Warning! Rabid Raccoons On The Rise In Denville

New Jersey’s Denville area has continued to see a rise in the number of rabid raccoons. There have also been rabid raccoons found in the nearby town of Parsippany.

We know the thought of having rabid animals in your area is scary. However, there are things you can do to prepare yourself and your family.

What Is Rabies?

Rabies is a virus. A rabid animal can spread the virus when it bites or scratches another animal. Dogs tend to get rabies when they come in contact with an infected animal in the wild. This animal could be a bat, a squirrel, or a raccoon. Bats are the most common carrier of the virus. People know how to stay away from animals that look sick. Dogs, however, aren’t that lucky.

If an animal scratches or bites a human, there is a treatment for him or her. While it entails undergoing a series of painful shots, it is better than getting the virus. The symptoms of rabies start with a fever and a headache. As the disease progresses, the symptoms steadily get worse. Humans can experience paralysis, anxiety, agitation, and insomnia. They also seem confused. The latter stages of rabies include extreme paranoia, hallucinations, delirium, coma, and death. People infected with rabies also cannot quench their thirst and have an extreme fear of water. They may have muscle spasms as well. Without treatment, rabies is almost always fatal.

The CDC estimated that, in the last two years, 55,000 people received treatment for rabies. Between one and three people in the United States die each year from rabies. In Asia and Africa, rabies kills as many as 18,000 people each year.

How Can I Prevent Rabies?

Because it is always present in wildlife, you can’t completely prevent rabies. However, there are things you can do to ensure your safety. First, you need to make sure that you vaccinate your animals against the disease. This helps keep you and them safe. You also need to stay away from wild animals or strays. Remember, all the animal has to do is bite or scratch you, and you could become infected.

This information seems like it would be easy to follow. But it isn’t always. That cute little raccoon or squirrel you like to feed could be carrying rabies. Don’t feed any wild animal, and don’t try to pet it. You also need to make sure your dogs and cats aren’t coming into contact with wild animals either. Make sure when you walk your dog, it is on a leash. Keep your cats inside as well. Remember those wild animals need to stay wild. That means you don’t need to bring them into your home.

Don’t give animals a reason to visit your property. Keep your garbage stored safely in a can that animals can’t open. Leave your cans in the garage. If you do see animals on your property, and they look sick, call animal control. If an animal bites or scratches someone, he or she must inform animal control and the health department immediately.

How We Can Help

NJ Pest Control can help you relieve your concerns about rabid raccoons. We can make sure that there is no wildlife around your house that might potentially cause trouble. We can take care of a long list of nuisance wildlife, such as bats, and many more.

If you are worried about wild animals and the potential for rabies, why not give us a call? We can come out, take a look at your property, and come up with a plan to control wildlife. Give us a call today and sleep better tonight.