A rabid raccoon found in New Braunfels prompted officials to urge caution around wildlife, emphasizing vaccination and safety measures to prevent rabies spread.
NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas — The City of New Braunfels is warning residents after a case of rabies was detected in a raccoon recently.
The animal was found at Panther Canyon in Landa Park after reports that the raccoon appeared sick. City of New Braunfels Animal Welfare employees worked with Park Rangers to trap the animal and no human exposure was reported.
Later, testing confirmed that the animal did have rabies. Rabies is primarily transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, usually through bites.
Health officials are warning residents to be careful around unfamiliar animals like foxes, raccoons, bats, skunks, and stray dogs or cats.
New Braunfels health officials provided the following tips:
Here are some tips to avoid contact with unfamiliar animals and to prevent the spread of rabies:
- Keep Dogs on a Leash: Do not let dogs and other pets roam freely in parks, trails, or neighborhoods
- Avoid Wild Animals: Do not approach or hand-feed wildlife like foxes, raccoons, bats, or skunks, as they may carry rabies.
- Keep Pets Vaccinated: Ensure pets are up-to-date on rabies vaccinations.
- Secure Food & Trash: Store garbage and pet food in sealed containers to avoid attracting wild animals.
- Avoid Bats: If a bat is inside your home, contain it carefully and contact authorities.
- Seek Medical Attention for Bites/Scratches: Clean wounds and seek immediate medical care if bitten or scratched by an animal.
- Report Unusual Animal Behavior: Contact authorities if an animal appears disoriented, aggressive, or unafraid of humans.
- Don’t touch: Do not touch sick or injured animals.
Before calling to report an animal, take time to observe its behavior and look for these signs:
- Partial paralysis or the inability to walk normal
- Circling or staggering as if disoriented
- Acting aggressively for no reason
- Acting unnaturally tame