Disease Confirmed in Pocatello and Chubbuck Area Wildlife
Idaho Department of Fish and Game personnel are responding to a surge in diseased raccoon reports across the Pocatello and Chubbuck areas, with laboratory confirmation of canine distemper in the local wildlife population. Over the past three weeks, Southeast Region staff have fielded numerous calls describing raccoons displaying signs of illness, lethargy, injury, or unusual daytime activity—all indicators of potential disease.
Testing has confirmed the presence of canine distemper in at least one raccoon specimen, with additional animal carcasses undergoing laboratory analysis to determine the full scope of the outbreak. The discovery marks a significant wildlife health concern for communities in Bannock County and surrounding areas.
Understanding the Disease and Its Spread
Canine distemper is caused by a paramyxovirus and represents a serious threat to raccoon and skunk populations. The disease carries a fatality rate approaching 100 percent in these species, making infection effectively a death sentence for affected animals. Transmission occurs through direct contact with infected saliva, urine, feces, or respiratory secretions—meaning proximity to sick wildlife poses the primary transmission risk.
The virus demonstrates notable cold resistance, allowing it to persist in environments even during colder months. Despite its prevalence among wildlife, the disease poses no direct threat to human health and is not transmissible to people through normal contact or exposure.
Tyler Peterson, a Senior Conservation Officer with Fish and Game, described the frequency of reports in the region. “Almost daily we get a report of a raccoon that appears sick or acting abnormally,” Peterson said.
Dr. Nicole Walrath, a wildlife veterinarian, provided clarity on the disease’s scope and human risk. “Canine distemper is a widespread disease primarily affecting canids, raccoons, and skunks. It is not transmissible to humans,” Walrath explained.
Seasonal Patterns and Expected Trends
Wildlife distemper cases typically peak during spring and fall months, though summer activity generally declines as environmental conditions change. Fish and Game officials anticipate that case reports in the Pocatello and Chubbuck areas will decline as summer weather progresses, following historical seasonal patterns documented in regional wildlife populations.
The agency plans to continue active monitoring of the situation across southeast Idaho communities to track disease progression and provide updated guidance to residents encountering potentially infected animals.
Public Safety Recommendations
Residents encountering raccoons or other wildlife displaying signs of illness should maintain distance and avoid direct contact. Sick animals may appear disoriented, aggressive, or unusually tame—behaviors that warrant caution. Any reports of potentially diseased wildlife should be directed to local Fish and Game personnel, who can assess the animal and take appropriate action.
Pet owners in affected areas should ensure their animals are current on vaccinations and keep pets indoors or closely supervised during periods when distemper activity is elevated. Dogs and other domestic animals can contract and spread canine distemper, making vaccination and prevention measures important protective steps.
The outbreak underscores the importance of maintaining healthy distance between human populations and wildlife, particularly during periods of documented disease activity. While the risk to human health is minimal, the outbreak represents a natural cycle in wildlife disease dynamics that Idaho communities should monitor.
What Comes Next: Idaho Fish and Game will maintain surveillance of distemper cases in southeast Idaho through summer and into fall. Residents should report sick or unusually acting wildlife to local Fish and Game offices. Officials expect case reports to decline as warmer summer months arrive, following typical seasonal disease patterns in the region.