Orange County Animal Services said it identified a positive rabies case in a raccoon found near Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Umstead Dr. It is the first reported case of rabies in the county in 2026.

The raccoon was first found injured in the road by a civilian on Mar. 4, who then attempted to move the animal out of the way. Following the encounter, Animal Control collected the raccoon for a rabies test. Then just a day later, the North Carolina State Laboratory of Public Health informed OCAS of the positive test.

“Rabies is a fatal, viral infection that can be transmitted to animals and people,” the release reads. “Animal Control urges people to be cautious about interactions with wildlife or any unfamiliar animals when spending time outdoors, and make sure pets are current on their rabies vaccinations. Your veterinarian is the best source of information on vaccinations for your pet.”

Alongside information about the case, Orange County Animal Services shared The North Carolina Department of Health &Human Services’ page on rabies information and statistics, which can be found here.

Following a Dec. 2025 incident in which an Orange County resident was bit by a rabid raccoon, OCAS reminded pet owners that North Carolina law requires dogs, cats and ferrets older than four months to have current and valid rabies vaccination at all times. The department offers low-cost rabies vaccination clinics to the community several times each year, where pets can get one-year and three-year vaccinations. Visit the Orange County Animal Services department’s webpage to learn more.

 

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