Marion Board of Health issues rabies advisory after positive raccoon test

MARION The Marion Board of Health issued a public advisory on October 14, 2026, informing residents that a raccoon found in the area of Point Road near the water tower has tested positive for rabies. According to the town's posted notice, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health notified the Town of Marion Board of Health and Animal Control of the positive test result. The record states that the raccoon had been acting oddly and was subsequently sent to the state for testing.

This development is significant for Marion residents because rabies is a fatal but preventable disease caused by a virus that is carried in the saliva of infected animals. The advisory explains that the virus can be spread to people and other animals through a bite, or when saliva is introduced into an open wound or the eyes, nose, or mouth. Because the disease can be rapidly fatal for both humans and animals, the Marion Board of Health emphasizes the importance of getting treatment right away if contact occurs.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health identified raccoons, bats, skunks, foxes, and woodchucks as the animals most likely to be found infected with rabies in the state. The notice also notes that cats are the domestic animal most frequently found to be rabid due to lower vaccination rates compared to dogs. Signs of rabies in animals listed in the record include abnormal or aggressive behavior, lethargy, weakness, or paralysis, self-mutilation, seizures, excessive salivation, and difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Residents are asked to keep a lookout for wildlife showing these signs and to refrain from interacting with wild animals. The advisory specifically urges vigilance for those walking in the area of Point Road near the water tower. If a person or their pet encounters an animal that may be infected with rabies, the record instructs them not to approach the animal, keep a safe distance, and call Animal Control as soon as possible at 508-748-1212 or call 911. If contact with a potentially rabid animal occurs through a bite, scratch, or other physical contact, individuals must thoroughly wash the area, seek immediate medical attention, and contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at the 24-hour phone number 617-983-6800.

The town provides several guidelines to help protect residents, their loved ones, and their pets. According to the notice, owners must ensure their pets' rabies vaccinations are up to date, as state law requires all dogs, cats, and ferrets to be regularly vaccinated against rabies. Residents are advised to teach children to never approach animals they do not know, even if they appear friendly, and to report any animal that behaves oddly to the local animal control official. The advisory also states that keeping wild animals as pets is against the law in Massachusetts.

Additional preventive measures include not leaving food or water for pets outside, as even empty bowls can attract wild and stray animals. Residents should not let pets roam freely and should keep them in a fenced yard or on a leash. The notice recommends keeping garbage securely covered to prevent attracting wild or stray animals and keeping chimneys capped while repairing holes in attics, cellars, and porches to keep wild animals like bats and raccoons out of homes. For more information, the record directs residents to visit www.mass.gov/rabies and www.cdc.gov/rabies.

Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.