Electric fences may help to keep raccoons out of gardens. The wires must be spaced close together and close to the ground in order to be effective. On farms, where more effective methods are needed to control a large number of animals, hunters and trappers can harvest problem animals on the property during the regulated hunting and trapping seasons or by special permit at other times of the year. Other species, including dogs, cats, skunks, foxes, woodchucks and livestock, have also been infected. Just because a nocturnal animal like the raccoon is active during daylight hours doesn't necessarily mean that it is sick.
Raccoons often adjust their feeding schedules, especially in the spring when rearing their young.
Contact with any wild or stray animal should be avoided, especially if it is behaving abnormally. For more information on rabies, contact your local health department. Raccoons may also serve as host to a number of other disease pathogens which are transmissible to humans and domestic animals, including trichinosis, tuberculosis, round worm, infectious enteritis and coccidiosis.