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Another rabid raccoon has crawled out of the woodwork in LA County, delivering an early Halloween scare just weeks after the first infected critter was discovered in the area in more than 50 years.
The latest rabies-positive raccoon was found Thursday in a Westlake Village backyard, less than three weeks after the county’s first confirmed case in a raccoon in more than half a century.
The first infected animal was discovered earlier this month in another backyard in the same area. It appeared unwell but was not aggressive toward people, according to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
This time, the raccoon appeared both sick and aggressive, officials said.
No residents or pets were exposed to the animal, but two people at a nearby worksite may have been exposed and are receiving “recommended follow-up for rabies post-exposure prophylaxis,” a series of timely vaccines.
County public health officials went door to door in the neighborhood to alert residents and share safety information, the city of Westlake Village said in an Instagram post Thursday.
Testing confirmed that the first raccoon carried a rabies variant typically found in bats. Results are still pending for the newly discovered animal.
The unusual raccoon cases come as rabies detections among bats continue to climb across LA County, where the disease has historically been linked primarily to the flying mammals.
“Peak season typically occurs in late summer, but bats with rabies can be found year-round. So far this year, there has been a record-breaking 77 rabid bats confirmed in Los Angeles County,” county officials said.
Rabies kills tens of thousands of people worldwide each year, according to the county.
Health officials are urging residents to keep their distance from wild animals, even those that look harmless or appear to need help.
“The detection of rabies in another raccoon is an important reminder to never touch, handle, or feed any wild animals, even when they appear unhealthy,” Muntu Davis, a county health officer, said in a statement.
“Always keep a safe distance from wildlife and contact your local animal control if you encounter an animal that appears to be sick, injured, or behaving unusually. It is also critical to ensure your pets are up to date on rabies vaccination so they are protected before any potential exposure.”
Westlake Village officials stressed that, while the detections remain rare, residents should stay alert.
“While no residents have been exposed, we ask our community to stay informed, aware, and cautious when interacting with wildlife,” the city said.
Once symptoms begin — including fever, confusion, agitation and difficulty swallowing — the disease is almost always fatal.
The agency said anyone bitten by a wild animal should seek medical care immediately and report it to a public health agency. Rabies is preventable with post-exposure treatment.
Pets bitten by any wild animal should get veterinary care immediately and also report it to animal control.