Diseases from Wildlife
Enjoy watching animals from a safe distance. Touching wild animals may harm you or the animal.
In the State of Kansas, it is against the law for you to own any wild animals without a permit. However, people sometimes come into contact with these animals. Like other animals, wild animals can get diseases.
Some of these diseases, can cause illness in people. Since wild animals (including monkeys, raccoons, and skunks) can carry diseases that are dangerous to people, direct contact with wildlife is discouraged.
Some of these diseases are as follows:
Brucella canis Infection (brucellosis): A bacterial disease associated with bison, deer, and other wild animals.
Giardia Infection (giardiasis): A parasitic disease associated with various animals, including dogs and their environment (including water).
Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (hantavirus): A rare viral disease associated with some types of wild mice.
Histoplasma Infection (histoplasmosis): A fungal disease associated with bat guano (stool).
Plague Infection (Yersinia pestis Infection): A rare bacterial disease associated with wild rodents and fleas.
Rabies: A viral disease associated with wildlife especially raccoons, skunks, and bats.
Raccoon Round Worm: A parasitic disease associated with raccoons.