On Saturday, a rabid white-nosed coatimundi attacked a woman and her dog at a residence in within the Coronado National Memorial. The coatimundi attacked the dog first, and then bit the woman as she tried to pull her dog away from it.
The woman’s husband shot and killed the coatimundi.
An Arizona Department of Health Services laboratory testing has confirmed the coatimundi had been rabid. Both the woman and dog have received medical treatment for their injuries, including shots for rabies exposure.
According to the National Park Service:
Although white-nosed coatimundi are relatively common throughout the mountains of Southern Arizona, very few become infected by the rabies virus. In Arizona, the principal rabies hosts are bats, skunks, and foxes. These animals carry their own distinct rabies virus variants or “strains.” When rabies activity within these animal groups increases, rabies can “spill over” into other mammal species, such as white-nosed coatimundis, bobcats, coyotes, javelina, cats, and dogs. Rabid animals may appear disoriented or lethargic, salivate heavily or appear thirsty. Superintendent Allen Etheridge reminds Coronado National Memorial visitors to be cautious around all wild animals and to NEVER feed, touch or approach wildlife.