Lower Gwynedd Police Issue Advisory After Rabid Raccoon Located in Township

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Lower Gwynedd Township Police have issued an advisory to residents after a rabid raccoon was located within the township.

An a release issued Friday morning on Facebook, police disclosed that they received a report of a sick raccoon along the 1700 block of Township Line Road at 10 a.m. Christmas morning. Arriving personnel located the raccoon and euthanized it on scene, police said.

The raccoon was transported for testing, and later tested positive for rabies.

"Please do not approach wild animals, and exercise caution around wild animals in the area,” police said. "If you observe an animal exhibiting signs of illness or injury, please contact the police department immediately.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), common symptoms of rabies in animals include problems swallowing, excessive drool or saliva, abnormal behavior including aggression or being overly tame, and trouble with movement. Raccoons are among the most common animals to carry rabies, along with skunks, bats, and foxes.