The Charles County Department of Health has confirmed two new rabies cases within the county, both identified on August 21: a skunk found near Plenty Highlands Place in Port Tobacco, and a bat found near Green Woods Lane in Waldorf. Anyone whose pet or family may have had contact with either animal is asked to call the health department at 301-609-6768.
The cases come amid a string of rabid-animal incidents across Maryland this summer. Three separate beaver attacks were reported at state parks over the past month — two beavers that bit people at Cunningham Falls State Park in Frederick County both tested positive for rabies, and a third beaver that attacked a 10-year-old girl at Seneca Creek State Park was never located but is presumed to have been rabid, according to reporting from WTOP and FOX 5 DC.
Health officials are reiterating standard precautions: avoid contact with wild or unfamiliar animals, since rabies spreads through the saliva of an infected animal, typically through a bite or scratch. Secondary exposure is also possible if infected saliva contacts an open cut or gets into the eyes, nose, or mouth. Dogs, cats, ferrets, and livestock can all contract rabies from wildlife such as raccoons, foxes, skunks, and bats, which is why keeping pet vaccinations current is the primary line of defense, per the health department.
Rabies vaccines are available through local veterinarians, as well as at Petco, Banfield, and Tractor Supply locations. The county is also holding two free drive-through rabies clinics for dogs, cats, and ferrets, at 10425 Audie Lane in La Plata — one on Sunday, October 18, and another on Sunday, November 15. Pet owners are asked to bring a previous rabies certificate if available, which allows a three-year vaccine to be issued instead of a one-year dose. One discrepancy worth flagging: the health department’s own release lists clinic hours as 10 a.m. to noon, while WTOP’s reporting on the same clinics lists 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents planning to attend should confirm the hours directly with the health department at 301-609-3425 or 301-609-6751 before heading out.
