Rabies and Wildlife

Rabies is a fatal viral disease primarily found in bats and wild carnivores, such as raccoons, skunks, and foxes — also referred to as rabies vector species (RVS). It can also infect unvaccinated cats, dogs, livestock, and other mammals, like woodchucks and deer.

The following symptoms may indicate the presence of rabies, distemper, or other disease in mammals:

• Unprovoked aggression
• Impaired movement, difficulty walking
• Unusual vocalizations

Rabies is found in the saliva of infected animals and is transmitted primarily through a bite. It can also spread when saliva or central nervous system tissue (brain, spinal cord) enters an open wound or mucous membranes (eyes/nose/mouth).  Anyone exposed to a suspect rabid animal should thoroughly wash wounds and immediately contact a doctor and follow their instructions, or seek emergency medical treatment. If a pet or livestock is exposed to a rabid animal, the incident should be reported to a veterinarian and the town Animal Control Officer (ACO). 

Suspect rabid wild animals that expose people or pets/livestock should be captured and dispatched, generally by local police or animal control — without damaging the brain. Rabies testing for human exposures is done at the State Dept. of Public Health (DPH) Virology Lab and coordinated through your local health director or district. Testing of animals that have exposed domestic animals is handled by the UCONN Animal Diagnostic Lab for a fee. Suspicious wildlife euthanized due to safety threats that did not expose people/pets/livestock do not need to be tested, but could also be brought to the UCONN Lab.

Curbing populations of RVS to control rabies is not feasible, nor is there a current plan for a vaccination program. Vaccinating pets and avoiding and reporting suspicious wildlife for removal are recommended as the primary means to avoid rabies conflicts. Eliminating food attractants (bird feeders, garbage, pet foods, and compost, etc.) and animal proofing homes (by installing chimney caps or sealing off openings under decks and sheds) will help reduce nuisance related conflicts with and alleviate concerns about encountering rabid animals.

Rabies Prevention Measures

Homeowners can minimize their risk of exposure (and also the risk to their pets and livestock) by taking the following precautions:

• Vaccinate pets and livestock against rabies. Unvaccinated pets represent the greatest risk of rabies exposure to humans and are frequently the link between rabid wildlife and people. If your dog or cat is unvaccinated and exposed to a rabid animal, it must be euthanized or removed from the home and quarantined for six months. The importance of pet vaccinations cannot be overemphasized! Do not allow pets to roam freely. Keep them closely supervised, feed them indoors, and confine them at night. If your pet is exposed to a suspected rabid animal, wear gloves when handling it or treating its wounds. Contact a veterinarian for advice. Your local police, animal control officer, or NWCO can help identify, capture, or destroy the suspect animal for testing.
• Avoid contact with wild or stray animals. Report animals behaving suspiciously to your local police or animal control officer. Never attempt to feed, pet, or handle wild animals or strays. It is illegal to keep any wild animal as a pet, and doing so will increase your risk of exposure to rabies and other diseases. To discourage wildlife from living in or around your home, cap chimneys, screen crawl spaces, and repair openings into buildings. This also includes securing potential food sources (garbage cans, pet or livestock food, and even birdseed). Contact the Wildlife Division at 860-424-3011, or a NWCO, for information on wild animal behavior and control techniques.
• If you are bitten, scratched, or think you have been exposed to rabies, wash the exposed area thoroughly with soap and warm water and contact your doctor or emergency clinic immediately. If possible, without further risk of exposure, capture or destroy the wild animal without damaging its head. (For assistance in the capture of animals involved in a  rabies exposure, contact local or state police or an animal control officer.) If you are unable to contact local authorities, call the DEEP at 860-424-3333 for guidance. NWCOs may also be able to assist with human exposure cases by capturing suspect animals and assisting with transport for rabies testing. Note that treatment for rabies exposure is highly effective if administered promptly and consists of a series of six relatively painless injections.

Additional Rabies and Wildlife Control Information May Be Obtained from the Following Sources:

• Human Exposures
  • CT Dept. of Public Health: 860-509-7994
    (After hours and weekends, call 860-509-8000)

  Questions regarding human exposures should be directed to local Departments of Health, private physicians, or the Connecticut Department of Public Health

• Domestic Animal Exposures
  • CT Department of Agriculture
    Animal Control Division: 860-713-2506
    State Veterinarian: 860-713-2505

  Remember to vaccinate your pets/livestock! Gloves should be worn prior to handling an exposed or suspect animal. Notify your local Animal Control Officer or veterinarian of any exposure to pets or livestock.

• Wildlife Control/Behavior/Rabies (general info)
  • CT Dept. of Energy and Environmental Protection
    Wildlife Division: 860-424-3011 
    Email - deep.wildlife@ct.gov
  • DEEP Emergency Dispatch: 860-424-3333
    
     *In some cases, DEEP Environmental Conservation Police may be available to respond if there has been an exposure or a suspect animal is aggressively threatening people, pets, or livestock.

• Rabies Testing
  • Dept. of Public Health, CT Virology Lab, Rocky Hill: 860-920-6500
     (Animals that have exposed humans)
  • UCONN Animal Diagnostic Lab: 860-486-3738
    (Animals that have exposed pets/livestock or sick animals with no known exposure history)

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  www.cdc.gov/rabies

Content last updated in December 2022.