Things you can do to protect yourself, your family and your pets from rabies…
- Do not feed, touch or adopt wild animals, and be cautious of stray dogs and cats. Rabid animals do not always appear ill or vicious.
- Teach children to leave wildlife alone. Be sure your child knows to tell you if an animal bites or scratches them.
- Have your veterinarian vaccinate your dogs, cats or ferrets against rabies. Keep pet vaccinations up-to-date.
- Tightly close garbage cans. Open trash attracts wild or stray animals to your home or yard.
- Feed your pets indoors; never leave pet food outside as this attracts wildlife.
- Call your doctor and your local health department for advice if an animal bites or claws you. Thoroughly wash the wound with soap and water and report the incident immediately!
Don’t relocate wild mammals – this can cause rabies to spread quickly to new areas. Importation of rabies-vector wildlife into Tennessee from other states is prohibited by TWRA regulations. State-licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators (NWCO’s) are required to euthanize rather than relocate all raccoons and skunks trapped in the east Tennessee counties shown below, and rehabilitation of injured raccoons, skunks, bats, coyotes and foxes is also prohibited in these counties. Rehabilitation of skunks and bats is prohibited statewide. Homeowners should not transport and release these animals.
Additional resources for rabies Information:
Centers for Disease Control (CDC): www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies
Tennessee Department of Health: www2.state.tn.us/health/FactSheets/rabies.htm
USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services: www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/rabies/index.html
Chattanooga/Hamilton County Wild Animal Response Protocol
With the recent discovery of raccoon strain rabies in Hamilton County, this protocol has been developed to help agencies respond to calls about potentially rabid wildlife, and to facilitate the testing of suspect animals. Species of most concern in terrestrial rabies transmission are raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes.
If there was Possible Human/Domestic Animal Exposure
If a human or domestic animal has been bitten, scratched or otherwise potentially exposed by a wild or domestic mammal, or if there is any question about what constitutes exposure, contact the Hamilton County Health Department at 423-209-8110 or 423-209-8010 after hours.
If Sick or Strange-acting Animals, or Animals Found Dead with no Human/Domestic Animal Exposure
If personnel are available, the following agencies may be able to provide assistance or advice on how to deal with a sick-acting raccoon, skunk, fox or coyote:
- In the City of Chattanooga, contact Chattanooga Animal Services at 311 or 423-6311.
- Within the City of East Ridge, contact East Ridge Animal Control at 423-664-0271 during normal business hours (M-F 10-5, Sat 10-2) or 423-622-1725 for after-hours emergency.
- In Hamilton County, contact the Hamilton County Humane Educational Society at 423-624-5302.
- If no response, contact USDA Wildlife Services at 865-588-0299 or 1-866-487-3297 (Normal Business Hours 8-5, M-F).
- If no other options are available, keep pets and children indoors and leave the animal alone.
[Note: USDA Wildlife Services is actively trying to test suspicious raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes for rabies. Freezers are located at Chattanooga Animal Services and Hamilton County Humane Society. Freshly killed animals can be placed in the freezer for testing. Contact Animal Services/Humane Society or USDA Wildlife Services for details and handling procedures. REMEMBER: contact the Health Department at 423-209-8110 if there is a question of exposure!]
For Nuisance & Injured Wildlife / General Wildlife Information with no Human/Domestic Animal Exposure
- Contact USDA Wildlife Services (WS) at 865-588-0299 or 1-866-487-3297 for information on Oral Rabies Vaccine (ORV) baiting and Enhanced Rabies Surveillance (testing). WS can also provide advice on preventing and resolving nuisance Wildlife problems, and referrals to state-licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators.
- Contact the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) at 1-800-262-6704 for general questions about wildlife, advice on preventing and resolving nuisance wildlife programs, and for referrals to state-licensed Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators and Wildlife Rehabilitators.