An Annsville resident is being treated for exposure to rabies after a rabid raccoon was found in the town this week.

According to the Oneida County Health Department, on Monday, January 10, 2022 the raccoon was sent to the New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Center for laboratory testing to determine if the animal was positive for rabies. Positive test results were reported the following day, January 11, 2022.

Raccoon Photo Credit: Gary Bendig @kris_ricepees on Unsplash

Officials are urging residents to learn the possible symptoms of rabies and to avoid animals which exhibit those signs. These include the following:

Animal acting strangely
Animal acting mad
Animal acting shy
Animal getting unusually close to an individual
Animal drooling or foaming from the mouth

Many think that rabies is a disease to be concerned with primarily in the summer. This is not the case as rabies can be active all year round.

According to a June 7, 2011 article by Ed Yong in "Discover" Magazine, even in animals who hibernate the rabies virus can linger. Yong says, "Their metabolism slows to a crawl and their body temperatures drop. These cooler temperatures also slow the development of the rabies virus so it ends up hibernating along with its host."

Authorities caution that if an animal, wild or stray, exhibits the signs of rabies, it should not be approached. If an animal is acting strangely a local animal control officer or law enforcement should be contacted for help.

Ferret Photo Credit: Steve Tsang @stevetsang on Unsplash

Domesticated animals and pets should receive regular rabies vaccinations. Cats, dogs, and ferrets that are three months old or older must have current rabies vaccinations, even if they stay indoors most of the time. Depending on the type of vaccine used, dogs and cats may have vaccinations every one to three years following the initial dose. Ferrets must be vaccinated annually.

Dogs Grover and Sawyer Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino

Cat Domino Lorenzo Photo Credit: Kristine Bellino

For more information visit the website for your county. Or, for more information contact the New York State Department of Health. The Department of Health advises that, if you have been bitten, scratched, or come into contact with the saliva or body fluids of an animal that you believe is rabid, wash the affected area thoroughly and immediately contact your doctor and then your local health department.

MosquitoesTicksRabies

(315) 798.5064

Madison
https://www.madisoncounty.ny.gov/440/Rabies-Clinics

(315) 366.2361

Herkimer
https://www.townofherkimer.org/departments/dog-control/

(315) 888.1172

Lewis
https://www.lewiscounty.org/departments/public-health/preventative-services

(315) 377.2000

LOOK: Here are the pets banned in each state

Because the regulation of exotic animals is left to states, some organizations, including The Humane Society of the United States, advocate for federal, standardized legislation that would ban owning large cats, bears, primates, and large poisonous snakes as pets.

Read on to see which pets are banned in your home state, as well as across the nation.

LOOK: Things from the year you were born that don't exist anymore

The iconic (and at times silly) toys, technologies, and electronics have been usurped since their grand entrance, either by advances in technology or breakthroughs in common sense. See how many things on this list trigger childhood memories—and which ones were here and gone so fast you missed them entirely.

25 True Crime Locations: What Do They Look Like Today?

Below, find out where 25 of the most infamous crimes in history took place — and what the locations are used for today. (If they've been left standing.)

LOOK: Food history from the year you were born

From product innovations to major recalls, Stacker researched what happened in food history every year since 1921, according to news and government sources.

LOOK: The top holiday toys from the year you were born

With the holiday spirit in the air, it’s the perfect time to dive into the history of iconic holiday gifts. Using national toy archives and data curated by The Strong from 1920 to today, Stacker searched for products that caught hold of the public zeitgeist through novelty, innovation, kitsch, quirk, or simply great timing, and then rocketed to success.