A skunk that fought with a resident's dog in a Cherry Hill backyard on Aug. 14 has tested positive for rabies, the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services confirmed Wednesday, Aug. 19.
The dog's owner provided proof of rabies vaccination, and the dog received a booster shot. It will remain under confinement and observation for 45 days, according to the county health department.
No humans were exposed to the skunk.
Cherry Hill's animal control officer recovered the skunk after the encounter and sent it to the state Public Health and Environmental Laboratories in Trenton for testing. Five days later, the lab confirmed the animal was rabid.
"Rabies is a serious illness, but it can be prevented by early treatment after exposure," said Commissioner Jennifer Cooley Fleisher, the county commissioners' liaison to the health department. "If you have been bitten or scratched by a wild animal, it is important that you seek immediate medical attention."
This is the third confirmed rabies case in Cherry Hill in 2026. A rabid bat was confirmed in a Cherry Hill home on June 8, and a separate rabid skunk attacked two dogs in a Cherry Hill backyard on Feb. 20, according to county reports and local media coverage.
County officials urged residents to:
- Keep pet rabies vaccinations current
- Supervise pets while outdoors
- Seek immediate veterinary care if a pet is bitten or scratched by a wild animal
- Avoid approaching raccoons, skunks and foxes
- Secure garbage cans to avoid attracting wildlife
- Teach children never to handle unfamiliar animals
Camden County will hold a free rabies vaccine clinic on Saturday, Nov. 14, from noon to 2 p.m. at 820 Mercer St., Cherry Hill, NJ 08002.
Residents with questions about rabies can call the Camden County Department of Health and Human Services at (856) 374-6370. Alyssa Amato, the county's communicable disease supervisor, can be reached at 856-374-6044.
