Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
RIVERSIDE, Ill. (AP) — The warning about "zombie raccoons" may sound like something out of a bad television show, but a suburban Chicago police department says they present serious dangers to family pets.
The critters are called zombies because those carrying the distemper virus often stagger on their hind legs and bare their teeth. Riverside's police department says if they bite dogs they can transmit the serious disease that can cause respiratory and gastrointestinal problems and affect the nervous system.
The department issued its warning after fielding calls about raccoons acting oddly and says anyone who sees such an animal should call police. Chief Tom Weitzel tells the Chicago Tribune that officers will put the animals down and public works crews will dispose of their carcasses.
___
Information from: Chicago Tribune, http://www.chicagotribune.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
