DNA Analysis of Rabies Positive Raccoon Found in Eastham in November Identified New York/Pennsylvania Border as Likely Origin
March 7, 2025
Dead Raccoon Discovered in Eastham
On November 17, 2024, a dead raccoon was discovered on Smith Road in Eastham, near the entrance to the Wild Care facility. The raccoon had porcupine quills embedded in its muzzle and arm, and a blue cloth had been draped over its backside. The situation was immediately reported to the Massachusetts Rabies Program Coordinator from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), who arranged for the raccoon to be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for rabies testing. On November 20, 2024, CDC reported that the raccoon had tested positive for rabies.
Prior to this incident, raccoon variant rabies had not been detected on Cape Cod since 2021 when a rabies positive raccoon was discovered in Hyannis; that animal was found to have originated in Plymouth County. The last case of raccoon variant rabies on Cape Cod before 2021 was in 2013.
Local Response
The Town of Eastham Health Department coordinated with federal, state, and local agencies, including USDA Wildlife Services, Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), and the Cape Cod & Southeast Massachusetts Rabies Task Force (CCSMRTF), to assess potential public health and wildlife implications. Public outreach was conducted via web and social media, requesting that anyone with information regarding the raccoon’s initial location reach out to officials immediately.
Genetic Testing
Understanding the origins of any rabies positive raccoon is essential for determining effective response measures and public outreach. The USDA National Wildlife Research Center conducted genetic analysis, comparing the raccoon’s DNA with a database of raccoons from across the Northeast. The raccoon’s DNA was most similar to DNA of raccoons originating in the New York/Pennsylvania border region. Genetic sequencing of the rabies virus by the CDC further supported this finding.
The exact circumstances of how the raccoon arrived on Cape Cod remain unknown. The case underscores the need for public education on the risks of wildlife translocation, which can introduce diseases to new areas and pose risks to both wildlife and public health.
Continuing Response Efforts
In response to this case, Enhanced Rabies Surveillance (ERS) efforts were increased, with a focus on monitoring raccoons and other rabies-vector species in the Eastham area and across southeastern Massachusetts. The ERS program, which has tested nearly 5,000 animals since 2002, plays a critical role in detecting and preventing the spread of rabies by identifying cases that may otherwise go unnoticed.
The Cape Cod & Southeast Massachusetts Rabies Task Force continues to work with local, state, and federal partners, including the Town of Eastham, to support enhanced rabies surveillance efforts and develop outreach strategies to prevent wildlife translocation.
Education and Outreach
Intentional translocation of wildlife is the movement of an animal or animals from one location to another that is distant from their original home range or established territory. Many people who translocate animals have good intentions, and are unaware of any public health risks, legal consequences, or potential harm to the animal itself.
While it remains uncertain how the rabies positive raccoon ended up in Eastham, here are some important things to remember about translocation:
- Translocation can Present a Public Health Risk: Moving wildlife can introduce diseases (like rabies) to areas where they are not currently present, putting people, pets, and native animals at risk.
- There’s an Animal Welfare Component: Transported animals often suffer due to unfamiliar environments, lack of food/water, or conflicts with local wildlife.
- It’s Illegal to Translocate Wildlife! Massachusetts law prohibits the relocation of wildlife without a permit. Violators may face penalties.
- Oftentimes, Moving an Animal Causes More Harm Than Good: Sometimes well-intentioned humans move wildlife to ‘save’ them from urban areas or injury, but this can cause unintended harm.
DO Report! DON’T Relocate! If you find injured, sick, or nuisance wildlife, contact licensed rehabilitators, animal control, or wildlife officials instead of moving the animal.
