Raccoons carrying the disease often look sick, or debilitated. By contrast, skunks often appear very healthy, and act playful, bold, and aggressive. The skunk was rabid. The same week, in the daytime, a miniature horse was bitten by another healthy-looking skunk who had been playing with it. The skunk was rabid.
Rabies is cyclical.
But, the disease is here for good. Rabid animals have been found in every community in Rhode Island, except Jamestown and New Shoreham. Currently, animals are tested only when there is reasonable suspicion of contact between a suspected carrier and a human or domestic animal. Target species include skunks, raccoons, foxes, and woodchucks. The number of animals tested statewide went from a high of 801 in 1995 of which 40 percent were found rabid, to last year's low of 283 when 13.7 percent tested positive.