I'm wondering if this info you have is typical of your area. If we would read something like that around here, we would laugh. They are out around here during the day all the time. And the ones that walk up to a person is not usually rabid, it's been raised illegally by someone, which is also pretty common around here. We have done 100's of raccoons in our rehab and we do send off the ones that have died that do not have obvious reasons why they would have passed, and none of them have come back rabid. Distemper? yes, Parvo? yes, cancer? yes, but not rabies. They really are comical creatures with loads of personalities.This why I was concerned he was friendly:
So I really hope they meant they were going to release and not have tested for rabies
- Look for random aggression in the raccoon. Raccoons that have rabies will often attack animals as well as inanimate objects such as trees, chairs or bushes for no apparent reason.
- Be skeptical of a raccoon that seems unnaturally friendly. In general, raccoons do not typically approach humans and will only get near them when food is involved. If a raccoon approaches you or your pets, it may be rabid.
- Look for signs of disorientation. Raccoons that are stumbling around, running into things or seem to be having trouble finding their way around may be infected with rabies. Rabid raccoons may also have paralysis of some of their limbs, making it difficult for them to successfully move around.
- Stay away from raccoons during the day. Raccoons are nocturnal animals. There is a good chance that a raccoon that is wandering around during the day may be rabid.
- Watch out for loud raccoons. If you hear a raccoon making chattering noises or shrill screams that are not caused by a threat from a predator, then the raccoon may have rabies.
unlike adults, babies sleep at night and play during the day, they don't become nocturnal until around a year of age