| Contact: Environmental Health Program Isle of Wight Center |
||
| Phone: 410-641-9559 | ||
| Hours: 8 am to 4:30 pm After Hours: Call your local law enforcement agency or 911 |
If you have been bitten or scratched by an animal, or if you find a bat in the living area of your home, or your pet has been exposed to a rabies suspect animal such as raccoons, foxes, skunks, opossums, groundhogs, stray cats, contact our office for further assistance.
Rabies Exposures
Bats and Rabies
People usually know when they have been bitten by a bat. However, because bats have small teeth which may leave marks that are not easily seen, there are situations in which you should seek medical advice even in the absence of an obvious bite wound.
• If you find a bat in the living space of your home, and do not know when or how it got in, contact our Office immediately for a risk assessment at 410-641-9559 and do not release the bat. After hours, contact your local police department or dial 410-632-1311 for further assistance.
• For assistance with bat colonies not inside the living area of the home (attics, eves) contact Maryland Department of Natural Resources Wildlife and Heritage Service call 1-877-463-6497 or visit their website.
Learn more about the dangers of exposure to bats and rabies
Confirmed Rabid Animals in Worcester
While raccoons make up the vast majority of confirmed rabid animals in Worcester County (and in Maryland), other species are also infected. Many people are not aware that the most frequent domestic animals to contract rabies are cats.
|
Year
|
Total Confirmed
|
Species
|
|
2026
|
3 | 2 Raccoon, 1 Skunk |
|
2025
|
5 | 4 Raccoons, 1 Fox |
|
2024
|
3 | 2 Raccoons, 1 Bat |
|
2023
|
4 | 1 Cat, 2 Raccoons, 1 Skunk |
|
2022
|
6 | 1 Cat, 5 Raccoons |
|
2021
|
2
|
1 Fox, 1 Raccoon |
|
2020
|
4
|
1 Raccoon, 2 Foxes, 1 Cat
|
|
2019
|
18
|
11 Raccoons, 6 Foxes, 1 Groundhog
|
|
2018
|
26
|
19 Raccoons, 1 Skunk, 1 Opossum, 2 Foxes, 2 Cats, 1 Bat
|
|
2017
|
10
|
8 Raccoons, 1 Opossum, 1 Cat
|
|
2016
|
14
|
11 Raccoons, 1 Skunk, 1 Cat, 1 Groundhog
|
|
2015
|
12
|
12 Raccoons
|
|
2014
|
23
|
18 Raccoons, 1 Fox, 1 Bat, 2 Cats, 1 Skunk
|
|
2013
|
46
|
40 Raccoons, 3 Foxes, 1 Groundhog, 1 Bat, 1 Dog
|
|
2012
|
19
|
16 Raccoons, 2 Foxes, 1 Groundhog
|
|
2011
|
16
|
11 Raccoons, 2 Skunks, 2 Groundhogs, 1 Cat
|
|
2010
|
26
|
18 Raccoons, 6 Foxes, 2 Cats
|
|
2009
|
52
|
45 Raccoons, 5 Foxes, 1 Opossum, 1 Cat
|
Many of these confirmed rabid animals, as well as many other suspect animals that were unable to be tested, had contact with pets or people. It is extremely important that pets' rabies vaccinations stay current and that these encounters are reported so that testing and proper rabies risk assessments can be made for the people and pets involved.
Listing of confirmed and suspect rabies investigations for:
2026 Confirmed Positive Rabies
Date |
Species |
Location |
| 03/20/26 | Skunk | Off Rt 50 in the area of Tall Timber Rd., Berlin |
| 04/01/26 | Raccoon | Off Old Snow Hill Rd., Pocomoke |
| 04/20/26 | Raccoon | Off Oak Hall Rd., Pocomoke |
Learn more about rabies in Maryland
Rabies Clinic Information:
• Maryland and Worcester County laws require current rabies vaccinations for all cats, dogs and ferrets four months and older. Rabies vaccinations are available at any veterinary clinic and should be a part of your pet's routine health care.
• The Worcester County Health Department together with Worcester County Animal Control offers rabies clinics throughout the county. Please call 410-352-3234 for more information. The next clinics will be scheduled for the spring of 2026.
• The cost per pet is $5 for Worcester County residents and $10 per pet for non residents. Please bring proof of residency. Dogs must be on leashes and under the control of an adult. Cats and ferrets must be in carriers with air holes. In order to receive a 3-year booster shot you must bring your pet’s previous vaccination certificate.
This information is provided by the Environmental Health Program.
