Which species carry rabies? Any warm-blooded mammal can carry or contract rabies, but the primary carriers in North America are raccoons, skunks, bats, foxes and coyotes. Thanks to an increase in pet vaccinations, wildlife now account for more than 90 percent of all reported rabies cases.

How likely is a skunk to have rabies?

Wild animals accounted for 92.7% of reported cases of rabies in 2018. Bats were the most frequently reported rabid wildlife species (33% of all animal cases during 2018), followed by raccoons (30.3%), skunks (20.3%), and foxes (7.2%).

How can you tell if a skunk has rabies?

In order to identify a rabid skunk, look out for these signs – activeness during the daytime, seizures, unusual aggression, vocalizing, stumbling, foaming in the mouth, looking drunk, paralysis, circling movements, disorientation, and becoming extremely fearless of humans.