Rabies Alert - 11/5/2025
The Montgomery County Health Department wishes to inform residents in the vicinity of Auman Country Trail in Seagrove, NC, that a skunk captured in your area has tested positive for the rabies virus. Rabies is present in our local wildlife year-round. To safeguard yourself and your family, please consider the following precautions:
To safeguard against rabies and its potential health impacts:
• Ensure regular veterinary visits for all cats, ferrets, and dogs, adhering to North Carolina law mandating rabies vaccinations.
• Exercise strict control over pets, keeping cats and ferrets indoors and supervising dogs closely during outdoor activities.
• Consider spaying or neutering pets to reduce the population of stray animals, which may lack proper care and vaccination.
• Avoid feeding wildlife and discourage them from taking up residence near your home.
• Secure trash cans and pet food containers to prevent attracting wildlife.
• Seal openings and gaps around your home to prevent wildlife from entering.
If encountering an animal displaying signs of illness, difficulty swallowing, excessive drool, aggression, abnormal behavior, or paralysis, refrain from approaching it. Instead, contact animal control or local law enforcement for guidance and assistance.
Rabies is primarily transmitted through direct contact with infected saliva or nervous system tissue, typically via animal bites. While non-bite exposures are rare, they can occur through scratched or open wounds exposed to infected material, potentially leading to severe health complications or death in humans.
For inquiries regarding this notice, please contact the Montgomery County Department of Health at 910-572-1393.