Reports of "zombie-like" raccoons puzzle Youngstown police

WKBN ^ | Molly Reed

[BenLurkin]

In the past couple of weeks, Youngstown police have responded to over a dozen of these raccoon calls — all of them with reports of the same strange, zombie-like behavior. The majority of the calls happened in the daytime, too, even though raccoons are nocturnal.

“I looked over there and got distracted because I saw a raccoon coming our way,” said Robert Coggeshall, whose playtime with his dogs was interrupted by a fiesty and sick raccoon last week.

He put the dogs back in the house, but said the raccoon followed them to the door.

“He would stand up on his hind legs, which I’ve never seen a raccoon do before, and he would show his teeth and then he would fall over backward and go into almost a comatose condition,” Coggeshall said.

He attempted to scare the raccoon away, only to find the animal was not interested in leaving.

“He’d come out of it, walk around and then he’d do the same thing again. Get on his hind feet and show his teeth,” Coggeshall said.

Police were called to 14 similar situations in the past three weeks. The reports detail “particular behavior” and large noises or motions not scaring the animals away.

[Daffynition]

Goodness. I didn't know all that scuttle butt.

You have her Cajun recipe for 'coon?

[JoeProBono]

Add Real Cajun flavors to Jambalaya, Gumbo, Etouffée, Shrimp and Crawfish and dare we say coons?

[Amberdawn]

Probably found some dead junkie’s bath salts in the woods.

[Figment]

“Rabies”

My first thought too. Coons aren’t exclusively nocturnal though as article states. I’ve seen them many times go after chickens in broad daylight. They are creatures of opportunity.

[vetvetdoug]

Canine distemper is lethal to raccoons. The symptoms are close to Rabies and distemper is highly contagious.

[Daffynition]

Then, there's Detroit. I give you Glemie Dean Beasley :

https://boingboing.net/2009/04/02/glemie-dean-beasley.html

*The Coon Man*, supplements his Social Security check with the sale of raccoon carcasses that go for as much $12 and can serve up to four. The pelts, too, are good for coats and hats and fetch up to $10 a hide.