Canine distemper found in raccoons at Point Defiance Park | Pets

Canine distemper has been found in raccoons at Point Defiance Park, prompting warnings from park officials.

Metro Parks Tacoma put out an announcement Saturday morning that two wild raccoons that had been captured in the park showed that they had the virus, which isn’t transferable to humans but is highly contagious to puppies and unvaccinated dogs. Park Superintendent Marina Becker said the outbreak was mainly due to people feeding the animals in the park, which is illegal.

“Many people feed wildlife in parks, ignoring the law and thinking it is harmless entertainment,” she said in a statement.  “The laws prohibiting feeding are important for the public’s safety for a number of reasons including overpopulation, which increases the likelihood for distemper outbreaks.” 

The virus is transmitted by making contact with the urine or feces of an infected animal. Canine distemper is second only to rabies for mortality rates in dogs.

Anyone who spots an animal with symptoms of canine distemper in one of Tacoma’s parks is asked to contact Metro Parks at 253-202-5967.