Police kill suspected rabid raccoon on South Side

YOUNGSTOWN — Police snared and fatally shot a raccoon they found at the rear entrance to a residence at Oak Hill Avenue and New Court this morning after being called there by the homeowner.

The raccoon carcass was placed in a police garage refrigerator until the city health department could pick it up for rabies testing, according to Dave Nelson, deputy Mahoning County dog warden.

Nelson said it is unusual to see a normally nocturnal raccoon at 9:30 a.m. when police were on the scene. Nelson said he heard references to aggressive behavior by the raccoon on the police scanner.