What kinds of animals spread rabies?
The rabies virus can infect any mammal (if it has hair or fur, it is a mammal), but is more common among certain ones like bats, skunks, foxes, and raccoons. Stray cats, stray dogs, and livestock can also get rabiesand spread it to their ownersif they do not have special shots to protect them. Rabies is very rare among small rodents like squirrels, rats, mice, and chipmunks. Fish, reptiles (such as snakes, turtles and lizards), amphibians (such as frogs and salamanders), and insects (bugs) cannot get or spread rabies. How common is animal rabies in New Jersey? Rabies in raccoons first appeared in New Jersey in 1989. Since then, raccoon rabies has been found in all cities and towns in the state. Suburban areas in which raccoons, people, and pets are in close proximity have had the highest number of cases. Rabies in bats has been a problem throughout New Jersey at least since 1939. How can you tell if an animal is rabid? Rabid animals often behave strangely after the virus attacks their
