Lab testing confirmed that a woodchuck in Essex County had rabies making it the second animal to test positive for the virus in the county this year.
The Essex County Health Department was contacted last week about a woodchuck in Ticonderoga that was acting aggressively around a residential property. On Thursday, the woodchuck was discovered deceased. The Ticonderoga Animal Hospital prepared the specimen for shipment to Wadsworth Laboratory. The testing lab notified the Essex County Health Department of the positive result yesterday. This is the second animal to test positive for rabies in the County so far this year. A raccoon in the Westport area tested positive in early May. Last year, six animals tested positive for the virus. Linda Beers, Director of Public Health, said, “Rabies remains a persistent public health concern that requires ongoing vigilance, as cases continue to emerge almost annually in Essex County.”
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