Rabid bat and raccoon incidents in New Jersey prompt pet monitoring and human treatment

A rabid bat was removed from the attic of a Haddonfield, New Jersey home on April 18. The animal tested positive for rabies, but no human exposure was reported. The three resident cats, already vaccinated, received booster shots and will be confined for a 45‑day observation period. New Jersey recorded 174 rabies cases in animals last year and 26 more by the end of March, with the last human case in the state occurring in 1997.

In a separate incident in Glassboro, New Jersey, a raccoon emerged from shrubbery and bit resident Kevin Tucker on his right leg. The animal later tested positive for rabies, and authorities are searching for a second raccoon that may have been involved. Tucker received medical care and was advised to follow post‑exposure protocols. Local officials urged residents to keep pets up‑to‑date on vaccinations and to secure trash and pet food to reduce wildlife encounters.