Tourists of Sochi National Park were warned about the danger of raccoons

Sochi National Park has issued a warning about the danger of tourists encountering striped raccoons. These animals can pose a serious health threat.

According to KrasnodarMedia news agency with reference to Yugopolis, raccoons, despite their comeliness, are carriers of rabies and other dangerous diseases.

When approaching humans, these animals can show aggression, bite and scratch. Vaccines are distributed every year on the territory of the national park for the prevention of rabies. However, the safety of visitors depends on them.

The press service of the national park noted that the predator, introduced to the USSR in 1929, quickly spread across the Caucasus. Now it threatens not only humans, but also the safety of local animal species. Raccoons destroy Colchian toads, newts, frogs, and destroy the nests of turtles and birds.

Earlier it was reported that in Sochi, the driver who transported raccoons on the roof of his car was brought to administrative responsibility. He transported the animals at the request of his friend, and put them on the roof of the transport so that they would not spoil the interior. The drivers were not injured during the trip.