rabies alert

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The weather is warm and flowers are blooming, but heading into the great out of doors warrants caution about snakes and wildlife.

Already this year in Burnet County, two people have been bitten by rattlesnakes and now rabies alerts are being raised.

Meadowlakes was the first city in the area to report positive tests for rabies on skunks in the city limits and reports have followed on animals contained in Marble Falls and Burnet.

In 2018 Burnet County has risen already into the 7-10 rabies case category of the Texas Department of State Health Services (TSHS), including skunks, foxes, a raccoon and even a cat in various parts of the county.

The animal in Marble Falls was captured March 22 in the 800 block of Avenue F and in Burnet one was found on John Hoover Parkway March 27. In Meadowlakes they were found in several locations, including Hidden Falls Golf Course.

The City of Meadowlakes has issued a rabies alert as a public health notice.

A skunk that has tested positive for rabies was trapped recently by Meadowlakes Animal Control Officer Robbie Galaway. There was no known contact with the skunk, but it is unknown how long the skunk was located in the Meadowlakes Drive area from which the animal was captured.

"Should a resident find a wild animal acting out of the ordinary do not approach it," said Mayor Mary Ann Raesener. "Please call the Meadowlakes Animal Control, 877-816-8136.

"We encourage our residents to please be conscious when out doors and remember to always vaccinate your pets."

The city also provided the number of Texas Department of State Health Services Zoonosis Control Program 254- 778-6744.