Rabid Raccoon Spotted at WLHR Studios Thursday

Residents and business owners in and around the downtown Lavonia area are asked to be on the lookout for a raccoon that is likely rabid.

The raccoon appeared Thursday afternoon about 4p in front of the WLHR studios. A WLHR employee spotted the raccoon scratching at a large flower pot in the front of the building.  It then started scratching at the window as if it were trying to get it.

911 was alerted and Lavonia Police have set traps around the WLHR studios.

Franklin County Environmental Health Director Louis Korff tells WLHR News he picked up a dead raccoon in the Lavonia area two days ago.  That raccoon was sent off for testing to determine if it had died of rabies.

So far, there have been two confirmed cases of attacks by rabid animals in our area this year.

The first came in April in the Red Hill Community where a barn cat attacked a woman as she was walking from the poultry house.  That woman had to undergo a series of post-exposure vaccinations and the cat was euthanized.

Tests confirmed the cat was rabid.

Then in May, a stray dog attacked another dog that was on a chain in the Gumlog area of Stephens County.

In that case, both dogs were treated for their injuries at Lavonia Animal Hospital, but had to be euthanized. Tests confirmed the stray dog tested positive for rabies.  Everyone who handled the dogs also had to undergo the post exposure vaccine series.

All raccoons in Georgia carry the rabies virus and should always be avoided.  Korff reminds people that a healthy raccoon only comes out at night.  So if you see a raccoon in the daytime, it is more than likely rabid.

Korff warns never go near a raccoon you see out in the daytime, but instead call your local 911.