Grey Bruce Public Health is seeing an increase in reports of bites and scratches from wild animals, particularly raccoons, during the spring and summer.
news release
Grey Bruce Public Health
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As summer weather gets more people outdoors and tourist season approaches, Grey Bruce Public Health is reminding people to always enjoy wildlife from a distance and to be cautious around unfamiliar dogs.
Animal bites and scratches can be painful, cause serious injuries and infections requiring medical treatment or a visit to the emergency room, and infected animals can transmit diseases such as rabies to people.
“Wild animals such as raccoons and baby skunks may seem cute and harmless, but you should resist the urge to approach, feed, touch or handle them – doing so could pose health and injury risks,” Senior Public Health Manager Andrew Barton said.
Grey Bruce Public Health tends to see an increase in reports of bites and scratches from wild animals, particularly raccoons, during the spring and summer.
This is also the time of year when public health officials experience a significant increase in dog bite incidents, prompting mandatory rabies exposure investigations.
“In most cases, dog bite incidents are avoidable,” Barton said, “and we encourage people to take steps to prevent dog bites when walking in their communities, on walking trails or enjoying other outdoor activities in Grey Bruce.”
GBPH conducted 592 rabies exposure investigations in 2023. Nearly two-thirds of the investigations were conducted after dog bites. Just over 130 of the cases were associated with cat bites or scratches, and 21 were associated with human-wildlife contact.
In 2022, 568 rabies exposure investigations were conducted, in 2021, 514, and in 2020, 520.
Rabies is a rare but potentially serious virus in Canada that is transmitted to humans through direct contact with the saliva of an infected animal, usually through a bite or, more rarely, a scratch.
Rabies is almost always fatal in humans and animals once symptoms appear. The most common animals carrying rabies in Canada are bats, skunks, foxes and raccoons.
Rabies is extremely rare in Ontario, with the last domestic human case in the province being in 1967. In 2023, there were 56 confirmed cases of rabies in wildlife in Ontario, the majority of which were caused by bats. A bat tested positive for rabies in Grey Bruce in 2023, but the most recent case of rabies in a flightless animal was in 2009.
Rabies can be prevented by vaccinating susceptible animals, preventing human contact with potentially infected animals, and by receiving prompt medical treatment after exposure to a possibly rabid animal.
To prevent potentially harmful contact with wildlife, Public Health recommends that residents and visitors:
Stay away from wild animals. Never touch, pet, handle or keep wild animals as pets. Do not feed wild animals. Keep pets away from wild animals and do not let them roam unsupervised. Wild animal-proof your home and yard. Do not disturb baby animals. Warn children to stay away from wild and stray animals. Do not capture wild animals and transport them to new locations.
To prevent dog bites, GBPH advises:
Always ask the owner if it's okay to approach a pet, even if it's on a leash. Stay away from strange dogs. Do not touch dogs that are eating, sleeping, or chewing on toys. Be aware of sick or injured pets as they may bite out of fear or confusion. Do not approach dogs that are loose or roaming or that are growling or barking. Remain calm and still if an unknown dog approaches you. Recognize dog body language that indicates a dog may be aggressive.
If bitten by a dog, get the owner's name and contact information. Checking the dog's vaccination status can help avoid post-exposure rabies treatment.
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