CANTON — St. Lawrence County has recorded another confirmed case of rabies this year after a raccoon in the Town of DeKalb tested positive for the deadly virus, according to the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department.

This is the eigth rabid animal that’s been reported this year in St. Lawrence County.

The New York State Department of Health's Wadsworth Laboratory confirmed the positive test after the animal was submitted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The latest case serves as another reminder that rabies continues to pose a threat to both people and animals across the county.

Rabies is a fatal viral disease spread through the saliva or brain tissue of infected animals, most commonly through bites or scratches. Raccoons, skunks, bats and foxes are among the wildlife species most often associated with the disease, although domestic animals, including cats and dogs, can also become infected after contact with rabid wildlife.

Public Health officials are urging residents to take precautions to reduce the risk of exposure. Anyone who is bitten or scratched by an animal, or believes they may have been exposed to rabies, should immediately report the incident to the St. Lawrence County Public Health Department at (315) 386-2325. Residents are also encouraged to keep pets and livestock current on their rabies vaccinations, including indoor cats, supervise pets while they are outdoors, avoid contact with wild animals and stray pets, and promptly wash any bite or scratch wounds before seeking medical attention. Officials also recommend reducing food sources that attract wildlife by securing garbage, compost, birdseed and pet food, and contacting animal control if wild animals are living near homes.

Health officials say ff a pet or livestock may have been exposed to a rabid animal, owners should contact both their veterinarian and the Public Health Department immediately. Wild animals that have come into contact with people or pets, or that display unusual behavior, may be submitted for rabies testing. 

If it can be done safely, residents are encouraged to contain the animal and notify Public Health.

The St. Lawrence County Public Health Department noted that the 2026 schedule for free rabies vaccination clinics is available on the county's website.