Animal Control Monitoring Raccoon Illness

Animal Control officers in Alexandria deal with a variety of calls every week. Here's a glance at some recent incidents in the city courtesy of Patrick Egan of the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.

Sick raccoons — Alexandria Animal Control is monitoring a recent string of illness among raccoons. The majority of the ill ring-tailed bandits have been found east of Quaker Lane.

The exact nature of the illness has not been identified, but Animal Control is “fairly sure” it is not rabies, according to a media release. None of the affected raccoons that have been trapped have exhibited bite marks or open sores. Bites are the most common method of rabies transmission.

Animal Control is urging residents not to let their dogs or other pets run loose, especially at night when raccoons are more likely to be out.

If a resident notices a raccoon or any other wild animal exhibiting illness or acting strangely, they are urged to contact the Animal Control Office at 703-746-4444. As with any incident, residents are asked not to approach or handle the animals and to not feed wildlife.

Fly away — On Oct. 21, an Animal Control officer was dispatched to the 4800 block of Kenmore Avenue after receiving a report of a pigeon that had flown into a resident’s balcony. The pigeon had sat stunned on the balcony for some time.  

The officer was easily able to take the pigeon to the Vola Lawson Animal Shelter. It had a slightly hanging wing but didn’t seem to be in distress.

The following morning, the pigeon had recovered enough to fly away under its own power.