A raccoon found in Chapel Hill and a skunk found in Hillsborough tested positive for rabies this month at the State Laboratory of Public Health.
The raccoon was submitted after a resident in the vicinity of Bethel Hickory Grove Church Road and Meadow Lane witnessed one of her two dogs killing the raccoon in her yard. The resident removed her dogs from the yard and contacted Animal Services.
The skunk was submitted after residents in the vicinity of N.C. 86 and Highland Farm Road saw it chasing their dog around their yard. The residents removed the dog from the yard and a relative shot the skunk.
The dogs in both cases were currently vaccinated against rabies and received rabies booster shots within 120 hours of exposure, which is required under North Carolina law. Animals exposed to rabies that have not been vaccinated must either be destroyed or quarantined for six months.
So far this year, Orange County has received eight positive rabies tests. If any possible exposure to a bat, raccoon or fox is suspected, call Animal Control at 245-2075 or call 911.