This Rabies Detection Kit sounds wonderful, yes. But please ask yourself; why is there no endorsement, no clinical testing done, no approval as yet from any organization or government agency? Perhaps our monies may be better spent 'til we hear more of this from professional voices. Annie"

"Thank you for the responses I have received regarding this test kit and process. From everything I am hearing it sounds dangerous. I mean that a lot of our credibility with the public and the governmental agencies that regulate us depends on the perception that we are using the most reliable and safest methods to ensure that the animals we are caring for are not a threat to the public well being. If it is known that one of us is using an unproven and unreliable process or procedure, then that could damage the credibility of that person and any other rehabbers that the public or the agencies associate with us. If I get in an animal that is suspect, I euthanize it and take the head to my State lab. In 15 years I have had only one animal come back positive. So that means many animals have been needlessly euthanized. Yes it does. I cannot deny that. But when a reporter or a school administrator asks me how can I be sure that the animals I am dealing with are safe, I can state that I am incompliance with all requirements of state and federal authorities regarding that issue. I immunize RVS' that I release for rabies and distemper. Not just for the animals well being but for the publics perception that I am doing what I can to minimize the threat to theirs and their families safety. Some have argued that by immunizing the wild animals I am rehabbing, that I am upsetting natural processes. That rabies and distemper are naturally occurring diseases which control populations. My rationale for the rabies is clear. It is to protect the animals from the publics fear that they might have rabies. If the public wants to think I am doing it to protect them, it doesn't hurt. For the distemper I argue that frequency of occurrence in our wild populations is unnaturally affected by the wild animals interactions with the strays and feral, domestic animals running in our area. That means that I think the distemper issue is a man-made threat and I feel justified in doing what I can to fight it. But doing something that is less than 100% recognized and proven can have disastrous results. Especially in those States which regulate or prohibit the rehab of RVS."

Click to learn more about other raccoon diseases, such as raccoon roundworm.
Please be kind to raccoons! They are intelligent animals, and believe it or not, they definitely have emotions!
If you have any questions about raccoons in attics, just email me at david@raccoonatticguide.com