Raccoon tests positive for rabies after scratching, biting Henrico resident
VENN
HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A raccoon has tested positive for rabies after police said it scratched and bit a Henrico County resident on Sunday.
On Sunday, June 8, the Henrico County Police Division responded to the 8700 block of Butterfield Road, in the county's Tuckahoe district, for the report of a potential rabies exposure involving a resident and a raccoon.
According to officials, after the raccoon entered the resident's yard, the resident was bitten and scratched by the raccoon. Afterward, the resident reportedly sought immediate medical attention.
The raccoon was then captured and submitted to the State Lab, where police said it tested positive for rabies. No other animal or human exposures were reported, according to officials.
Police said this is the second confirmed rabies case in Henrico County for 2025. The first case noted on March 23 also involved a raccoon that tested positive for rabies.
The Henrico Police Animal Protection Unit reminds folks keep their pets’ rabies vaccinations current to help prevent the spread of disease. Henrico County offers rabies vaccination clinics throughout the year.
A rabies clinic is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 16, from 9 a.m. to noon at the Western Government Center, 4301 E. Parham Rd. Vaccinations cost $20 per pet and are cash only. Additional rabies clinic dates can be found on the Henrico County Animal Shelter’s page.
