Wildlife Information

Having trouble with wildlife?

The City of Rowlett sits on Lake Ray Hubbard and has several creeks and streams feeding the lake. This, along with heavily wooded areas, provide a safe haven for all types of wildlife. Raccoons, opossums, coyotes, squirrels and snakes, to name just a few, live around the area. Unfortunately, with residents living so close to these areas, wildlife will wander into residential areas looking for a free meal. Trash cans, bird feeders, and pet food are a few things they are looking. See below for a few options that can help residents coexist with the wildlife in the area.

Helpful Information:

What You Need to Know About RABIES

You can be infected with the rabies virus if you are bitten by a rabid animal. The virus is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal usually a bite. If you are bitten by a confirmed or suspected rabid animal you will need to receive a serious of post-exposure rabies injections. For this treatment to work well, it must be given soon after contact with the rabid animal. High risk animals include: Bats, Skunks, Coyotes, Foxes, and Raccoons!

If you are bitten

If an animal bites you, follow these steps. These steps could save your life.

  • Quickly and thoroughly wash the bite with soap and water. Rinse it well. Put an antiseptic on it to kill germs.
  • See a doctor as soon as possible. The doctor will contact Animal Services and will determine if you need treatment to prevent rabies.
  • Describe the animal that bit you – the type, size, and color – to the doctor, local rabies control authority, or animal services officer. Tell children to get help from a teacher, nurse, parent, policeman, school guard, or other adult. Try to locate the animal or keep track of it if you know where it lives. Remember what it looked like and where it can be found.
  • The local rabies control authority needs to have any biting dog, cat, or domestic ferret tested for rabies or observed for 10 days. If the quarantined dog, cat, or domestic ferret is alive 10 days after the bite, it could not have given you rabies. If the animal shows signs of rabies or dies during the observation period, it must be tested for rabies.

Biting skunks, bats, foxes, coyotes, and raccoons must be tested for rabies. If you are bitten by another kind of animal, the local rabies control authority will decide if it needs to be tested or observed for rabies.

How to prevent rabies

  • By law, you must have a veterinarian vaccinate your dogs and cats against rabies. Ask a veterinarian about the best vaccination schedule for your pet. Keeping your pets vaccinated protects you and them.
  • Restrain your pets; do not allow them to roam.
  • Avoid contact with wild animals and with dogs and cats you do not know. Do not approach strange dogs or cats. Do not try to hand-feed wild animals and do not keep them as pets.
  • Do not touch sick or injured animals. Call and report them to an animal services officer.