OPP again ask people to stop calling 911 over raccoons

Provincial police in Norfolk County are once again asking the public not to call 911 if they spot a trash panda meandering around during daytime hours.

Police said they were called around 12:30 p.m. Thursday afternoon for reports that a raccoon was spotted on the caller’s driveway.

The latest call nearly mirrors an incident back in 2019, when officers were called after residents observed a rac- coon against a curb on Main Street in Waterford. In that case, a Good Samaritan carted off the ringtailed critter and released it in a safe area.

But the reports didn’t stop there, according to police, who continue to be inundated with calls for service from residents spotting raccoons on their property during the day — despite being unable to do anything.

The provincial police service is not equipped to trap, house and transport wild animals, stated acting Sgt. Ed Sanchuk.

It’s a “common myth” that raccoons spotted walking around during the day are sick or infected with rabies, according to police.

Although the masked critters — which love to scavenge for anything from garbage to pet food — are “mostly” nocturnal, they do move around in the daytime for several reasons.