Skunk in the Kootenay Lake region tests positive for rabies

Skunk in the Kootenay Lake region tests positive for rabies

Published 6:13 am Monday, September 21, 2026

Interior Health is advising that a skunk in the Kootenay Lake region has tested positive for rabies.

The result was confirmed on September 17, 2026 by IH and the BC Centre for Disease Control. The skunk is believed to have been infectious between August 15 and September 4.

A number of people who may have been exposed have already been assessed and treated by IH, and IH is asking that anyone within the area who may have had contact with a skunk come forward for assessment.

Anyone who was bitten or scratched by a skunk in the Kootenay Lake region should immediately contact the local public health office, visit a primary care provider or go to an emergency department, especially if contact occurred after Aug. 15, 2026.

For skunk interactions that did not include a bite or scratch, or exposure in the wider Interior Health region, visit Diseases from Animals and Insects at the IH website for more information. You can also call HealthLinkBC at 811 for advice.

Any pets that have been in contact with a skunk during this time period should be seen by a vet.

Rabies virus is not transmitted through exposure to the spray, urine or feces of infected skunks in B.C., IH says. Bats are the only known reservoirs of rabies, meaning they can carry the disease and pass it on without showing signs of the disease themselves. Occasional spillovers to other animal species have occurred in B.C.

While rabies infections are extremely rare in B.C. and Canada, infections are usually fatal, but preventable when treatments are received promptly after an exposure.

How to protect yourself and others from rabies:

Do not approach, touch or feed wild or unfamiliar animals, especially those that look sick or wounded. Do not touch or handle dead animals.
Do not pick up or handle bats as bites and scratches from an infected bat can lead to rabies exposure.
If you are bitten or scratched by a bat, skunk or any wild animal, wash the wound with soap and warm water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical care immediately.

How to protect your pets from rabies:

Vaccinate all pets against rabies regularly.
Supervise pets when outdoors and keep pets away from wild animals (e.g. dogs on leash).
Keep pet food indoors or in a secured area to avoid attracting wild animals.
If your pet is bitten or scratched by a wild animal, consult with your veterinarian immediately.

If you observe a skunk or wild animal acting abnormally, please contact the BC RAPP line at 1-877-952-RAPP (7277). The animal may appear disoriented, sick or injured, or may be stumbling, active during unusual times of day, show no fear of people, or unusually aggressive.