The Truth About Rabies

The East Coast is presently experiencing a rabies emergency. Rabies is carried only by mammals. The incidence of rabies in Virginia is highest among raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes, although any warm-blooded animal can contract and transmit the disease. This does not mean that all of these creatures have rabies or needs to be destroyed. It means that rabies occurs more often in these species than in squirrels, chipmunks and other mammals.

Rabies is a viral disease that can be prevented, but not cured. It is always fatal once symptoms have appeared. If you or your pet is bitten by a wild mammal, call your doctor or vet immediately for instructions, then call the League to report the incident. We need to capture the animal in order to test it. If we can't catch it and test it, you must immediately begin a series of post-exposure rabies shots. Nobody likes getting shots, so use caution and common sense to prevent bites.

If you or your pet is bitten by a cat or dog, follow the same procedures as above. If the pet's owner is present, get a name and phone number and try to get proof that the pet is current on its rabies vaccinations. The Animal Control Department will follow up. We do not usually test pets, because the test requires that the animal be euthanized first. Instead, a pet that has bitten must be quarantined for 10 days to monitor it for signs of illness, regardless of its vaccination status.

Signs of Illness

Many people think that a nocturnal animal out during the day must be rabid. This is not true. It isn't unusual to see raccoons and opossums nosing around in the daylight if they are really hungry. Animals that are sick with distemper or mange are also sometimes mistaken for rabid animals. Please call us immediately about ill animals. Some symptoms of rabies include:

• Drooling or foaming at the mouth. This happens during the final stage of the disease, although not every rabid animal will display this symptom.
• Inability to walk straight. An animal may zigzag, stagger and fall over as if it were drunk, walk or run in circles or bite its own limbs.
• Lethargy. An animal that would normally be startled by and run from loud noises, activity or the sight of humans hunkers down in one spot and refuses to move. Don't approach the animal; spray it with a hose from a distance or bang trash can lids together to see if that will scare it away. If it doesn't leave, it may be ill.
• Unprovoked aggression. An animal that would normally flee from humans shows no fear at all and may even attack without provocation.

Use your head to prevent bites

1. DO NOT FEED WILD ANIMALS, and especially do not try to get one to take food from your hand. You do not want to encourage wildlife to come close to you. No matter how fuzzy, cute or tame it may seem, it is still wild and will bite and scratch when it is frightened. We receive many calls from upset parents whose child was bitten while trying to hand-feed a squirrel.
2. Use exclusionary measures to keep animals out of your yard, and avoid them if you are enjoying a walk in the woods.
3. If you have trapped a raccoon in your house, do not touch it, release it or destroy it. Call the League immediately, and we will pick it up. Some raccoons can be released, while others may need to be tested for rabies.
4. Do not approach unfamiliar dogs or cats on the street. You don't know their temperament or health, and you don't want to risk being bitten. If a stray needs help, call the League.
5. Don't leave dogs unattended in the yard, and don't let your cats roam the neighborhood. Your pets may harm others or fall victim to other animals.
6. Keep your pets current on rabies vaccinations. (See our Events Calendar for Low-Cost Rabies Vaccination Clinics) This is extremely important (and it is the law) in order to prevent the spread of the disease.
7. If you or your pet is bitten, contact the League immediately and keep the wild animal in view if possible. Disinfect the wound with soap and water and call your doctor or veterinarian right away for instructions.