Does That Raccoon Have Rabies? Here Are Eight Ways to Tell

Image: This raccoon was trapped in a dumpster; Fairfax County animal control officers responded to the scene and set it free. It did not exhibit any signs or symptoms of the rabies virus (FCPD).

Earlier this month, raccoons with rabies attacked and bit a man working in his garden in Springfield and a 75-year-old woman walking on a path at the South County Rec Center near Burke. In both cases, the raccoon was euthanized, tested and found to be infected with the rabies virus.

A Fairfax County wildlife biologist has shared tips on how to be safe around these woodland animals, and how to tell if they have rabies:

Raccoons are nocturnal and primarily active at night. However, it is not uncommon to see a raccoon during the day in urban and suburban areas as they seek out food sources and denning areas.

Simply seeing a raccoon during the day is not a sign of rabies. But if you see a raccoon showing the following signs that indicate a sick animal, contact Fairfax County Animal Control Services:

• Staggering gait
• Oblivious to noise or nearby movement
• Erratic wandering or circling
• Excessive drooling
• Disorientation
• Wet and matted hair on face
• Repeated high-pitch vocalization
• Self-mutilation, biting or snapping

Although the risk of contracting rabies is rare, steps should be taken to minimize the risk of exposure to you and your pets:

• Don’t approach or handle wild animals, especially sick wild animals.
• Vaccinate your pets.
• Do not allow your pets to roam unattended. Walk pets on a leash.
• Do not feed wild or stray animals. Secure pet food and trash cans.
• Do not keep wild animals as pets.
• Report any sick or injured wild animals to Fairfax County Animal Control.
• If bitten or scratched by a wild or stray animal or a pet that was seen acting strangely, wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water and apply antiseptic (if able). Seek medical attention immediately. Rabies in humans is 100 percent preventable through prompt, appropriate medical care.

To report an incident:

• Call the Fairfax County Police Department’s Animal Control Services at 703-691-2131
• Call the Fairfax County Health Department’s Rabies Coordinator to discuss the incident at 703-246-2433

For more information on rabies, please visit the Fairfax County Health Department website.

For information on resolving human-wildlife conflicts, the Virginia Wildlife Conflict Helpline is available toll-free at (855) 571-9003 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. This helpline is a collaborative effort between the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.