Two Rabid Raccoons Found in Bay Shore and Babylon

Two raccoons in Bay Shore and Babylon have tested positive for rabies, Suffolk County health officials announced Friday, pushing the county's running tally of confirmed terrestrial rabies cases to 44 since February 2025.

The Suffolk County Department of Health Services was notified of the positive lab results on Sept. 11 by the Wadsworth Center at the New York State Department of Health. Suffolk County Police Department Emergency Service Section officers located the Babylon animal and transported it for testing.

A Babylon resident came into contact with an ill raccoon on Sept. 9, sought medical care and remains in good health, health officials said. No other human or pet exposures were reported in connection with either case.

Health officials urged residents never to touch, feed or attempt to move wild animals under any circumstances. Anyone who spots a raccoon or other wildlife behaving strangely — stumbling, approaching people unprovoked, or active during daylight hours — is asked to call the Suffolk County Police Department non-emergency line at 631-852-COPS or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at 631-444-0250.

Rabies is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, typically via a bite or scratch. Left untreated after exposure, the disease is nearly always fatal in humans, though a course of post-exposure treatment is highly effective when started promptly.

The string of cases is part of a broader terrestrial rabies outbreak that has moved steadily across the county since early 2025. Health officials have been conducting an oral rabies vaccination program, distributing wildlife baits throughout the towns of Babylon, Huntington, Smithtown and Islip from Sept. 8 through Oct. 1. The baits contain a vaccine that, once consumed by a raccoon, confers immunity against the disease.

Residents with pets should ensure vaccinations are current. Anyone who believes they or an animal has been exposed to a rabid animal should seek medical care immediately and then contact local health authorities.