Please stop calling 911 to report raccoons, police plead

Please, Norfolk County — don't call police to report a raccoon on your front porch.

That's the message from Ontario Provincial Police after a woman called 911 to report one of the crafty animals at her home over the weekend.

According to a news release, a call came in to 911 just after 6 p.m. on Saturday, in which a person said there was a raccoon on their porch, and they were worried it might have distemper.

Before police could get there, the homeowner called back to say the animal had taken off into the bushes.

Police say they are being "inundated" with calls for service over people seeing raccoons on their property during the day.

"The OPP does not have the equipment to trap and house live animals or transport wild animals," said Norfolk County detachment commander Insp. Joseph Varga, in a statement.

"Calling 911 for raccoons ties up the phone lines at the communications center, wastes taxpayer money, ties up law enforcement officers and threatens lives. A private animal removal service should be contacted instead of calling 911."

The OPP says it's a "common myth" that a raccoon spotted walking around during the day is sick or has rabies. Southern Ontario has been dealing with an outbreak of raccoon rabies in recent years.

"It's true that raccoons are mostly nocturnal, but they can be active during the day for many different reasons," the news release reads. "Raccoons will come out during the day if there is a food source available at a particular time, if they have been frightened out of their daytime sleeping spot, or if there is high competition in the area at night from other nocturnal animals."