Distemper outbreak in Toronto

City officials say an outbreak of distemper is killing raccoons, skunks and other urban wildlife in Toronto - and residents are being warned to keep their cats and dogs away from any dead animals.

Toronto's Animal Control Services says it began seeing an increase in distemper deaths last spring, especially in the south and west ends of the city.

"A number of the raccoons were showing signs of distemper," said Eletta Purdy, the manager of Toronto Animal Services.

Purdy said officers were "seeing sort of depressed animals with runny noses, sort of mucky stuff coming out of their eyes."

Pippa Wysong knew something was wrong when she looked out into her backyard earlier this week.

"We have a big glass door here so I can see the backyard. And I looked out and I saw a raccoon hunkered down underneath the bird feeder, wedged between the fence and a planter, and I thought this was a little odd because raccoons aren't usually out this long after sunrise," she said,

The raccoon was having convulsions. It wouldn't even grab at the piece of bread she threw near it.

Wysong called Toronto Animal Services and an officer came to check out the raccoon.

"[The officer] mentioned that she already had four dead raccoons she picked up earlier in the day. People had called reporting sick raccoons in their backyard but by the time she got there they were dead," said Wysong.

Since May of last year Animal Services has responded to many calls for sick or dead raccoons. It can't say exactly how many but it says the deaths have been in the hundreds.

Distemper poses no threat to humans but Purdy says pet owners should make sure animals are properly vaccinated against the disease and keep under watch when they go outside.

Distemper is spread by food, water, bodily fluids and feces. Veterinarians say puppies and older dogs are especially susceptible.