Raccoon Found In Riverside Park Tested For 'Zombie Virus': City

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A sick raccoon found in an Upper West Side section of Riverside Park is being tested for the "zombie virus" that has killed dozens of raccoons in nearby Central Park, a city Parks Department spokeswoman said.

The raccoon was picked up by park rangers on Monday, Sept. 3 near the Neufield playground by West 76th Street, a city Parks Department spokeswoman said. The animal tested negative for rabies and tests for canine distemper virus have not been returned, the spokeswoman said.

The raccoon found in Riverside Park was visibly sick and "tripping over itself" one witness told neighborhood blog the West Side Rag. A parks employee told the witness that the raccoon may have been physically injured or affected by a recent spraying of pesticides, the West Side Rag first reported.

An outbreak of canine distemper virus in Central Park has killed more than 85 of the park's raccoons and prompted the Parks Department to warn parkgoers not to let their dogs off-leash within the confines of the park.

The advisory was issued after it was found that two dogs that were off-leash had run ins with raccoons in the park, city officials said. The two dog vs. raccoon altercations occurred in August, and resulted in pet owners being scratched by the animals, city officials said.

Humans are not affected by canine distemper virus, but are warned not to interact with wildlife in city parks. If bit by a raccoon, one should wash the wound with soap and water and get tested for rabies, parks officials said.

Most pets receive vaccinations for the virus, but pets whose immunizations are not up to date are at risk of infection.

"Canine distemper outbreaks in local raccoon populations can signal increased risk for pet dogs in the area," reads the American Veterinary Medical Foundation's website.

Other wildlife in the park such as skunks are also vulnerable to the virus, officials said. The disease spreads through contact with infected saliva, urine and feces. Canine distemper virus is likened to a "zombie virus" because it can make animals display strange behavior.

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