{"id":6401,"date":"2024-07-23T08:50:46","date_gmt":"2024-07-23T12:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/blue-ridge\/?page_id=6401"},"modified":"2024-07-23T08:50:46","modified_gmt":"2024-07-23T12:50:46","slug":"rabies-in-animals","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/blue-ridge\/rabies-in-animals\/","title":{"rendered":"Rabies in Animals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Only mammals can contract rabies. Birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians cannot contract or transmit rabies.\u00a0 The majority of confirmed rabies cases found in the United States are from wildlife. Wild animals that are at a high risk of carrying the rabies virus includes\u00a0raccoons,\u00a0skunks,\u00a0foxes, and\u00a0bats.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rabies can also be contracted by unvaccinated domestic animals such as cats and dogs, and livestock such as cattle, horses, and goats.<\/p>\n

Bats are the leading cause of exposure to rabies in the US<\/a><\/span><\/span>.\u00a0Because their bites are often small and not visible to the human eye, a person may not know they have been exposed.<\/p>\n

Therefore, if you find a bat in your home, try to safely capture it and not let it escape. To do this, you will need leather work gloves, a small box or coffee can, piece of cardboard and tape.\u00a0 When the bat lands, approach it slowly.\u00a0 While wearing the gloves, place the box or coffee can over the bat.\u00a0 Slide the cardboard under the container to trap the bat inside.\u00a0 Tape the cardboard to the container, and punch small holes in the cardboard allowing the bat to breathe.<\/p>\n

Once captured, contact your local health department for guidance on testing.<\/p>\n

Signs an Animal May be Rabid<\/strong><\/p>\n

Only a lab test can confirm the presence of the rabies virus. However, animals that may be rabid may display these behaviors:<\/p>\n