WESTMINSTER — The Carroll County Health Department is warning people to take precautions against an increased presence of raccoons -- which officials say are sometimes carriers of rabies.

"There seems to be a lot of raccoons running all over the county," said Larry Leitch, Health Department director.

The department has seen an increase in rabies exposure, he said, adding that about 80 percent of the rabies cases seen by the department are connected to raccoons.

The health department has seen anecdotal evidence of the rise in raccoons, said Ed Singer, director of environmental health for the Health Department.

Leitch and Singer said their best guess is that raccoons' food supply is low, and they're having trouble finding grub thanks to the snow.

In general, even if a raccoon appears to be OK, just avoid it, Singer said. If the animal is causing a disturbance, call the Humane Society of Carroll County, he said. To report a rabid raccoon, call the Humane Society at 410-848-3363.

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