Cleveland Park

Porter and Connecticut Ave, NW

At the end of May we learned the frightening news that snakes were falling out of trees in in Walter Pierce Park in Adams Morgan. Apparently, some snakes have migrated to Cleveland Park. Yesterday afternoon a reader sent the photo above and wrote:

Just saw this guy take the plunge from a tree on Porter Street in Cleveland Park. It was terrifying. Maybe the same kind of snake that was falling from the trees in Walter Pierce Park? It was right below Connecticut, a little after Kim’s Dry Cleaners. It was so bizarre! After it fell it just kind of laid there. I’m not sure if it was dead or if it was freezing like the person in the PoP post said.

Ed. Note: The snakes from Adams Morgan were black rat snakes.

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From the Cleveland Park Listserv:

The Animal Disease Control division of DDC Dept of Health notified the ANC 3C this morning that a rabid raccoon was found in 3100 block of Newark Street last Wednesday, June 5. The appropriate officials have increase their surveillance.

There are few steps that you can take to protect yourself and your animals. Do not approach any animal that is acting strangely, call 311. Do not let your animals wander in the woods off-leash. Wild animals are attracted to food so keep trash cans securely closed, remove food from outside locations, repair any holes or access points to the house or trash.

Ed. Note: There was a previous rabies alert on the 3100 block of Macomb St. NW back in early May.

Office of the Mayor (EOM) adds:

“A lactating female raccoon was found sick at patron’s backyard chewing on itself at the 3100 block of Newark St. NW on June 5.”

MPD passed on the following rabies brochure:

Brochure-Rabies

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From the DC Department of Health via the Cleveland Park listserv:

On Saturday April 27, a sick raccoon was seen in the 3100 block of Macomb St. NW which later was recently determined rabid by the DC Department of Health. The raccoon was a year old lactating mother covered with dog ticks that left her young ones behind and possibly also rabid.

The attached are flyers on Rabies and Animal Control Laws for the District. Both are for your information since this general area has been affected with wildlife rabies for some time now. The main message here is prevention and caution on approaching any suspicious animals including cats and dogs. Also, for the pet owners, allowing dogs to run at large in the woods is risky due to possible exposure to Rabies and Lyme disease, both of which can be transmitted to humans.

Moreover, the following is pertinent information to assist the residents with advise on exclusionary methods, such as securing trash cans and other food sources, repairing and patching holes in attics and block crawl spaces such as porches, sheds against intrusion of wildlife. Wild animals are attracted to food waste. Thus sanitation issues must be addressed. The city does not to remove the animal from its habitat, unless sick or injured. Therefore, it’s important for residents to read our flyers for tips to discourage the proximity of urban wildlife in their properties and learn about signs of abnormal behavior.

Please feel free to share above materials with area residents. You may call me or reply by e-mail if you have any concerns.

Thank you,

Maria Hille
Supervisory Biologist, M.S.
Animal Disease Control/HRLA
DC Department of Health