The D.C. Department of Health is warning residents to be on alert after a rabid raccoon was found in a Northwest neighborhood.

WASHINGTON – The D.C. Department of Health is warning residents to be on alert after a rabid raccoon was found in a Northwest neighborhood.

In an advisory passed along through the Cleveland Park Listserv, health department biologist Maria Hille says the sick raccoon was seen April 27 in the 3100 block of Macomb Street NW and later was determined to be rabid.

The racoon — a 1-year-old lactating mother — was covered in dog ticks and left her offspring behind. Hille warns the young raccoons may also be rabid.

Officials advise residents to leave wild animals alone if encountered and to take precautions — such as sealing off openings in attics and basements — that will make homes unattractive to animals.

Hille also advises against letting pets run loose in wooded areas, which can place them at risk for rabies or Lyme disease.

For more information on rabies prevention, click here.

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