TOWSON, MD – Officials with the Baltimore County Department of Health are attempting to locate a man who removed a rabid raccoon from a Baltimore County roadway.

On Friday, August 16, police responded to a call about a raccoon that was hit by a car on Slade Avenue in Pikesville (21208). The raccoon has tested positive for rabies and health officials are asking for help locating the person that removed the dead animal from the roadway.

The individuals is described as a white male in his late 30s with brown hair, wearing glasses, and driving a Toyota four-door sedan.  Health officials say it is vitally important that this person seek medical treatment immediately. Contact with a rabid animal may result in death.

The Baltimore County Department of Health advises this person or anyone who may have had direct exposure to the raccoon to seek immediate medical attention from a personal healthcare provider or a hospital emergency room. Anyone with information on the identity of this individual is asked to contact the Department of Health at 410-887-5963 Monday through Friday during regular business hours, or 410-832-7182 after normal business hours.

Residents are reminded of the potential dangers of interacting with wildlife and should adhere to the following rabies prevention tips:

• Consider the risk of rabies and other diseases before taking in or interacting with any animal, especially if the home contains children, persons with certain illnesses, elderly, or other pets.
• Since rabies remains uncontrolled in the wild, avoid contact with wildlife as well as stray or feral animals, especially if they appear to be sick. There is no risk-free contact with these animals with regard to physical injury, rabies and other diseases.
• Do not provide food, water or shelter to wildlife or strays. If you feed your pets outdoors, do not leave food or water bowls out for extended periods, especially overnight.
• Persons considering adopting stray or feral cats should speak with a veterinarian for guidance.
• Keep rabies vaccinations up-to-date for all pets and do not allow your pets to roam freely.

Baltimore County Animal Services provides low-cost rabies vaccinations and spay/neutering. For information on getting your pet spayed/neutered, micro-chipped, licensed or vaccinated against rabies, call 410-887-PAWS (7297).