Three cases of rabies have been confirmed in raccoons and a bat that were caught during the past two weeks in the Town of Lockport, the Niagara County Department of Health reported.
The first raccoon was captured and removed on Oct. 23 on Parkwood Drive by a nuisance wildlife control official, the health department said. There were no reports of contact with pets or humans.
The second raccoon was caught Oct. 31 after it was involved in an incident with three dogs at a residence on Stone Road. No humans were exposed, health officials said, and the vaccination status of the dogs is being verified.
The bat was found Oct. 31 outdoors on Presidential Way and was not believed to have contact with humans or pets.
“While these three cases occurred within the same town,” health officials said in a press release, “there is no indication that they are related.”
Residents are reminded to avoid feeding or having contact with wild or stray animals. Health officials also advised that pets should be kept indoors at night and should be vaccinated against rabies. Law requires that all dogs, cats and ferrets over the age of 4 months should be vaccinated.
The health department noted that rabies is commonly found in bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes and is confirmed only through laboratory testing.
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