Rabies in Wildlife
Rabies may appear in wildlife, since a wide variety of wild animals, already listed, and are susceptible. In 
certain parts of the country the appearance of the disease among wildlife has caused considerable loss of livestock, as well as presenting a human health hazard.
In 1915, according to the United States Biological Survey, epizootics, or severe outbreaks, among wild animals, especially coyotes, appeared in Oregon, California, Nevada, and Idaho. In one feed lot alone, a single rabid coyote bit and caused the loss of 27steers. There were further outbreaks in 1921 to 1928, and more or less serious outbreaks have been reported since that time. Outbreaks of rabies in foxes occurred in Maine in 1934 and in Massachusetts in 1935.
More recently, in 1940, a serious outbreak of rabies among foxes occurred in several of the Southern States, the worst center of infection being in Georgia, although adjoining areas in South Carolina and Alabama reported infection in foxes. Just where the infection originated is not known, but of 291 fox heads examined in Georgia up to December 1940, 88, or 30.2 percent, were found to be affected with rabies. At least 90 head of livestock were reported to have developed the disease from exposure to rabid foxes, and it improbable that the total far exceeds that number. In addition, the Georgia Department of Public Health furnished anthracic treatment to 17 persons bitten by or exposed to rabid foxes.
The problem of the control of rabies in wildlife has aspects different from those in the control of rabies in dogs. As the first step, it is necessary to reduce the number of wild animals in the area, particularly the affected species, by trapping, poisoning, and other means. Effective cooperation between Federal, State, and local agencies and the public at large is an essential feature of control of the disease.