21 people treated for rabies exposure after woman rescues abandoned baby raccoon.

Delhi:  The name of the raccoon is adapted from a native Powhatan term meaning “animal that scratches with its hands.” The Powhatans were native to Virginia.

 People have interacted with these animals for as long as humans settled in the Americas. Raccoons were considered to be an object of mythology. They were also a source of food for Native Americans and European settlers alike. And since their fur was fashioned into hats and coats, entire industries sprung up around trapping it. Raccoons are animals with exquisitely sensitive paws, which contain four to five times as many sensory cells as the rest of the body. Approximately three-quarters of the sensory part of the brain is dedicated to touching alone.

These animals are one of the most recognizable animals in North America. It has a pointed snout, a wide skull, rounded ears, sharp teeth, a big hunched back (as a result of the hind legs being bigger than the front legs), and a bushy tail with four to 10 black rings. The most distinctive characteristics are the black markings around the eyes that resemble a mask (though not every raccoon has this). The purpose of this mask is not entirely known. It might help the raccoons identify each other. Or it might enhance the raccoon’s night vision. Or maybe it evolved simply due to random chance. The rabies virus infects the central nervous system. If left untreated and symptoms progress it can cause “disease in the brain and death” the site states.

The case was brought to the Weld County health department after the woman who found the raccoon on her property contacted a local animal shelter hoping they would take the animal in. The shelter, unable to take the raccoon, contacted the health department. The department then reached out to the woman to enquire about testing the raccoon for rabies.

The baby raccoon tested positive for rabies, and the 21 people exposed to the raccoon have begun post-exposure treatment.