Bobcat Tests Positive for Rabies in Gila County's Cherry Creek Area; Animal Control Urges Anyone Exposed to Report Immediately
GILA COUNTY, Arizona — Gila County animal control announced on November 7 that a bobcat found in the Cherry Creek and Dagger Canyon area tested positive for rabies, with the result confirmed by the Arizona state laboratory on November 6. In a social-media notice, the department urged any resident who may have had contact with the bobcat, or whose pets may have been exposed, to call 928-402-8875 immediately. The notice did not say whether any people or pets were exposed, and the department did not immediately respond to further media inquiries. Rabies is a viral disease spread through the bites or scratches of infected animals and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear; prompt medical care and vaccination are the key preventive measures. Arizona Department of Health Services data show 28 laboratory-confirmed animal rabies cases statewide from January 1 to June 2, 2026, including 10 bats, 8 skunks and 4 bobcats. Officials remind residents to avoid contact with wildlife and keep pets' rabies vaccinations current.
Source: The Arizona Republic
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：山猫。Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 2.0。 / Photo: A bobcat. Via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.
