Crime & Safety

Rabid Skunk Recovered in Sicklerville

Camden County offers tips on how to keep yourself and your pets safe.

Camden County on Tuesday issued the following statement about the discovery of a rabid skunk in Winslow Township's Sicklerville section earlier this month:

A skunk removed from the Sicklerville section of Winslow Township on Sept. 5, 2012, has tested positive for rabies. There are no known human exposures to this skunk. A resident’s dog that may have come into contact with the rabid skunk is current with its rabies vaccination and has been treated by a veterinarian.

“Although rabies is a serious illness, it can be prevented by early treatment,” said Freeholder Carmen Rodriguez, liaison to the Camden County Health Department. “If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal it is important that you seek immediate medical attention.”

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Rodriguez urged county residents protect themselves, their families and their pets from rabies by observing a few simple rules, including acting responsibly as a pet owner:

  1. Keep vaccinations up to date for all dogs, cats and ferrets.
  2. Keep your pets under direct supervision so they do not come in contact with wild animals. If your pet is bitten by a wild animal, seek veterinary assistance for the animal immediately.
  3. Contact your local animal control agency to remove any stray animals from your neighborhood. They may be unvaccinated and could be infected by the disease.

Rodriguez said it’s also important to avoid direct contact with unfamiliar animals:

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  1. Enjoy wild animals such as raccoons, skunks and foxes from afar. Do not handle, feed or unintentionally attract wild animals with open garbage cans or liter.
  2. Never adopt wild animals or bring them into your home. Do not try to nurse sick animals to health. Call animal control or an animal rescue agency for assistance.
  3. Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals, wild or domestic, even if they seem friendly.
  4. Prevent bats from entering living quarters or occupied spaces in homes, churches, schools and other similar areas where they might come in contact with people or pets.
  5. When traveling abroad, avoid direct contact with wild animals and be especially careful around dogs in developing countries. Rabies is common in developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Tens of thousands of people die of rabies each year in these countries.

Rodriguez said interested residents can learn more about rabies through the internet by accessing the information available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, or residents may call the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at 856-374-6370.


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