I live on Lake Travis, n/w of Austin, and have an assortment of wildlife, from the usual deer, raccoons, fox, coyote, at least one bob-cat along with a variety of raptors including Bald Eagles and Osprey.
I have been feeding 'coons on the back deck, I know, my bad and have a semi tame 'coon I've hand fed since she was little.
She had litter as I could see she had tits. She finally brought a single kit up, cute little guy, but I noticed it acted depressed and just sat there and wasn't a bundle of curiosity and into everything the way baby coons normally behave.
It disappeared for a duration, however, a month ago it reappeared, still acting lethargic and depressed and sleeping way too much. I mentioned it to people, saying there's something wrong with it. Then I noticed it had trouble using it's hind legs as if paralyzed. I figured maybe a coyote or fox had attacked it and injured it's back.
Ok, a few nights ago, while watching the mom and little one eating dry food I put out I noticed a second kit dragging itself across the deck by it's front legs. I thought 'Oh, crap.' I googled "raccoon dragging hind legs" and learned paralysis in the hind legs is one sign of rabies or canine distemper.
The next day I called a wildlife rescue rehab lady and she confirmed what I learned, rabies or distemper. Two fox were also found to have rabies a few miles from here recently. Tonight a kit came up and ate and then lay emaciated on the deck until I loaded the Colt .22 and I did what I had to do.
When bagging the little guy I noticed a foul odor not usual in coons. I trapped and spotlighted 'coons as a kid and knew it wasn't normal. I went back and googled some more and one sign of canine distemper is a foul smell.
I'm taking the remains to Burnet Co. Animal Control and they can run tests to make sure it doesn't have rabies as rabies and distemper exhibit nearly identical symptoms such as paralysis in the hind legs. There is the second kit and if and when it comes up I'll have to do this again. Canine distemper causes swelling in the brain and is almost always fatal and no use prolonging inevitable suffering.
I have been feeding 'coons on the back deck, I know, my bad and have a semi tame 'coon I've hand fed since she was little.
She had litter as I could see she had tits. She finally brought a single kit up, cute little guy, but I noticed it acted depressed and just sat there and wasn't a bundle of curiosity and into everything the way baby coons normally behave.
It disappeared for a duration, however, a month ago it reappeared, still acting lethargic and depressed and sleeping way too much. I mentioned it to people, saying there's something wrong with it. Then I noticed it had trouble using it's hind legs as if paralyzed. I figured maybe a coyote or fox had attacked it and injured it's back.
Ok, a few nights ago, while watching the mom and little one eating dry food I put out I noticed a second kit dragging itself across the deck by it's front legs. I thought 'Oh, crap.' I googled "raccoon dragging hind legs" and learned paralysis in the hind legs is one sign of rabies or canine distemper.
The next day I called a wildlife rescue rehab lady and she confirmed what I learned, rabies or distemper. Two fox were also found to have rabies a few miles from here recently. Tonight a kit came up and ate and then lay emaciated on the deck until I loaded the Colt .22 and I did what I had to do.
When bagging the little guy I noticed a foul odor not usual in coons. I trapped and spotlighted 'coons as a kid and knew it wasn't normal. I went back and googled some more and one sign of canine distemper is a foul smell.
I'm taking the remains to Burnet Co. Animal Control and they can run tests to make sure it doesn't have rabies as rabies and distemper exhibit nearly identical symptoms such as paralysis in the hind legs. There is the second kit and if and when it comes up I'll have to do this again. Canine distemper causes swelling in the brain and is almost always fatal and no use prolonging inevitable suffering.
