Idaho Fish and Game Responds to Wave of Sick Raccoon Reports
Idaho Fish and Game has confirmed canine distemper in raccoons across the Pocatello and Chubbuck areas following roughly three weeks of mounting calls about sick or disoriented animals. Officials say one carcass has tested positive for the disease, and additional specimens are still awaiting lab results.
The Southeast Region office fielded a steady stream of public reports describing raccoons behaving abnormally — stumbling around in daylight hours, appearing lethargic or injured, and in some cases seeming to be blind or having eyes that appeared sealed shut. The volume of reports has been significant enough to keep conservation staff busy on a near-daily basis.
“Almost daily we get a report of a raccoon that appears sick or acting abnormally,” said Tyler Peterson, Senior Conservation Officer with Idaho Fish and Game’s Southeast Region.
Canine distemper is caused by a paramyxovirus and carries a fatality rate approaching 100 percent in raccoons and skunks. The virus spreads through contact with infected saliva, urine, feces, or respiratory secretions, and is notably resistant to cold temperatures — a factor that helps it persist through winter months and flare up in wildlife populations during spring and fall, when most distemper cases are recorded.
No Risk to Humans, but Dog Owners Should Take Note
Residents concerned about their own health can take some reassurance: canine distemper does not transmit to humans. However, the disease poses a very real danger to domestic dogs, and pet owners are advised to ensure their animals are current on vaccinations.
Dr. Nicole Walrath, a wildlife veterinarian with Idaho Fish and Game, explained that the illness is a persistent presence in certain animal populations but does not warrant widespread alarm. “Canine distemper is a widespread disease primarily affecting canids, raccoons, and skunks. It is not transmissible to humans,” she said.
While the current uptick in sick raccoon sightings across Pocatello and Chubbuck may be unsettling for residents who encounter affected animals, officials expect the wave of cases to taper off naturally as summer advances. Distemper tends to cycle through wildlife communities and then recede, though it never disappears entirely from the broader animal population.
What Residents Should Do
Idaho Fish and Game is urging the public to avoid handling any raccoon — or other wild animal — that appears sick, confused, or is moving around during daylight hours. Raccoons are naturally nocturnal, so daytime activity is itself a warning sign. Residents who encounter such animals should contact the Idaho Fish and Game Southeast Region office rather than attempting to intervene on their own.
Pet owners should take this outbreak as a timely reminder to verify that dogs are fully vaccinated against distemper. Unvaccinated dogs that come into contact with infected wildlife carcasses or secretions are at serious risk. Keeping pets away from areas where sick raccoons have been reported is an important precaution until the current outbreak subsides.
The public should also avoid leaving food sources — pet food, unsecured garbage, or compost — accessible outdoors, as these can attract raccoons and other wildlife into residential areas, increasing the chance of contact with sick animals.
This confirmed distemper outbreak is part of a broader pattern of wildlife health concerns recently reported in the Pocatello area. Bat encounter reports have also risen alongside the raccoon distemper cases, prompting Idaho Fish and Game to issue guidance on multiple fronts. Earlier reporting on the initial canine distemper detection among Pocatello and Chubbuck raccoons outlined the department’s first response to the emerging situation.
What Comes Next
Idaho Fish and Game expects to receive additional test results on raccoon carcasses collected during the outbreak period, which may clarify how widely the virus has spread through the local population. Officials anticipate the number of sick raccoon reports will decline naturally as the summer season progresses, though distemper will remain an ongoing concern in wildlife populations across Southeast Idaho in the months and years ahead. Residents are encouraged to stay in contact with the Southeast Region office with any reports of sick or injured wildlife.