Raccoon worms

[Scoony]

I shot a raccoon the other day while squirrel hunting. When I was skinning it, I noticed what looked like a parasitic worm along the leg muscle. It was @ 5 inches long and the diameter of thick sewing thread. After seeing that one, I stopped the skinning process and did not look for any more.
Is this normal in raccoons?
I ended up throwing the raccoon away since I didn’t want to take the chance of the kids, or the dogs getting infected.
What is normally done with the coon when these are found?

[KYhunter79]

I think that most coons have parasitic worms of some sort and that is a main reason most people don't eat them. Don't hold me at this.

[Valley Station]

Most animals have parasites. Squirrels, rabbits have "wohls".
Rabbits have tape worms. Deer have brain worms.
Fish have parasites in the meat. Cook well.[V]

[Blevins Gap Outdoors]

Valley is right and some people do eat coon.

Take Me To Blevins Gap Outdoors (http://www.huntbgo.com)

[snareman]

Scooney,

As a trapper I skin alot of coons. I had yet to run across a worm or parasite as you had mentioned until today. I always skin my coons right away and have never found one. Today I skinned 5 that have been dead for several days and each one had worms identical to those you described. On each coon I found them at the rear ankle where I made the cut around the leg and there they were, pretty nasty. I almost threw them out but then remembered how much work they were to catch. My opinion is that most all probably have parasites but I only found them because their host "the coon" was dead and they were aware of this and were looking for a way out and this is why they were found just under the skin on the ankle of each coon. I'm basing this opinion on many years of biology classes in college.

[Scoony]

This coon had only been dead for 2 hours and the worms were on the back legs. Since I have dogs and children around the house. I decided to take no chances and disposed of the coon.

[Carl]

I have found worms also called "Wolves" in squirrels and rabbits.
I think this usually happens in the warm months.
Reminds me of a saying my mama use to have. (You can only eat rabbits in months that have an (R) in them. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr.
Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec....any other month and you will find worms.
Carl<font color="green"></font id="green">