Rabid raccoon found in yard of local home

Copperas Cove authorities issued an alert Thursday after a raccoon that was found lying in the yard of the home tested positive for rabies.

The raccoon was found Tuesday on the side of a house in the 1900 block of Wayne Street.

The Texas Department of Health confirmed the animal was rabid on Thursday.

Animal control officials are advising residents who think they or their pets had any contact with a raccoon or wild animal or know of anyone who or whose pets may have had contact to call Copperas Cove Animal Control at (254) 547-5584 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday or the Copperas Cove Police Department after hours and on weekends at (254) 547-8222.

“Also contact your physician and/or veterinarian in the case of a possible animal exposure,” officials said in a press release Thursday.

Authorities warned residents not to approach, touch or otherwise have contact with wild animals and to keep their pets from such contact.