Rabid Raccoons Take Over City

By Soyoung Kwak in Miscellaneous on Dec 18, 2010 9:30PM

Chicago is apparently a prime meeting (and breeding) ground for all sorts of critters. Just when we thought no more animals could go insane around Cook County, the Chicago Sun-Times reports that raccoons found on the south and northwest sides are carrying a contagious disease called distemper. Although the distemper virus cannot spread over to humans, it can definitely affect your cute and cuddly house pets. Could these infected raccoons be roaming around in your backyard? If you're near Beverly or near the River Grove area, the answer would be "yes":

Wildlife officers at the city’s Department of Animal Care & Control found the raccoons earlier this week. Two were found in Beverly. The third was found near the intersection of Addison and Cumberland near the Irving Woods neighborhood.

Rabid raccoons is just the icing on top of the proverbial cake. Apparently, we had an outbreak of the distemper virus in 2004. Add these raccoons to the list of Asian carp, crazy crocodiles, gangs of turkeys, and even wayward bats that already exist in this area. What is it about the Chicago area that attracts these curious animals? Could it be Mayor Daley's infectious charm?