When an animal might bite	When you’re attacked
When you’re threatened	Lee County Animal Services

Animal Bites Increasing
In Lee County

Eight Rabid Animals
Reported In 2001

Animal Collage

"Last year, Lee County reported 1,036 animal bites - nearly three a day, and there were probably more, since most bites are never reported." That’s according to Dr. Robert South, epidemiologist for the Lee County Health Department. In 2001 the Health Department treated 63 individuals for possible exposure to rabies, up from 25 the year before.

Five people in the United States died of rabies in 2000, the first American deaths since 1998. Of these, four were caused by bat bites. Thanks to this nation’s effective pet vaccination efforts, rabies cases involving dogs and cats have decreased dramatically, clearly demonstrated by the fact that every year more than 50,000 rabies deaths occur worldwide, with 95 per cent caused by dog bites. Another estimated ten million people receive post-exposure treatment after being exposed to animals suspected of carrying the disease.

Dr. Lisa Conti, Florida’s State Public Health Veterinarian, reports that 3300 animals were tested for rabies in 1999, of which 186 were positive: 126 raccoons, 32 foxes, 13 cats, 6 bats, 3 bobcats, 3 otters, 2 dogs and a horse. In 2000, the Lee County Health Department verified rabies in one fox, one bat, one cat and five raccoons.

Over the past ten years, a total of 32 people in the United States have contracted rabies from bats or dogs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Florida’s last domestic human rabies death occurred in 1949, when a Tampa resident refused treatment after being bitten by a neighbor’s dog.

Continued success such as Florida’s – no human rabies deaths in over fifty years – relies on everyone, including individuals, pet owners and those in public health, doing their part. Following are some thoughts to keep in mind whenever you’re around animals of any kind.

picture of bat

When an animal might bite	How to tell if an animal might bite
When they feel threatened or afraid When they protect their territory or food When they get excited (even in play) When they don’t know you When their "chase response" is triggered When they have been trained to be aggressive When they are in pain	They may stand stiff and still They may stare at you They may hold their tail stiff and up in the air They may growl, snarl, or show their teeth Sometimes there are no signs before a bite

*What not* to do around animals**	When you’re threatened
Never stare into their eyes Never pick up an injured animal Never disturb a sleeping animal Never approach an animal that is eating Never run past an animal Never go up to a strange animal Never touch or feed any wild animal	Stand very still and try to be calm Be aware of where the animal is Do not turn your back on the animal Do not look into the animal’s eyes If the animal comes up to you and sniffs you, let it, but do not touch it, it will most likely go away Try to stay still till the animal leaves

When you’re attacked	When you’re bitten
"Feed" it your jacket, purse, bike, anything that may distract it and give it something else to bite If you fall or are knocked down, curl into a ball with your hands over your head and neck Try not to scream or roll around. Try to remain calm and do not try to hit or kick the animal	Seek medical help All bites should be reported to the police or Animal Control Try to remember as much as possible about the animal, did it have a collar or did it have tags, what color, breed, size, the direction it went after the attack

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