Rabid raccoon found near Point Road water tower

The Marion Board of Health announced Oct. 14 that a raccoon found in the area of Point Road near the water tower has tested positive for rabies. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health notified the town's Board of Health and Animal Control after the animal, which had been acting oddly, was sent to the state for testing.

The board is asking residents to be alert for wildlife showing signs of rabies and to avoid interacting with wild animals, particularly those walking in the Point Road area. Signs of rabies in animals can include abnormal or aggressive behavior, lethargy, weakness or paralysis, self-mutilation, seizures, excessive salivation, and difficulty breathing or swallowing.

Residents who encounter an animal that may be infected should keep a safe distance and not approach it. The town said to call Animal Control at 508-748-1212 or 911. Anyone who has contact with a potentially rabid animal through a bite, scratch or other physical contact should wash the affected area thoroughly, seek immediate medical attention, and contact the Massachusetts Department of Public Health at its 24-hour number, 617-983-6800.

Rabies is described as a fatal but preventable disease spread through the saliva of infected animals, most commonly raccoons, bats, skunks, foxes and woodchucks in Massachusetts. Cats are the domestic animal most frequently found to be rabid, due to lower vaccination rates compared with dogs.

The board recommends keeping pet rabies vaccinations current, teaching children not to approach unfamiliar animals, reporting odd animal behavior to local animal control, not feeding pets outdoors, keeping pets leashed or fenced, securing garbage, and sealing openings in chimneys and buildings that could let wildlife inside. Massachusetts law requires dogs, cats and ferrets to be regularly vaccinated against rabies and prohibits keeping wild animals as pets.

More information is available through the state's rabies resources at mass.gov and the CDC's rabies information page.

Source: Marion Board of Health announcement, October 14, 2026.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the original announcement.