Rabid Raccoon Found In Parsippany

PARSIPPANY, NJ — A raccoon trapped in Parsippany has tested positive for rabies, Parsippany police said.

The raccoon was found on Tarn Drive, near Parsippany Hills High and Littleton Elementary, police said. Rabies testing can only be completed after the animal has died.

This is the third rabid animal in Parsippany this summer; another rabid raccoon and a rabid cat were found in late June and early July,

Some signs of rabies in animals include aggressive or "drunk" behavior, trouble walking, or other signs of injury; rabid animals might look disoriented, display abnormal behavior, excessive salivation, or tremor. Rabid animals will often try to attack other animals.

Residents should not feed or make pets of wild animals as a preventative measure, officials said.

Stray or wild animals that raise concerns should be reported to Parsippany Animal Control at 973-263-7083.

If you have been exposed for or bitten by a suspected infected animal, immediately call your doctor and the Parsippany Health Department. If your pet is attacked, call their veterinarian and the health department at (973)-263-7160.

Rabies can be treated in humans, if a vaccine is given before symptoms start. Between 2017 and 2019, about 55,000 Americans were treated for potential rabies exposure, the CDC says. There are about one to three rabies deaths a year in America; most cases of rabies, fatal or not, are transmitted by bats.