Wildlife Awareness & Safety
Keep your distance from wildlife. Species information and unusual behavior cannot determine whether an individual animal has rabies or whether a person needs preventive care.
What U.S. wildlife reports can tell us
CDC identifies bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes among wildlife frequently reported with rabies in the United States. Reservoir species and reported patterns differ by location. This is U.S. surveillance context, not a worldwide ranking or a probability for an animal you encounter.
Reports describe detected cases; they do not show that every animal of a species is infected. Local public-health authorities use the location and details of a contact to assess an individual exposure. CDC: U.S. surveillance and regional reservoirs.
Unusual behavior is a reason for distance, not a diagnosis
CDC describes behavior changes, difficulty moving and excessive salivation among possible signs in affected animals. A behavior checklist cannot confirm rabies or rule it out. Do not approach an animal to inspect its mouth, movement or response to people.
For bats, CDC lists daytime activity, being on the ground and inability to fly as reasons for concern. These observations are not a diagnosis. Keep away and contact animal control or public health; do not wait for unusual behavior before seeking advice after possible contact. CDC: animal clinical signs; CDC: bat encounters.
During a wildlife encounter
- Stay away from wild animals, including those that appear sick, injured or dead. Keep children and pets away without approaching the animal.
- If a pet is near wildlife, do not put your hands between animals or try to grab the wild animal. Move yourself to safety and contact animal control for help.
- If wildlife is inside, leave the immediate area if you can do so safely and contact animal control. Do not attempt capture or removal yourself.
- If a bat may have contacted a person or pet, speak with public health or animal control before it is released. Professionals can arrange safe handling and decide whether testing is appropriate.
CDC: distance and prevention; CDC: professional assistance for bat encounters.
Possible contact involving a person
Wash bites or scratches promptly with soap and water and seek prompt medical or public-health advice. Report possible direct bat contact even if you cannot see a bite. A clinician or public-health professional decides whether rabies post-exposure prophylaxis is needed; this page cannot make that decision.
Possible contact involving a pet
Contact your veterinarian and the relevant animal-health or public-health authority promptly. Have vaccination records available. Management depends on the species, vaccination history, contact and local requirements. Do not use human PEP information to choose a pet treatment or vaccination plan.
CDC: veterinary management and local coordination.
For the animal, call a veterinarian or animal control directly. For any person who may also have had contact, use the separate human-care pathway.