A raccoon walking across your yard has not bitten anyone, and that is the line the state draws. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) lists raccoons as high-risk animals for rabies and says rabies is passed through saliva, most typically in bites. Its plain advice is to not handle any wildlife, whether it looks healthy or sick. If a raccoon is living in your attic, chimney or under your deck in Spring, Cypress or nearby, Michael Gerbino of Cypress Critters & Pests removes it alive and seals the way it got in. Call 713-775-8799.
Which animals does Texas call high-risk for rabies?
The Texas rabies rules sort animals into two groups. The high-risk group is short. The low-risk group covers most of the other animals a homeowner around here runs into. Here is how the Texas Administrative Code (25 TAC 169.22), the rule DSHS works under, lists them:
| Animal you might see around the house | Group in the Texas rule |
|---|---|
| Raccoon | High-risk |
| Skunk | High-risk |
| Bat | High-risk |
| Fox | High-risk |
| Coyote | High-risk |
| Opossum | Low-risk |
| Squirrels, rats and mice (rodents) | Low-risk |
| Rabbits | Low-risk |
| Armadillo | Low-risk |
Low-risk does not mean safe to pick up. DSHS says not to handle any wildlife at all. The table only tells you which animals the state watches most closely.
What counts as being exposed?
The same Texas rule defines a potential exposure as an incident in which an animal has bitten a person, or in which there is good reason to believe an animal has otherwise exposed a person to rabies. A raccoon on the fence, in the trash cans or crossing the driveway at dusk is not that. A raccoon that bites you, your child or your dog is.
That is why the practical answer is about distance. Keep pets and children away from the animal, do not try to feed it, corner it or catch it by hand, and let it be until it can be dealt with properly.
What does DSHS say to do after a bite?
DSHS gives three plain steps for a bite from wildlife, for you or your pet:
- Wash the wound right away with soap and water.
- Get medical help as soon as possible so a doctor can decide whether treatment is needed to prevent rabies. For a pet, that means the vet.
- Report it. The Texas rule (25 TAC 169.25) says anyone who knows of a potential rabies exposure to a person should report it to the local rabies control authority as soon as possible. That reporting rule does not apply to contact with low-risk animals.
Michael is not a doctor and this page is not medical advice. Those steps are the state’s words, and the doctor or vet makes the call on what comes next.
Can a skunk spraying my dog give it rabies?
No. DSHS says plainly that you cannot get rabies by being sprayed by a skunk. The spray is miserable, but it is not the way rabies moves from animal to animal. A skunk bite is a different matter and follows the same three steps above. If a skunk has moved in under your slab, porch or shed, the skunk removal page explains how Michael gets it out without the spray.
Why can’t the raccoon just be hauled out to the country?
Because Texas has a statewide rabies quarantine. DSHS says it is illegal to transport live raccoons, skunks, foxes or coyotes from, to or within Texas, with narrow exceptions the rule lists, and a violation is a Class C misdemeanor. So the old idea of catching a raccoon in a box and letting it go down a county road is not something a homeowner should do. Raccoons Michael catches are removed alive and handled following Texas rules.
Taking the animal off the property is also only half the job. The opening it used is still there, and the next raccoon finds it by smell. That is why Michael pairs every removal with animal exclusion: find every entry point, get the animals out alive, seal the openings with material they cannot pull apart, and repair the damage.
Want to talk it through before anything else happens? Call Michael at 713-775-8799.
What can I do now about a raccoon that keeps coming around?
- Bring pet food and water bowls inside at night.
- Close trash cans tight and keep them in the garage if you can.
- Keep pets in after dark and walk dogs on a leash at dusk.
- Do not leave a garage door or pet door open overnight.
- Watch the roofline at dusk. A raccoon going up a downspout or onto the roof is looking for a way in.
Those steps make the yard less interesting. They do not get a raccoon out of an attic or a chimney.
When to call
Call when the raccoon is no longer just passing through: noise in the attic at night, a torn soffit or vent, a den in the chimney, or a mother with young. The raccoon removal page covers how Michael traps and seals for raccoons, and if you live near his base, raccoon removal in Spring covers the houses and greenways there. He does the inspection and the work himself. Call or text 713-775-8799.
Questions people ask about raccoons and rabies
Should I touch a raccoon that looks hurt or sick?
No. DSHS says not to handle any wildlife, whether it looks healthy or sick. Keep children and pets inside, do not try to cover it with a box or move it with a shovel, and keep an eye on where it goes from a window. Then call someone who handles wildlife for a living, or your local animal control if it is out in the open.
Are opossums and squirrels high-risk for rabies in Texas?
No. The Texas rabies rule puts opossums and rodents, which includes squirrels, rats and mice, in the low-risk group. The high-risk group is skunks, bats, foxes, coyotes and raccoons. Low-risk still does not mean you should handle one. DSHS advice is the same for every wild animal: leave it alone and keep pets away.
Who do I report a raccoon bite to in Texas?
The Texas rule says a potential rabies exposure to a person should be reported to the local rabies control authority as soon as possible. Before that, DSHS says to wash the wound right away with soap and water and get medical help as soon as possible. Your doctor or the local authority can tell you what happens next.
Can you take the raccoon away and let it go somewhere?
Texas does not allow that for most people. DSHS says live raccoons, skunks, foxes and coyotes may not be transported from, to or within Texas, outside the narrow exceptions in the rule. Raccoons Michael catches are removed alive and handled following Texas rules, and then he seals the opening so another one does not move in.
Sources
- Texas Department of State Health Services, Rabies: dshs.texas.gov/idcu/disease/rabies
- Texas Department of State Health Services, Transport of quarantined animals: dshs.texas.gov/animal-safety-zoonosis/laws/transport
- 25 Texas Administrative Code Sec. 169.22, definitions (high-risk and low-risk animals, potential exposure): law.cornell.edu
- 25 Texas Administrative Code Sec. 169.25, reporting a potential exposure: law.cornell.edu
- 25 Texas Administrative Code Sec. 169.34, statewide rabies quarantine: law.cornell.edu
