Recently the City of Thornton has seen an outbreak of what appears to be canine distemper in our raccoon population. The symptoms of distemper may include runny nose and eyes, disorientation, seizures, and a general lack of fear. "It's important that people know they should not approach or touch raccoons," says Thornton Police Commander Jay Steele. "We've had two situations where citizens handled a sick raccoon and one was bitten. Some people believe raccoons are not aggressive and can be treated like a domesticated pet." If you see a raccoon in Thornton that's showing any of these symptoms, call 303-288-1535 and an Animal Control Officer will be sent out.

The virus is spread from animal to animal through bodily fluids or droppings. It's usually fatal, and can be spread to dogs, so Thornton residents are asked to make sure their dogs are current on their vaccinations.

There have also been concerns reported about the coyote population throughout the city. Coyotes are normally seen at dusk or dawn, and generally will not approach a human. There have not been any negative reports concerning these animals, but it's a good idea to take some basic precautions:

• Make sure all food is picked up from outside
• Keep your trash in a sealed container
• Keep pets on a leash when out walking, take them in at night, or make sure they're in a secure kennel
• Don't approach a coyote if you should encounter one

If a coyote should approach you, you can throw rocks or sticks to frighten it, or use a loud voice. Coyotes can provide an enjoyable wildlife viewing experience providing we follow these basic guidelines.