Animal Control Officers Knock on Doors to Raise Awareness About Rabies

Starting on Friday, Fairfax County animal control officers will be knocking on doors to let residents know whenever a rabid animal is found nearby. 

Officers want to increase awareness about rabies and by extension, prevent human exposure to the disease. If no one is home, the officers will leave a flyer to let people know that a rabid animal was found nearby. 

Police say that 30 animals in the county, including raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats and groundhogs, have tested positive for rabies as of mid-August.

For example, officers recently received a report of a skunk that was making unusually loud noises on Copper Creek Road in the Herndon area. The skunk went under a porch, physically pulled another skunk out and attacked it, repeatedly pouncing on the badly injured body.

According to animal control officers, this is not typical of skunk behavior and rabies was strongly suspected, posing a threat to any animal (or resident) that may have been walking outside in that area.

Officers ask residents to call 703-691-2131 if they see an animal behaving suspiciously.