Pets and Wildlife in Urban Areas

Los Angeles County health officials have confirmed the first formally reported case of raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) in a dog in county history, after a Woodland Hills pet named Ducky tested positive for the parasite during a January vet visit. Veterinarian Dr. Julio Lopez, who treated the dog, said he had "never seen a case like this" and warned that untreated infections in pets can lead to blindness or seizures. The county Department of Public Health stressed that the parasite is not transmitted directly from pets to people and that overall risk to the public remains extremely low, with fewer than 10 human cases reported in California since 1993, but noted two South Bay children were infected in 2024 after apparently putting raccoon feces in their mouths. Associate disease-control director Dr. Dawn Terashita said human infections can cause severe complications including liver failure, coma or death, and that toddlers and people with pica are at highest risk because they are more likely to ingest contaminated soil or feces. Officials are using the rare dog case to remind residents to clear yards of animal feces, safely remove raccoon latrines, secure trash and outdoor food, trim trees to deter raccoons, and ensure children wash hands after playing outside.