When Things are What They Look Like - Raccoon Roundworm, What a D***

Baylisascaris procyonis

The Killer You Just Found Out

Probably the greatest threat posed by wildlife to human populations is zoonotic disease. You can’t see it, odds are good you’ve never even heard of it, but it’s in your yard, your attic, behind your fridge, etc.

And of all the concerning diseases out there, maybe just right under rabies in terms of alarming symptoms and outcomes, is Baylisascaris procyonis, the raccoon roundworm.

Its microscopic eggs are found in raccoon scat (poop) and they can live for years in soil. YEARS. These eggs are laid in the lower intestines of raccoons by the adult parasites, worms. These eggs make it into human bodies by being in the dirt and ending up on the hands of people, and then being rubbed into the eyes or put in the mouth. As such, children are especially at risk.

Side effects of raccoon roundworm are severe. If not caught early this infection is usually fatal. Long story short, you end up with worms in your brain and it kills you.

So what to do?

Discourage raccoon activity around your property in the usual ways, lids on trash cans, etc. But also keep your house sealed up tight. And for the love of Pete, wash your dirty hands people!

If you’re not sure that you’ve raccoon-proofed your home, call Cason Wildlife MGMT. We’d be happy to come out and give you an assessment of your ‘coon susceptibility situation and offer solutions.

And tell your neighbor to stop feeding the raccoons. They’re not really her friends, they’re just using her. And their poop has deadly parasite eggs in it.