Montreal Man on the Run Takes Pet Raccoon for Rabies Vaccination
A Montreal man who has spent weeks evading provincial wildlife authorities with his pet raccoon recently brought the animal in for a rabies vaccination. Louka Berman traveled to meet the co-owner of a refuge north of Montreal on Monday to get the shot for Pepper, his viral social media companion.
The situation began in May when Berman rescued an injured baby raccoon. After attempting to release the animal, Berman found that the raccoon continuously returned to him. The pair gained widespread online attention in September following a viral video of Berman riding a bicycle with Pepper on his shoulder.
Provincial environmental enforcement officers subsequently targeted the pair, attempting to seize the animal in early October with a warrant. Keeping a raccoon as a pet violates provincial regulations in Quebec, and officials note that permits are not granted for keeping raccoons in captivity. Fines for a first offense range from $1,000 to $5,000, and while the environment ministry aims to relocate or free seized animals, officials state that euthanasia remains an option as a last resort.
Amid an ongoing raccoon rabies outbreak in Quebec—though the virus has not yet reached Montreal—Berman sought out the vaccination to address health concerns. While living a nomadic lifestyle on the run and sleeping in his car or with friends, Berman has also received financial backing through online fundraising and a cryptocurrency initiative tied to the raccoon's fame. He hopes to eventually put those funds toward establishing a new animal sanctuary.
