According to A-Z-Animals, the American raccoon, skunk, bat, and fox are among the animals with the highest risk of carrying rabies.
Many people often think that dogs and cats are the primary carriers of rabies. However, in the United States, there have also been numerous recorded cases of raccoons attacking humans and contracting rabies.
Below are the dangers posed by species with the highest potential risk for rabies, as listed by A-Z-Animals.
American Raccoon
The American raccoon is the animal with the highest potential risk of rabies in the United States. (Photo: Eagle Tribune).
Raccoons account for nearly 35% of all rabies cases related to animals in the United States. In the Eastern U.S., humans have been dealing with many wild raccoons since the 1960s. Meanwhile, the issue first arose in New York City in the 1990s.
American raccoons often exploit human-related resources; they rummage through trash cans for food and use garages or other spaces for shelter.
A-Z-Animals advises that people should stay safe by not allowing raccoons to roam freely near their homes. For example, they can keep pet food indoors and use securely covered trash bins. Additionally, people can store their trash bins indoors until the garbage truck arrives.
Skunk
The skunk is another species that has the potential to carry rabies in the U.S. In Wisconsin, skunks are one of the typical carriers of the rabies virus, alongside bats.
According to A-Z-Animals, individuals need to take preventive measures to keep skunks out of their yards. Similar to raccoons, skunks enjoy scavenging through garbage, pet food, or any other leftover food sources found outdoors.
Therefore, the most effective way to prevent skunks is to eliminate all food sources, and always close garages and sheds at night. Skunks are nocturnal, and people should close their garages at dusk to avoid any issues that skunks may cause.
Bats
Most bat species typically do not carry rabies, but a small number can harbor this dangerous disease and spread it rapidly. Bats are also a leading cause of rabies-related human deaths in the U.S. Rabid bats can be found in nearly all states (except Hawaii).
A-Z-Animals notes that bats do not naturally become aggressive. However, if they feel threatened, they may bite. If a bat flies into a home, people should wear thick gloves to safely guide it outside. Avoid using cotton gloves, as bats can bite through them; leather gloves are the best option. After carefully guiding the bat outside, individuals should seal any gaps that it could re-enter.
Fox
Foxes rarely attack humans due to their timid nature. (Photo: PBS).
According to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), foxes account for about 7% of rabies cases in the United States. Moreover, A-Z-Animals notes that it is very rare for the rabies strain in foxes to transmit to humans. However, victims need immediate medical care after being bitten or exposed to a fox.
People should not worry too much when they see a fox in their yard, as these animals do not typically attack humans, except in rare cases.
Generally, a fox will run away before attacking a person. Therefore, if a fox approaches a human, it means it has become accustomed to being fed by people.
However, even if they do not carry rabies, the loss of fear that foxes have towards humans can be very dangerous. Thus, people should not feed foxes in an attempt to encourage them to leave.
| Rabies is a very dangerous disease, but the likelihood of humans contracting rabies remains relatively low. A-Z-Animals reports that annually, there are only 1-3 reports of rabies cases related to humans. From 2009 to 2018, only 25 cases of rabies in humans were recorded in the U.S. Of those 25 cases, 7 infections occurred outside the U.S. and its territories. |
