This racoon with its head lowered to the ground was found walking around and around slowly in a tight circle. It did this for hours. I first noticed it when I walked down the hill and it was still walking around in the same manner when I came back up.

The racoons behaviour caught the attention of many who walked the area. He hid underneath a park bench when a few dogs approached barking. After the dogs left, the racoon surprisingly was able to get itself up on the bench albeit very slowly and at one point almost lost its balance.

It either has rabies or some form of distemper but either way I think this was the last stand for this little guy. There was some nocticeable thick mucous accumulating around its nose and its eyelids. As it walked around in a circle it would occasionally stop to shake (like a dog would do after a swim). It was a strange sight to behold and rather sad as well.

I made the effort to warn many walking their dogs in the area the racoon may be rabid or otherwise diseased. I called the local Humane Society via 311. I also told another lady who was walking her two dogs to do the same thing. I figured if they get more than one call it'll impress upon them the seriousness of the situation as many people walk the area including the elderly and young kids. I wanted to stick around for the Humane Society to show up but it was getting quite dark by then so I left. There was no certainty they would show up or I may have stuck around. I went back the next day and saw no sign of the racoon. However, I did follow up with the Ministry of Natural Resources who informed me that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was the deprtment responsible for testing such things. But the Humane Society will come and retrieve such animals too.

http://rabies.mnr.gov.on.ca/facts.cfm