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The Houghton Police Department says they have seen a number of cases of distemper in wild animals recently.
Distemper is a viral illness that can also affect dogs and other animals.
It attacks the animal’s respiratory, gastrointestinal and central nervous systems.
Houghton Police John Donnelly said they have received reports of several raccoons and some foxes out in the daytime and acting as if intoxicated, both symptoms of distemper.
Donnelly said as many as 20 animals have had to be put down because of the disease, for which there is no known cure.
Because the disease is highly contagious to other animals, residents should contact police if they see an animal showing any signs of the disease.
