LEYDEN — A raccoon that was spotted on Coates Road last week tested positive for rabies, according to the Leyden Board of Health.

This comes following two raccoons that tested positive for rabies in Colrain in December and January, both on Wilson Hill Road. Kyle Dragon, animal control officer with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office, said that while it is the third positive sighting in three months, it doesn’t signify a higher population of rabid raccoons or other animals.

“We’ve seen more of them because they’re being caught and tested, but it’s probably not higher than normal,” Dragon said.

Typically, he said rabid raccoons or other animals may be hit by a car, succumb to disease, or die of other causes as “nature takes its course” before they are caught.

Leyden Police Chief Dan Galvis said the raccoon captured on Coates Road was spotted on Feb. 5. Galvis sent a notice alerting residents to the rabid raccoon through the town’s reverse 911 system. According to Galvis, the police department is responsible for animal control in town, and Sgt. Tina Riddell picked up the raccoon and transported it to a veterinarian for testing.

The Board of Health posted a notice of the recent sighting and test result on the town’s website on Tuesday.

The Board of Health emphasized the importance of ensuring that pets are up-to-date on their rabies vaccines. Dragon said he plans to work with town administrators to set up clinics so residents can vaccinate their animals.

Leyden Town Clerk Nicole Glabach said the farmer who reported the raccoon on Coates Road had her livestock and pets receive up-to-date rabies vaccines, at $20 per animal, on Tuesday, just to be safe.

Dragon said he also plans to provide town officials with educational information to pass on to residents. He said raccoons can transmit rabies to all other mammals, including humans. In some states, raccoons are classified as a rabies vector species (RVS), which means they can carry and transmit diseases. Any mammal can do this, but raccoons are at a higher risk.

“Don’t approach wildlife,” Dragon advised. “When you see it, call it in.”

There are a handful of signs that a raccoon is rabid, he said. Foaming at the mouth is one of the most well-known symptoms. Most raccoons make noises, but a sick raccoon will make uncommon or strange noises. Rabid raccoons may look confused, disoriented and slow, while a healthy raccoon will look busy as they are very active and intelligent. They may also show signs of difficulty walking as paralysis in the legs is often a symptom of rabies.

The Board of Health recommends visiting bit.ly/2Hho39D for more information. If you encounter a rabid raccoon or other animal, call the Shelburne Control dispatch center at 413-625-8200. With questions, contact Kyle Dragon at 413-768-0983 or kdrag on@fcso-ma.us.

Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or
413-930-4579.