Raccoon Roundworm

Raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) is a serious public health concern which causes a fatal nervous system disease in wild animals.
Adult raccoons become infected by eating intermediate hosts (mice, rats, chipmunks, weasels, woodchucks, squirrels, birds, rabbits) that have the larvae encysted in their tissue. Raccoon roundworm begins when an egg is deposited by an adult worm living in the intestine of an infected raccoon.This parasite is transmitted through the raccoons feces. A single defecation may carry anywhere from a few thousand to more than 10 million eggs! Raccoons tend to defecate at the base of trees, in barn lofts, woodpiles, attics, chimneys, sandboxes or elevated surfaces such as logs or rocks.

Children should be prevented from playing in areas where raccoons have defecated.