2 Skunks Tested Negative for Rabies, Chief Says

After borough authorities reported in March that five skunks may have been sickened by rabies, many Hellertown residents understandably became concerned.

However, recent necropsies of two of the skunks' remains showed that they were not infected by the rabies virus, Hellertown Police Chief Robert Shupp told Borough Council April 15.

The animals' unusual behavior may have been caused by distemper or another disease that can't be spread to humans, but that won't be known for certain, he said, telling council "we are not going to take the testing any further."

Rabies testing is often expensive and the state typically only pays for it in bite cases involving humans.

Shupp told council that reports of animals behaving oddly have "calmed down" significantly since mid-March, when the skunks and a raccoon were observed and exterminated in town.

Residents should continue to exercise common sense when they encounter animals that behave in ways not typically seen, and as a general rule, they should "stay away from wild animals," Shupp emphasized.

Additional information about rabies and how to protect yourself is posted on the Hellertown Borough website.