El Dorado County Animal Services is reporting that a rabid skunk was found in the Pleasant Valley area on Pleasant Valley Road, near Grindstone Road and White Rose Lane. 

An Animal Services Officer was called to the scene around noon on April 24 after a resident observed the skunk showing signs of rabies. The officer retrieved the skunk and sent it to the El Dorado County Public Health Laboratory for testing. Test results came back positive for rabies April 27.

This is the third rabid skunk identified in El Dorado County in 2015; a rabid skunk was found on Feb. 10, in Placerville and another on Feb. 27 in El Dorado. Animal Services is not aware of any human contact with the skunks. In 2014, a total of fourteen rabid skunks were found in various locations throughout El Dorado County. 

Animal Services is reminding residents that rabies is present in El Dorado County and prevention efforts are important for everyone. To prevent the spread of rabies:

• Keep dogs, cats and other pets current on rabies vaccinations
• Keep property free of garbage, stored bird seed, and left over pet food to avoid attracting wild animals
• Do not approach, pick up or handle any unfamiliar dogs, cats or wild animals
• Report any exposure to bats; bats are common carriers of rabies in California
• Call Animal Services if you see an animal exhibiting signs of rabies
• Notify Animal Services immediately of any person or animal bitten or potentially exposed to a rabid or suspected rabid animal

Rabid animals usually stop eating and drinking, and may want to be left alone. After these initial symptoms, the animal may become vicious or show signs of paralysis (e.g., difficulty walking, staggering, confusion, etc.). Once the animal starts to have signs of paralysis, the disease spreads very quickly and the animal dies. 

For more information about rabies, including prevention tips, visit Animal Services’ website at:www.edcgov.us/animalservices. Animal Services may be reached at (530) 621-5795 in the Placerville area or (530) 573-7925 in South Lake Tahoe.

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE COUNTY OF EL DORADO PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT