Some of us may think that raccoons look so cute and cuddly. We may even believe that we can keep them as pets. I mean something as cute as they are and wearing their own bandit mask, no less, must be safe, right?

You could not be more wrong if you think so. Raccoons may seem cute and cuddly, but there have been documented cases where they have attacked. While there may not that many, the risk is always there. They are also harbingers of many types of diseases that can easily be transmitted to you, your children and your pets.

Here are just a few of the diseases that you could contract from a wild raccoon.

• Roundworms can be found in raccoon droppings and can be spread to humans in many ways. You could come in contact with an area that has not been properly cleaned or simply breathe in the eggs once they have become airborne. The symptoms you should watch for are tiredness, lack of coordination, loss of muscle control and vision problems. If left untreated, this disease can cause serious problems with your nervous system, leave you in a coma or eventually be fatal.
• Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that raccoons can spread through their urine and feces. You need to have an open type of wound for this disease to enter your system, but if you have come in contact with any raccoon urine or feces, it is best to watch for any symptoms. The symptoms of this disease are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, headaches, muscle aches and fever. This disease can turn into meningitis or anemia and can cause liver and kidney failure. This disease could be fatal if left untreated.
• This nasty little bacteria can also be found in raccoon feces. This bacteria can remain dormant for a very long time, so even after the raccoon has been removed from the area, the threat of contamination is still there. You have to accidentally ingest this bacteria to become infected. This is easier than you may think, especially if the raccoon was inhabiting your kitchen or food storage areas. The symptoms associated with this bacteria are a high fever, severe diarrhea and abdominal pain.
• Everyone is fearful of this disease, and we tend to suspect all wild animals of having it. However, raccoons are known carriers of this disease. If you happen to be bitten or scratched by an infected raccoon, you could contract rabies. If you see a raccoon that is stumbling, aggressive, attacking inanimate objects, not frightened by people, foaming at the mouth or out in the daylight, there is a fairly good chance that it has rabies, and you want to avoid it and report it to your local wildlife organization. Rabies can be fatal if left untreated, so steer clear of any suspected raccoons and keep your children and pets away from it.

I know that many of us think raccoons are so cute, and we just love them so much. However, it is best to leave all types of wild animals alone. You never know just how much of a threat they truly pose to us.

You should call your local wildlife organization and have them remove any type of wild animal from your yard to ensure you, your family and your pet’s safety.