Posted on September 17, 19104 at 13:08:49:
A Takoma Park Police officer responded to a call in the 7300 block of Willow Avenue at about 5:45 p.m. today for the report of a raccoon acting aggressively towards a mail carrier. Based on the animal’s behavior, the officer suspected it was rabid and destroyed the animal.
Animal Services will transport the raccoon for testing. Further information will be provided as soon as an answer is available.
A raccoon, which had attacked a dog last Saturday in the 7400 block of Cedar Avenue, was destroyed by an officer and later tested positive for rabies. Police earlier on Saturday had responded to a report that a raccoon had bitten a child in the unit block of Philadelphia. The raccoon was not located and it is uncertain whether the two raccoons in Saturday’s events were the same animal.
A notice from the Montgomery County health department has been posted on the Police Bulletin Board regarding Saturday’s events and rabies in general. See: http://cityoftakomapark.org/pd/posts/messages/143.html
Parents are reminded to monitor their children while outdoors. Pet owners should also monitor their family pet and ensure that they are current with appropriate shots.
Residents should seek to share this information with neighbors who do not have Internet access.