2 More Rabid Skunks Reported to Orange County Animal Services

One day after receiving a positive rabies case from a skunk in Hillsborough, Orange County Animal Services received two more positive tests.

The department shared a release on Friday saying two more skunks tested by the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health came back positive, with both also being from Hillsborough. The results bring 2020’s total of reported cases to five.

According to the Animal Services release, one case occurred in the vicinity of Miller Road and Fox Hill Farm Drive and the other happened near St. Mary’s Road and Stagg Road. A resident reported one case on Monday, February 24, when they discovered a deceased skunk in her dog’s outdoor enclosure. The next day, the resident called Animal Control, who arrived and removed the skunk for rabies testing. The second case originated two days later, February 26, when a resident also discovered a dead skunk in their dogs’ outdoor enclosure. After removing the dogs, the resident called Animal Control, which removed the skunk for testing.

In an email with Chapelboro, Director of Orange County Animal Services Bob Marotto said it should not be surprising when there are geographic pockets of rabies cases in a region. He said because animals pass on the disease through direct contact, a single animal with rabies could pass it on to a group. Marotto also said skunks may be particularly active at the moment due to breeding.

The positive case reported to Animal Services on Thursday involved a skunk found on Walnut Grove Church Road and NC-86.

If a pet comes in contact with a rabid animal, they must receive a rabies vaccination within 96 hours if its vaccination is up-to-date. Otherwise, the pet must be quarantined or destroyed. For pet owners who need to update their animals’ vaccinations, Orange County Animal Services is holding two upcoming low-cost rabies vaccination clinics. The first will take place on Thursday March 26, at the Eno River Farmer’s Market in Hillsborough. The second will be held on Saturday, April 25, at Cedar Grove Community Center in Hillsborough.

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