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Earlier in the week, we told you about a rabid bat in Hartland and what to look out for when trying to spot a rabid animal.
Today it’s all about preventing the contraction of rabies by you or your pet.
Dr. Jim Goltz is Manager of Laboratory Services for the Department of Agriculture and has some advice.
“Enjoy wildlife but do it from a distance don’t get too close to wild animals, especially do not get close enough to touch them or pet them, and teach your children the same thing,” stated Goltz.
As for your pets, he says to make sure you have their rabies vaccinations up to date. In some communities that is a by law.
If you have a wild animal on your property such as a raccoon or skunk, do not try and trap it according to Dr. Goltz.
Dr. Goltz says respect wildlife, from a distance, do not let your kids play with wild animals and make sure your pets are properly vaccinated against rabies.
“If you are in an area where there is rabies in animals, that animal could be incubating rabies and sometimes it takes several weeks or months to show up and then you move that animal to another location…You will end up undoing all the good work we have done trying to control rabies through vaccination,” stated Goltz.
