A hairless raccoon dog, believed to be infected with sarcoptic mange mites, sits at Eoullim Park in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, on Sunday. [Yonhap]
A hairless raccoon dog, believed to be infected with sarcoptic mange mites, sits at Eoullim Park in Songdo-dong, Yeonsu-gu, Incheon, on Sunday. [Yonhap]

Hairless raccoon dogs have been spotted across Songdo International City in Incheon, leaving residents on edge.

Complaints related to raccoon dogs infected with sarcoptic mange mites have been mounting in Songdo in recent weeks, according to Yonhap and the Incheon Wildlife Rescue and Management Center.

The wildlife center has rescued 78 raccoon dogs across Incheon this year after receiving reports of the animals — 66 percent more than the 47 rescued throughout all of last year. Most of the raccoon dogs taken in by the center were infected with sarcoptic mange and in deteriorating health.

Posts have also been appearing on local online communities in Songdo describing sightings of hairless raccoon dogs across a wide range of locations, including golf courses, waterfront parks and schools.

On Oct. 30, a hairless raccoon dog entered the grounds of a high school in Songdo, prompting teachers to advise students to avoid outdoor activities.

Experts believe sarcoptic mange has spread among the raccoon dog population in Songdo.

Sarcoptic mange is caused by a parasitic mite that burrows into the skin to lay eggs and can infect both humans and pets. However, human infections typically produce only mild symptoms such as itching and tend to resolve within a few days, unlike the more severe effects seen in raccoon dogs.


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