Suffolk County Confirms 44 Rabid Raccoons Since 2025 After 2 New Cases

Q: As local rabies cases climb, what everyday items in your backyard might be drawing infected wildlife dangerously close?

The everyday backyard items most likely to attract rabid raccoons are unsecured garbage, compost, birdseed and pet food. Those food sources can draw raccoons close to homes, increasing the chance of contact with people and pets at a time when Suffolk County has confirmed 44 rabid terrestrial animals since February 2025, including the two latest raccoons in Bay Shore and Babylon. Health guidance also warns against intentionally feeding wildlife, which can make animals bolder and more likely to linger near houses. Officials say residents can reduce risk by tightly securing trash cans, keeping compost covered, bringing pet food indoors, cleaning up spilled birdseed and supervising pets outside. Keeping dogs, cats and ferrets current on rabies vaccinations is also critical, because raccoons are among the most common rabies carriers in the eastern United States, along with bats, skunks and foxes. Any raccoon acting strangely — disoriented, aggressive, drooling or paralyzed — should be avoided and reported, not approached or moved. Suffolk County Police ask residents to call 631-852-COPS, or the state Department of Environmental Conservation at 631-444-0250. If there is any possible exposure through a bite, scratch, or saliva contacting broken skin, eyes, nose or mouth, wash the area with soap and water for 10 to 15 minutes and seek medical care immediately. Rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms begin, but prompt treatment after exposure is highly effective.

3 articles · Updated · southshorepress.com · Sep 13

Two raccoons found in Bay Shore and Babylon tested positive for rabies, becoming Suffolk County's 43rd and 44th confirmed cases since Feb. 7, 2025.
Bay Shore's raccoon was found dead on a resident's property and submitted for testing by an Islip Animal Shelter animal control officer.
Babylon's raccoon was found alive outside another property; a resident had contact with it, sought medical care and is in good health, and Suffolk police later recovered the animal for testing.
Suffolk police urged residents to report raccoons acting abnormally to 631-852-COPS or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at 631-444-0250.