Is raccoon feces dangerous to health?

Raccoons are known as some of the most familiar and most destructive critters that are found in North America. They are mammals that in the past typically lived in wooded areas and meadows, but now they have realized that being near humans may yield better food scores, so they have started to make their homes in urban and rural environments.

Once you have been able to deal with raccoons in the attic or any other part of the home, you need to look at all the damage and mess left behind and deal with it. As you will notice, fecal contamination is a serious issue whenever the raccoons are concerned. It is very important that you do not touch the feces of a raccoon. This is because it may contain raccoon round worm which can actually infect humans. This is a very serious issue because the round worm can actually lead to blindness as well as other symptoms that are not too good.

When you find that there are raccoon feces left behind, it is important to learn the best ways in which you can deal with the droppings, clean the area and then disinfect it so as to get rid of all possible contaminants within the space. There are actually places where free advice can be offered and if you are not too sure about how to deal with it, you can call professionals who will do it for a fee.

One of the things you need to know is that contracting any kind of disease from the raccoons by yourself or pets is quite rare. Using common sense can be the best preventative tool that you use. Never handle any raccoon that is obviously looking sick or even healthy. Do not pick the poop with the bare hands. Always use protective gear. Once this is done, make sure you disinfect your tools of trade and your whole person to avoid contamination.

Breathing the already dried up feces cab also be dangerous. The egg spires of the worm are actually so light and can be airborne. You may get infected just by breathing them in. once the parasite is inside the human body, larval parasite migration can actually occur and enter the central nervous system. These are the kinds of eggs that can live year’s just as dry pods. This is something that is rather dangerous foe human beings and most especially the children. This is also a threat which is a bit more realistic than the rabies threat. The raccoons also carry a protozoan that can cause diarrhea when ingested through water or food contaminated with excrement.

Go back to the How To Get Rid of Raccoons home page to learn more about whether raccoon feces dangerous for humans to touch or breathe.