Raccoon Rabies Advisory - Manhattan

Rabid raccoons were recently found in Central Park and Morningside Park. For current information on rabid animals visit www.nyc.gov/health/rabies.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene requests that you:

1. Get your cat or dog vaccinated for rabies. It’s the law.
   
   
   • Check with your vet to see if your pet is up to date on its shots.
     
     
   • Keep your dog on a leash except for during off leash hours. Always keep a close eye on your dog when outdoors, especially when off leash.
     
   
   
2. Stay away from wild or stray animals. Keep children and pets away from them too.
   
   
   • Raccoons, skunks, bats, and stray cats are more likely than other animals to have rabies.
     
     
   • Observe and enjoy healthy wildlife from a distance.
     
     
   • Do not feed wildlife.
     
     
   • Never approach a wild, stray, sick, or injured animal, no matter how helpless it looks. Instead call 311 or notify a Parks employee.
     
     
   • Throw your trash in an appropriate trash container.
   
   
3. If you are bitten by an animal, wash the wound, consult a doctor, and call 311 to report the bite.
   
   
   • First, wash the wound with soap and water IMMEDIATELY.
     
     
   • If you are bitten by a pet, get the owners contact information.
     
     
   • Talk to a doctor right away to see if you need tetanus or rabies shots. If you don’t have a regular doctor, go to a hospital emergency room. Call 311 to report the bite.

Visit www.nyc.gov/health/rabies for more information and updated facts.