On June 20 around 3:45 p.m. a raccoon was seen staggering across our front lawn at Orchard Hills on Broadway. I called the children into the house and thought that a simple phone call would take care of it.

I called Animal Control and was told they do not take care of wild animals whether or not people think they could be rabid, unless the animal is inside your residence. As I talked on the phone, I explained I was watching the raccoon from my window and that the animal has fallen down twice and each time had gotten up and was staggering toward the bushes on the other side of Orchard Hills.

Animal Control gave me the names of three individuals that I could call to have the animal taken care of, but I would have to pay for one of them to come to our home and remove the animal. I understand Animal Control is understaffed and would be unable to remove wild animals that are healthy. Since this raccoon was obviously ill and in a residential area with children, I was very surprised to learn they would not come and get the animal to have it tested for rabies.

With no help coming from Animal Control, I called the Bangor Police Department. I was told there was a shift change and it may take a while, but that someone would come to our home. No one came and the raccoon has long been out of sight. What I thought would be taken care of with a simple phone call has either died somewhere in the bushes or is still staggering in residential areas. Lynn Cyr Bangor