Health Alert: Beaver at First Dam and Mulholland Wildflower Preserve Confirmed to Have Rabies

(ITHACA, NY, July 25, 2023) – Tompkins County Whole Health’s Environmental Health Division (EH) is alerting the community that the beaver involved in multiple bite incidents at the First Dam and Mulholland Wildflower Preserve on Giles Street in the City of Ithaca was confirmed to be infected with the rabies virus by the Wadsworth Laboratory.

EH must locate and interview anyone who may have had contact with, or whose pets may have had contact with, a beaver at the First Dam or Mulholland Wildflower Preserve within the past week, as they should be evaluated for any potential risk. This includes those walking dogs in the area. Rabies is a potentially fatal disease that has no treatment once symptoms are apparent. Please call EH directly at 607-274-6688, or email tceh@tompkins-co.org.

Additionally, the public is advised to avoid the area while the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) searches for other beavers with signs of illness or aggression.

Healthy beavers generally avoid all human contact and rarely approach humans, unless the humans approach dams, dens, or their offspring. Rabid animals may stagger, stumble or have difficulty walking, show severe aggression, appear unusually tame, attack or bite at the air or inanimate objects, or be too sick to move away from approaching humans or pets. Infected animals can shed the virus for several days before appearing sick. Report any suspicious behavior, contact or bites to EH (607-274-6688).

Tompkins County Whole Health reminds everyone to:

1. Avoid contact with any unfamiliar cats or dogs and any wild animals.
2. All cats, dogs and ferrets must have initial rabies vaccinations administered no later than four months of age. Keep vaccinations current.
3. Report the following incidents to Environmental Health, 24/7, at 607-274-6688:
   • All animal bites or scratches.
   • Any human or pet contact with saliva or other potentially infectious material (brain tissue, spinal tissue, or cerebro-spinal fluid) of wild animals or any animal suspected of having rabies.
   • All bat bites, scratches, or any mere skin contact with a bat, or a bat in a room with a child, or sleeping or impaired person.

Further information can be found at: tompkinscountyny.gov/health/eh/rabies.

Tompkins County Whole Health (formerly the Tompkins County Health Department) envisions a future where every person in Tompkins County can achieve wellness. Find us online at TompkinsCountyNY.gov/health, and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/TompkinsWholeHealth and on Twitter at @TCWholeHealth. Get Whole Health updates or other county announcements via email or text, sign up here.

Media contact: Shannon Alvord, salvord@tompkins-co.org

-end-