The Portland Animal Control is urging the community to be on alert when it comes to wild animals.
Two raccoons and a fox tested positive for the distemper virus.
The animals were caught at Sunset Lake, Causeway Dr. and East Bayview in the Olde Town Neighborhood.
PORTLAND ANIMAL CONTROL WARNS ABOUT DISTEMPER VIRUSThree wild animals test positive for virus that poses no threat to…
Posted by City of Portland on Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Portland police chief, Mark Cory, says the disease is not a threat to people, but it is highly contagious to animals and at times can be deadly.
The virus is transferred from animal to animal by simply coughing, sneezing, or simply sharing a water or food bowl.
It also causes wild animals to not fear humans.
Chief Cory says people need to stay vigilant and reduce any potential pet interactions with wildlife.
“Anything that’s going to attract wild animals into your residence, trash cans, the food left out for dogs or cat,” says Portland police chief Mark Cory. “Keep that picked up so that we don’t have these wild animals coming into your yard and possibly spreading that to the domesticated animals.”
If you do encounter a wild animal acting abnormally just dial 911.
Chief Cory also advises to pet owners to vaccinate their pets.
