BAY SHORE, NY — Health officials on Long Island are warning residents after two more raccoons in Suffolk County tested positive for rabies this week. The findings were confirmed after lab testing by the Wadsworth Center at the New York State Department of Health and reported to the Suffolk County Department of Health Services on Sept. 11.
The new cases raise the county’s total number of terrestrial rabies confirmations to 44 since Feb. 7, 2025. Officials said the most recent animals were found in Bay Shore and Babylon, and they are urging residents to remain cautious around wild animals that seem sick, weak or unusually bold.
Bay Shore raccoon was found dead on private property
The first case involved a dead raccoon discovered by a resident on a property in Bay Shore. An animal control officer from the Islip Animal Shelter picked up the animal and sent it for state testing.
County health officials said there were no reported human or pet exposures connected to that raccoon. Even so, the positive result adds to the ongoing pattern of rabies detections in Suffolk County and reinforces the need to avoid contact with wild mammals, even when they are already dead.
Babylon resident contacted a sick raccoon before help arrived
The second incident happened Sept. 9, when a resident found a visibly ill raccoon outside a home in Babylon. Officials said the person came into contact with the animal, then immediately sought medical attention and is currently in good health.
Suffolk County Police Department Emergency Service Section officers later located the raccoon and transported it for testing. Health officials reported that no other human or pet exposures were identified in connection with the Babylon case.
The county has not said what made the animal appear sick, but the positive rabies result confirms that the encounter involved a dangerous wild animal and not a routine nuisance sighting.
What rabies detections mean for Suffolk County this year
The two latest confirmations underscore how active rabies has remained in Suffolk County in 2025. Officials said the county has now recorded 44 terrestrial rabies cases since early February, a number that reflects infections in land-based wildlife rather than bats.
Rabies is a serious disease because it can spread through the saliva of infected animals, often after a bite or other direct contact. Public health officials use these case updates to remind residents that raccoons, foxes and other wild mammals should never be approached, fed or handled, even if they appear injured.
Officials urge residents to report strange animal behavior quickly
Residents who see a wild animal behaving oddly are being told to stay away and report it right away. The Suffolk County Department of Health Services advised people to call the Suffolk County Police Department non-emergency line at 631-852-COPS or the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation at 631-444-0250.
Officials are especially concerned about animals that seem disoriented, unusually aggressive, unusually tame or otherwise out of character. Reporting those sightings quickly can help animal control and state staff capture the animal for testing before others are exposed.
Public health guidance centers on avoiding contact with wildlife
For families, the practical message is simple: do not touch wild animals, even if they are dead, injured or acting slowly. Health officials say people should keep children and pets away from wildlife and contact authorities instead of trying to help an animal on their own.
The county’s notice was based on information from the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, which continues to track rabies results with state testing partners. With two more positive raccoon tests now added to the tally, officials say staying alert remains the best defense for residents across the county.
