Never try to stop an animal fight Leave injured, sick or dead animals alone, and get help. Leave all wild animals alone, especially when seen during the day. Never keep wild animals as pets, even if they are babies. Rabies is a viral disease that attacks the nervous system. It results in paralysis and almost certain death once the symptoms appear.
Symptoms of rabies develop within two to eight weeks after one is infected.
All warm - blooded animals can be infected by the virus, but in this area it is most likely to be seen in raccoons, foxes, skunks, bats, and when not vaccinated against it, in cats and dogs. Rabies is, however, rarely seen in rodents such as mice, squirrels, chipmunks, guinea pigs, and hamsters or in rabbits. The rabies virus is present in the saliva of the rabid animal. The most common way the disease is spread is by bite or scratch from an infected animal. Capture or kill the animal, if possible, so it can be tested for rabies.