SALISBURY RESIDENT BITTEN BY RACOON

Salisbury, MD – A Salisbury resident in the Newtown area noticed a baby raccoon sleeping near his home yesterday. After calling Animal Control, the raccoon was caged by an Animal Control officer.  While the officer and the resident were discussing the incident, an adult raccoon, presumably the mother, attacked the resident, bit him, and then ran into bushes near the home. The victim went to Peninsula Regional Medical Center where he began treatment for rabies as a precautionary measure because the animal was not captured for testing.

Rabies is a serious disease spread by saliva from an infected animal through bites and scratches. Appropriate medical treatment can prevent the disease when a person comes in contact with a rabid animal.

Please keep the following tips in mind:

• Avoid all contact with wild or stray animals;
• Teach children to leave unfamiliar animals alone;
• Vaccinate pets - Maryland law requires that all dogs, cats, and ferrets, 4 months of age and older have a current rabies vaccination;

·         Avoid feeding pets outside  - do not leave food or water outside;

·         Secure outside garbage lids

The Wicomico County Health Department is holding a rabies clinic tonight, August 14, 2014, at the Pittsville Fire Department from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. The cost is $10. All dogs must be on a leash and all cats in a carrier.

To report abnormal animal behavior, please call Wicomico County Animal Control at (410) 749-1070.  All animal bites or scratches should be reported to the Wicomico County Health Department (410) 546-4446.