Warning Issued After Denver Residents Take Raccoons Into Home

DENVER, CO — Denver Animal Protection issued a warning Friday after reports of wild animals being taken into residents' homes.

"DAP officers have already responded to calls this spring in which people brought baby raccoons into their homes and played with them, which presents a serious rabies risk," the agency said in a news release.

"Spring and summer months mean a boom in wildlife baby populations. And while these babies are cute, they can be dangerous."

Rabies is a virus spread to people through the saliva of infected animals. Rabies is usually transmitted through a bite, and if the virus isn't treated before symptoms appear, it's deadly.

Any skunk, raccoon, bat, coyote or fox that's handled by a person or that comes in contact with a pet, must be tested for rabies, Denver Animal Protection said.

"Even a seemingly healthy animal could be carrying rabies and not exhibit any symptoms," the release read. "Unfortunately, that animal must be euthanized to be tested."

Pets need to be quarantined for at least 45 days if they come in contact with a wild animal, officials said.

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Baby animals are usually not orphaned — many species of wildlife leave their young in a safe place to look for food, often for hours, the agency said. Young birds often hop on the ground for days before they can fly, and people can do more harm than good if they intervene.

If you see sick or injured wildlife, leave the animal alone and contact Denver Animal Protection through 311 or the Denver police non-emergency number of 720-913-2000. DAP officers can assess if an animal needs to be humanely euthanized or transported to a rehab center for care.