Warning: Rabid Racoon Near Chandler's Pond

I just got a report in this evening (8/17/07) from a resident who:

saw a large sick racoon crossing Kenrick near Larch this afternoon around 4. At around 7:30 we were barbecuing in the back yard and the raccoon came stumbling within feet of us...

we actually had to leave the yard. I reported it to animal control, but it wandered away (up the hill behind houses on Larch) before anyone bothered to call back. Animal control said if it was stumbling around and acting drunk, it probably has rabies, and would probably be spotted around the neighborhood for the next couple of days, and to report it to them if anyone sees it.

Boston Animal Control can be contacted via the Mayor's 24-hour hotline: 617-635-4500. (Don't use the online form on the weekends -- it might not be read until Monday.) Animal control always has a person on-call for emergencies like this.