Rabid Raccoon Confirmed in Stephens Co.

Health and animal control officials are confirming that a rabid raccoon was found over the weekend in Stephens County.

Toccoa-Stephens County Humane Shelter Director Jeff Roberts said that the raccoon was found on Mize Road in an area between the Toccoa By-pass and the Stephens County line on Saturday.

“The raccoon was acting strangely and the couple of kids basically killed the raccoon and called animal control,” said Roberts. “The raccoon was tested for rabies and did test positive.”

Roberts said that prior to the boys killing the raccoon, two puppies had gotten into a fight with that same raccoon.

“Because the two puppies that had gotten in a fight with the raccoon were not old enough to get rabies vaccinations, the owner surrendered them to the shelter for euthanasia,” said Roberts.

Roberts said that the owners of a dog or cat that is not current on rabies vaccinations and has been exposed to a rabies positive animal have two options.

He said one is to quarantine the animal for six months in a double fence enclosure.

According to Roberts, the other option is to surrender the animal to animal control for euthanasia.

As for the two boys that found and killed the raccoon, Roberts said the Stephens County Health Department is investigating to see if these boys need to consult with their physician.