Raccoons, especially large populations, prey on birds and their nests. In Connecticut, they often raid bluebird boxes that are not protected with predator guards. They also are problematic for herons and egrets on offshore islands where repeated predation can cause abandonment of the entire colony. 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. They can be especially destructive on farms, where they feed heavily on crops. Because of their susceptibility to rabies, problem raccoons cannot be relocated and wildlife rehabilitators can only accept them for rehabilitation with certain restrictions.