Damariscotta-Newcastle Animal Control Officer Mark Doe wants the people of Lincoln County to beware of wild animals exhibiting unusual behavior.
A rabid raccoon invaded a Newcastle home Jan. 29 at about 5 p.m., entering through the dog door.
The quick-thinking homeowner managed to prevent his dog from attacking the raccoon and forced the animal outside, where he shot and killed it.
The raccoon had earlier attempted to enter a nearby home via the same route.
Doe arranged for the Dept. of Health and Human Services Health and Environmental Testing Laboratory to test the animal for rabies. The test results were positive.
“I haven’t had a positive case in Newcastle for a number of years,” Doe said.
The raccoon didn’t bite any people or domestic animals, Doe said, crediting the “quick actions” of the homeowner for heading off a potentially “much more serious incident.”
Raccoons and other small mammals, like foxes and skunks, “shouldn’t try to interact with people” or other small mammals, Doe said.
A rabid raccoon will sometimes have porcupine quills in its face or smell like a skunk – signs it has attacked those animals, Doe said.
Lincoln County residents who suspect an animal might have rabies should call their local animal control officer.
