What to Do When You Find an Animal With Rabies

Rabies, a virus, affects unvaccinated dogs and cats as well as foxes, raccoons, skunks and bats. The disease passes to a new host via bites, licks or scratches from an infected animal. Rabies can lead to death in humans if not treated immediately. If you encounter an animal you think may be rabid, you can take specific action to prevent personal injury and eliminate the transfer of the disease to other animals.

Recognizing Rabies

• The only certain way to determine if an animal has rabies is through a blood test. However, since the disease is an infection of the central nervous system, certain physical symptoms indicate illness. A change in behavior is the first sign. Be familiar with common wild animal behaviors in order to recognize strange ones. For example, raccoons, skunks, and bats are not often seen during daylight hours. Bats rarely lay on the ground or other flat surfaces. Rabid animals might act unusually friendly or aloof or aggressive. As the disease progresses, animals might go into convulsions, stagger about or foam at the mouth.

Encountering a Rabid Animal

• When you encounter an animal you suspect carries the disease, avoid all physical contact. For example, do not pick up or handle bats that you find on the ground. If you absolutely must move a dead or potentially diseased animal, protect yourself by wrapping plastic bags around your hands first. Do not approach a friendly-acting wild animal or an unfamiliar domestic one. Avoid provoking the animal as well. Excitable animals can snap or bite. Do not turn your back on the animal. Stay calm and alert.

  If you have family pets nearby, make sure they remain safe by bringing them indoors. If you are away from home, perhaps on a trail with your dog, keep him close to you on the leash.

  You will need to contact your local animal control officer as soon as possible. Make sure you can describe where you last saw the animal in order to help the officer locate it. Removing the potentially sick animal from the area, prevents further spread of the disease. Until animal control has removed the sick animal, keep an eye on your children and pets when outside or keep them indoors.

  If you experience an animal attack, protect your head and neck and fight back. Get away from the animal as soon as possible. At the same time, try to keep track of its location. Call you local animal control officer as soon as possible. If you have been bitten, scratched or slobbered on or are concerned about exposure, visit the local emergency room or see your doctor right away. If rabies is suspected, they will start you on a five-shot vaccination series. Death from rabies is unlikely with fast and appropriate medical attention.

Prevention

• Prevent the spread of rabies by making sure your pets are vaccinated. Discourage wildlife from your home by keeping lids on trashcans, and avoid feeding wildlife such as raccoons and foxes. Educate your children about normal wildlife behaviors, and encourage them not to approach wild animals, especially bats lying about.