Sick Raccoons Appearing Across Southeast Idaho Communities
Idaho Fish and Game is urging Pocatello and Chubbuck residents to use caution after a surge in reports of sick raccoons over the past three weeks. Southeast Region personnel have fielded a sharp increase in calls describing raccoons that appear lethargic, possibly injured, or unusually active in open areas during daylight hours — behavior that is often a red flag for serious illness in wildlife.
At least one raccoon submitted for laboratory testing has come back positive for canine distemper, a highly contagious viral disease caused by a paramyxovirus. Additional carcasses are currently awaiting test results. Calls have been coming in not just on weekdays but also on weekends and after hours, signaling the volume of sightings has grown notable enough to strain routine response capacity.
Senior Conservation Officer Tyler Peterson described the frequency of reports as striking. “Almost daily we get a report of a raccoon that appears sick or acting abnormally,” he said. The reason behind the elevated number of raccoons displaying distemper symptoms in southeast Idaho at this particular time of year remains unclear to officials. Canine distemper cases in wildlife are most commonly documented in spring and fall, making the current spike somewhat unusual.
What Residents Need to Know About the Disease
Wildlife veterinarian Dr. Nicole Walrath emphasized that while canine distemper poses a serious threat to certain animal populations, people are not at risk. “Canine distemper is a widespread disease primarily affecting canids, raccoons, and skunks,” Walrath said. “It is not transmissible to humans.”
The disease spreads through direct contact with infected saliva, urine, feces, or respiratory secretions. Once contracted, canine distemper is nearly always fatal — officials note an approximate 100 percent fatality rate in both raccoons and skunks. There is no treatment that can reverse the disease’s course in affected wildlife, meaning sick animals that test positive are not expected to recover.
While the illness cannot infect people, it presents a significant threat to domestic dogs and cats, particularly those that are unvaccinated or have lapsed vaccination records. Pet owners are strongly advised to review their animals’ vaccination status with a veterinarian and ensure dogs and cats are current on distemper protection.
How to Protect Your Pets and Property
Fish and Game officials are advising residents throughout the Pocatello and Chubbuck area to keep a safe distance from any raccoon behaving erratically or appearing ill. Residents should not attempt to handle, capture, or assist a sick raccoon — that task should be left to trained wildlife personnel.
Pet owners should also take practical steps to reduce the risk of their animals coming into contact with infected wildlife. Keeping dogs and cats indoors or closely supervised when outdoors — especially at dawn and dusk when raccoons are most active — can meaningfully reduce exposure risk. Securing garbage containers, removing outdoor food sources, and eliminating standing water that might attract raccoons to residential properties are also recommended precautions.
Anyone who spots a raccoon displaying signs of illness — including stumbling, disorientation, unusual daytime activity, or apparent injuries — is encouraged to contact the Idaho Fish and Game Southeast Region office to report the sighting. Do not approach the animal.
The increase in sick wildlife reports comes during a period of heightened attention to public safety concerns across Pocatello. Earlier this month, Zoo Idaho was forced to close for two days after a bomb threat prompted a full evacuation of the facility, part of a coordinated wave of threats targeting more than 40 zoos across the country.
What Comes Next
Idaho Fish and Game’s Southeast Region will continue responding to public reports and is awaiting laboratory results on additional raccoon carcasses already submitted for testing. Those results could provide a clearer picture of how widespread the distemper outbreak may be. Officials have not announced any formal containment program at this time but are monitoring the situation closely. Residents are encouraged to check the Idaho Fish and Game website for updates and regional contact information.