Another RABID RACCOON, Prospect Park

this is copied from a FIDO mailing:

WARNING to those who frequent Prospect Park and especially those who let their pets out in their backyards at night!

• A raccoon recently found dead in Prospect Park tested positive for rabies on December 2nd, 2010 at the Public Health Laboratory.

• This is the second rabies positive raccoon found in Brooklyn, the first was reported in February of 2010 and was collected from the Boerum Hill neighborhood.?

• Since the identification of the first case in February 2010, the DPR has worked with the DOHMH to conduct enhanced rabies surveillance. This means raccoons found dead are submitted for rabies testing along with raccoons that have either bitten a person or pet or are deemed sick or injured.

• The NYC veterinary community will receive information today so they can encourage pet owners to vaccinate their pets against rabies.? This is a reminder that pets MUST BE vaccinated against rabies under NY City law.?

• Raccoons and bats are the primary reservoirs of rabies in the City. Rabid bats and raccoons have been found in all five boroughs of New York City. While not all bats and raccoons are infected with rabies, they should always be treated as potentially rabid.

• People should leave wildlife alone and keep pets and children away from wild animals especially openly aggressive or overfriendly wild animals that are normally nocturnal

• People should NOT FEED WILDLIFE. Prospect Park is a No Feed Zone.

• People should call 311 to report sick or injured wildlife and 911 if they have been bitten by an animal.?

FIDO Note: 311 useless?

In Prospect Park, if you suspect a rabid animal, call the Park Supervisor's office at their new number 718-965-6610.  (Once Verizon gets its act together, you will be able to leave a voicemail as well.) Supervisor's office hours are 8 am to 4 pm. If it's during work hours they have expressed a willingness to investigate and will summon the urban rangers for an animal pick up. Between the hours of 9 am and 6 pm, you can also call Park Enforcement Police (the green police vehicles) at 718-437-1350 or 718-437-1351.

• Anyone who is bitten by a rabies-vector species (or any wild animal) should seek medical attention immediately. Medical professionals will undertake the appropriate course of action, and will convey the appropriate information to the Department of Health

. visit http://www.nyc.gov and search for "Rabies" which brings up helpful info on the DOHMH site:

http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/cd/cdrab.shtml