OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Florida Department of Health in Marion County (DOH-Marion) has issued a rabies alert in Marion County in response to a confirmed case in a raccoon.
The animal was killed in the Anthony area off Northwest 100th Street in Marion County on May 21, 2024.
DOH-Marion says its monitoring rabies among wild animals in the area.
People and domestic animals should always avoid physical contact with wild animals including raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats, and coyotes, which carry a higher risk of human exposure.
The rabies alert is for 60 days and includes the following boundaries in Marion County:
- Northern boundary: County Road 329
- Southern boundary: State Road 326
- Eastern boundary: North U.S. 441
- Western boundary: Northwest Gainesville Road
To protect yourself and your pets, DOH-Marion says take the following precautions to prevent rabies exposure:
- Immunize your pets and livestock based on your veterinarian’s recommended
- Keep pets under direct supervision and on a leash, and keep livestock secured on your property
- Avoid contact with wild or stray animals
- Do not handle, feed, or unintentionally attract wild animals with outdoor pet food, open garbage cans, or other sources of food
- Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home; instead, contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator
- Prevent wildlife, including bats, from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, schools, and other similar areas where they might come in contact with people and pets
If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild or domestic animal, seek medical attention, and report the injury to DOH-Marion by calling 352-629-0137.
For more information on rabies, click here.