Racoons have little fear of humans, and their comical "masks" and dextrous fingers make them seem comical to us. Sometimes, their curiosity and habit of ignoring us leads people to believe that they must be "rabid."  Having seen a very sick and rabid racoon up close in a wildlife center, I can tell you that a racoon suffering from rabies is unmistakable.This racoon, who visited the back deck, came within a foot of me, but there's no reason to panic. . . her appearance, clear eyes, fluffy coat and demeanor was classic "healthy" racoon, curious, expectant and sometimes, defiant.