Sarasota County health officials confirmed a case of rabies in a raccoon killed near the corner of Grove Point Boulevard and Proctor Road on July 21st. The Department of Health issued a public advisory to alert residents and visitors that rabies may be present in the wild animal population in our community. This isn’t meant to create panic, but rather to help everyone understand the risk and take practical steps to protect themselves, their families, and their pets.
Rabies can show up in several types of wildlife around Sarasota, including raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, and coyotes. Infected animals may display unusual behavior like aggression, strange calmness in normally shy animals, inability to eat or drink, excessive drooling, staggering, or paralysis. If you notice any wild animal acting this way, the safest thing to do is keep your distance and report it to authorities. For your own safety, teach children to observe wildlife from afar and never attempt to hand-feed or touch any wild animals, no matter how docile they appear.
The best defense against rabies is prevention combined with swift action if exposure happens. Make sure your dogs and cats are current on their rabies vaccinations, supervise them when they’re outside, and secure your garbage and pet food so wildlife isn’t attracted to your home. If you or your pet is bitten or scratched by any wild animal, clean the wound immediately and seek medical attention without delay. Contact Sarasota Animal Services at 941-861-9501 or the Department of Health at 941-861-2873. Rabies is treatable when caught early. Have you checked your pet’s rabies vaccination status recently?
