EASTHAMPTON, Mass. – The Massachusetts Department of Public Health is cautioning residents and their pets to stay away from racoons while the state investigates the cause of several reports of erratic behavior from the animals.

Cities and towns across the Commonwealth like Easthampton, Southbridge and Eastham have received reports of raccoons frothing at the mouth, as well as approaching people in a disoriented manner.

State Epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Brown told Spectrum News 1 Friday they're several neurological diseases that can cause the behavior, including rabies.

Brown suspects the disease could be raccoon distemper, which unlike rabies, isn't harmful to humans but can be dangerous for other raccoons and pets.

"Raccoon distemper, that's a virus that's actually spread through respiratory secretions," said Brown. "So saliva and nasal discharge. So rabies is also spread by saliva, but only when there's been a bite or a scratch."

Brown said rabies is also very common in racoons in Massachusetts and almost always fatal. She says if anyone is bitten or scratched by a raccoon, they should report it to the state Health Department or  health care provider immediately.