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Article: Scientists Track Urban Raccoons' Night Moves
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- April 30, 1987
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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A van parked in Rock Creek Park after dark. Shadowy figures
emerged holding large antennas. The monotonous beeping of radio
signals droned in the night.
Nearby embassies might have justifiably suspected espionage.
Indeed, the National Park Service biologists enacting this scene
night after night were spying. Their quarry, however, was the park's
raccoons.
The animals are being investigated partly because they carry
rabies. The biologists also want to know how raccoons adjust to life
in an urban area.
"To deal with a public health concern like rabies, it's necessary
to know about raccoons' ecology, movement patterns, dispersal and
food habits," said David Manski, who began the study as an ...