Raccoons remain the most frequently reported rabid animal in the United States.
The raccoon rabies reservoir extends throughout the southeastern, mid-Atlantic, and northeastern states. No other reservoirs of raccoon rabies have been identified. Rabid raccoons occasionally detected outside of the reservoir area have been found to have non-raccoon variants of the rabies virus, suggesting that they were infected by other species. No rabid raccoons have been ever been identified in Washington. Skunks are the second most frequently reported rabid animal in this country.