The risk for rabies in an animal is dependent on the animal's species, the level of rabies in other animals in the region, and local public health control measures. The local or state health departments should always be consulted for precise local risk estimates.
Risk Group
Animals
high risk
(> 2% rabid)
raccoons
skunks
foxes, coyotes, jackals
dogs and cats in developing countries
dogs and cats in the United States along the Mexican border
bats
mongooses
intermediate risk
(0.1 - 2% rabid)
monkeys
most wild carnivores (wolf, bobcat, bears)
groundhogs
dogs and cats neither in low risk states nor in high risk areas
low risk
( < 0.1% rabid)
opossum
dogs and cats in low risk states
wild terrestrial animals in low risk states
lagomorphs (squirrels, rodents except groundhogs)
reptiles
birds
where:
• Low risk states include Washington, Idaho, Utah, Nevada, and Colorado
Areas with good public health controls:
(1) Unites States
(2) Canada
(3) most western European countries
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