Which Animals Carry Rabies? (Dogs, Bats, Foxes, Raccoons & More)

Almost any mammal can be infected with rabies, but a small number of species are responsible for nearly all real-world exposures. Knowing which animals carry rabies — and which almost never do — provides useful context before you contact a healthcare or public-health professional after a bite, scratch, or other contact. This guide covers important reservoirs and species in which rabies is reported uncommonly, then links to detailed answers for the most-searched animals.

Important rabies reservoirs

Worldwide, dogs drive the vast majority of human rabies deaths — up to 99% — mostly in regions where canine rabies is not controlled. In the United States, decades of pet vaccination have nearly eliminated dog-to-human rabies, and the biggest threats are now wild animals. The main US wildlife reservoirs are:

• Bats — the leading cause of human rabies deaths in the US. Their bites can be tiny and painless, so any direct contact deserves medical advice.
• Raccoons — the most frequently reported rabid animal across the eastern US.
• Skunks — a dominant reservoir across the central US and California.
• Foxes — an important carrier in parts of the East, Southwest, and Alaska.
• Coyotes and other wild canids — less common but capable of carrying the virus.

Among domestic animals in the US, cats are actually reported rabid more often than dogs, largely because fewer cats are vaccinated and many roam outdoors where they meet wildlife. That makes both dogs and cats worth taking seriously after an unprovoked bite or scratch, especially from a stray or unvaccinated animal.

Animals that rarely or almost never carry rabies

Some animals are commonly feared even though rabies is reported uncommonly in them. Small rodents — rats, mice, squirrels, chipmunks, hamsters, and guinea pigs — and rabbits are almost never found to be rabid and have not been known to cause rabies in people in the US. Opossums are rarely reported with rabies in the United States; the reason is not established. See the CDC US rabies overview and Washington wildlife guidance. Deer can contract rabies, but cases are uncommon. These situations can be of lower concern in many circumstances, but professional or public-health guidance may still be needed depending on the exposure. Wash any bite that breaks the skin and ask a professional what to do next.

What professionals consider after an exposure

The animal is only part of the picture. Professional assessment also considers whether the skin was broken, whether the animal was wild, stray, or unknown, whether it can be observed or tested, and the rabies situation in your area. The safest approach after any concerning exposure is to wash and flush the wound with soap and running water for about 15 minutes when possible and then ask a doctor or public health authority whether post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) is needed. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms begin, but it is preventable when post-exposure care begins before symptoms appear.

Rabies guidance by animal — detailed guides

Explore the specific animals people ask about most:

• How to know if a dog has rabiesSigns, behavior changes, and what to do
• Do foxes carry rabies?A primary US wildlife reservoir
• Can opossums get rabies?Yes — but extremely rarely
• Do deer have rabies?Possible but uncommon
• Can rats and mice carry rabies?Rabies is reported uncommonly in small rodents; ask public health after a bite
• Can you get rabies from a dog scratch?When a scratch is a concern
• Can you get rabies from a cat scratch?Cats and scratch-route risk

Frequently asked questions

Worried about a specific exposure? Use the rabies exposure checklist or read the emergency guide.