Yeah, the nocternal thing is BS - just because an animal is out during the day does not automatically make it rabid. Many are just looking for food or moving about b/c they were disturbed. Had a raccoon that lived in a storm drain up the street until someone saw it out during the day - and it was promptly shot. The drain probably just had water in it and it was looking for somewhere else to go. I had seen it many a time - going in and out of the drain - rather funny actually. It was acting perfectly normal, looked healthy ... no cause to shoot it. People freak out too easily - especially those city folk who move to the country and don't understand that they moved into an area that has more wildlife. "oh please shoot the coyote - so they don't eat my chiuaua" - sorry, but you moved into the coyotes home. Keep your rat/dog inside if you don't like it.
Now the fox I saw a few years back - that was another story. It had either been hit by a car and was in sad shape or it was seriously ill. Glad it didn't hang around - figure it probably died a few days later somewhere.
But, if I saw a coon like that I'd be skeptical for sure. Maybe rabies, maybe not - but I wouldn't want it have it spreading what ever it was it had and animal control, if not able to deal with it, should have given you the proper people to call.
