Community Corner

Three More Rabid Skunks Are Found In Lake County

The skunks were found in Mentor, Mentor-on-the-Lake and Painesville

The Ohio Department of Health and USDA Wildlife Services have confirmed that three more skunks in Lake County have tested positive for rabies.

These skunks were found in Mentor, Mentor-on-the-Lake and Painesville between Sept. 28 and Oct. 3, according to the Lake County General Health District.

Three dogs were possibly exposed to the rabid skunks. Fortunately, all of them were up to date on their rabies vaccinations.

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Five rabid skunks have been found in Lake County this year, .

All of these skunks are thought to be infected with raccoon strain rabies. Since 2004, 141 animals with raccoon strain rabies have been found in Lake County, according to the health district.

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Lake County has not seen this many animals with raccoon strain rabies in a single year since 2007.

Health departments in northeast Ohio have distributed rabies vaccine for raccoons to eat. However, the vaccine is not effective in skunks. A new vaccine for skunks is undergoing trials and it is hoped it will be available for use locally next year.

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Lake County General Health District offered four tips to prevent the spread of rabies:

  • Avoid contact with wild, sick or injured animals, and animals you don’t know. Any pet or human encounter with skunks, bats, raccoons, fox or coyotes should be reported to the LCGHD for evaluation of the circumstances to determine if a possible rabies exposure has occurred.
  • Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they appear friendly.
  • Vaccinate your pets against rabies. Rabies vaccination of all pet cats, dogs and ferrets is mandatory in Lake County. This requirement also applies to indoor pets because, in some instances, a potentially rabid animal (especially bats) may get into the house.
  • Call your doctor or veterinarian if you or your pets are bitten.

Citizens can call the Lake County General Health District at 440-350-2543 to report dead or sick animals and animals with odd behavior.


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