A raccoon that “encountered” two dogs in a fenced-in yard on Center Street in Lockport on Wednesday has been confirmed rabid, according to Niagara County Department of Health.
Both dogs were vaccinated against rabies and their owner is said to be coordinating booster rabies vaccinations. County health officials will not require quarantine.
The raccoon was submitted for testing at the Wadsworth Center, Griffon Laboratory.
Animal rabies continues to be a serious public health concern in Niagara County. Four rabid bats have been confirmed in Niagara County in 2023. This is the first documentation of rabid raccoon this year. Rabies is a viral disease that nearly always results in death of the animal that is not adequately protected with a rabies vaccination.
Bats, raccoons, skunks, and fox are all common wildlife carriers of the rabies virus. It is possible that a rabid animal can shed (share) the virus by direct contact before symptoms appear visible. A rabid animal can only be confirmed by submitting a laboratory sample.