Take Precautions to Avoid Rabies by Not Handling Wild Animals

Summer is just around the corner and the potential to encounter a rabid animal is higher as people spend more time outdoors. The New York State Department of Health is urging New Yorkers to take precautions to prevent rabies infections and strongly advises against handling wild animals. In consideration of that messaging, DEC reminds New Yorkers—if you care, leave it there.

Though most animals are healthy, rabies is most commonly seen in wild animals, such as raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. However, any mammal can be infected, including household pets. The virus is transmitted by infected animals through their saliva and can infect people and animals through a bite, or if the saliva gets into the eyes, nose, mouth, or a break in the skin.

The first sign of rabies in an animal is the change in its behavior. It may become unusually aggressive or tame. The animal may lose its fear of people and natural enemies. Staggering, convulsions, choking, frothing at the mouth, and paralysis are sometimes seen. Anyone who has been exposed to rabies should wash the bite or exposure area thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention immediately. If a rabies exposure is not treated and a person develops clinical signs of rabies, the disease almost always results in death.

Take the following precautions to avoid the risk of rabies infection:

• Don’t feed, touch, or adopt wild animals, stray dogs, or feral cats.
• Report all animal bites or contact with wild animals to the local county health department. If possible, do not let any animal escape that has possibly exposed someone to rabies.
• Be sure household pets and livestock are up to date on their rabies vaccinations.
• Teach children not to touch any animal they do not know and to tell an adult immediately if they are bitten by any animal.
• Contact the local health department if a bat is found inside the house. They will advise on what to do with the bat.

Wildlife are not pets. Keeping wildlife in captivity without authorization from DEC is illegal and harmful to the animal. Anyone who observes wildlife that appears to be behaving abnormally should contact their closest DEC regional wildlife office or an Environmental Conservation Police Officer.