Rabies & Animal Bites

Nassau County DOH investigates all reported animal bites. Nassau County Public Health law requires that pets be vaccinated against rabies. This includes, but is not limited to, dogs, cats, and ferrets. You can get your pet vaccinated at almost any animal hospital or veterinary clinic.

Source: CDC

If you notice a suspicious animal, do not attempt to approach or capture it. If you have been bitten, scratched or had other contact with a wild animal or strange acting dog or cat, seek medical attention immediately from your physician or local hospital's emergency department and then contact the Department of Health.

Medical providers treating a person who has suffered an animal bite are required to report the incident to the Department. To report a bite incident, please use this electronic form or call 516-227-9663 during normal business hours or 516-742-6154 after business hours and on weekends.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Rabies?

Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). Infected mammals can transmit rabies virus to humans and other mammals. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. Fortunately, only a few human cases are reported each year in the United States.

How can you tell if an animal has rabies?

You can’t tell if an animal has rabies by just looking at it—the only way to know for sure if an animal (or a person) has rabies is to perform laboratory testing. However, animals with rabies may act strangely. Some may be aggressive and try to bite you or other animals, or they may drool more than normal. Some things to look for are:

general sickness
problems swallowing
lots of drool or saliva
an animal that bites at everything
an animal that appears tamer than you would expect
an animal that is staggering, having trouble moving or may even be paralyzed
a bat that is on the ground

If you see an animal you believe to be rabid, contact a NYSDEC Approved Wildlife Trapper.

Source: CDC

What if I see a raccoon during the day?

No need to panic – although raccoons are nocturnal animals, it is not unusual for a healthy raccoon to be active during the daytime. Be aware of signs of a rabid animal, found above.

Remember: Raccoons are often searching for food, water, and shelter on your property. Keep your garbage in insect-, rodent-, and water-proof trash receptacles. Pick up dog feces, as they are attractive to pests such as raccoons, rodents, and insects. Trim tree branches that could serve as an entry path to your home or shed. Keep in mind, raccoons may also be attracted to items in your yard such as bird feeders, food left out for wildlife (i.e., feral cats and squirrels), food-encrusted barbecues, and vegetable gardens.

What if my pet had an interaction with a raccoon?

If your pet was bitten or had an interaction with a raccoon, you should contact your veterinarian. It is important to keep your pets up to date on their vaccinations, including their rabies vaccine. If the raccoon is still on your property, you can call a NYSDEC Approved Wildlife Trapper. Lastly, notify NCDOH of the interaction. NCDOH may collect the raccoon after it was euthanized by the trapper and have it tested for rabies.

What should I do if I find a bat in my house?

If you are certain no people or pets have come in contact with the bat:

Confine the bat to a room by closing all doors and windows leading out of the room except those to the outside. The bat will probably leave soon. If the bat doesn’t leave, contact a NYSDEC Approved Wildlife Trapper for assistance.

If there’s been contact between the bat and people or pets:

If a bat is in your house and you have any question about whether the bat has been in contact with people or pets, you will want to have the bat captured and tested. Call NYSDEC Approved Wildlife Trapper for assistance. If professional assistance is not available, follow the steps to safely capture the bat and save it for testing. Notify NCDOH, who will collect the bat after it has died or was euthanized and have it tested for rabies.

Source: CDC