SUPERIOR, AZ (AZFamily) — Hikers and pet owners are being urged to use caution at Boyce Thompson Arboretum in Superior after a coatimundi found along a trail tested positive for rabies.
Authorities said the animal was seen acting unusually before it was taken in for testing. It appeared fatigued, was stumbling and was behaving erratically near other animals in the area.
Signs will be posted around the arboretum warning hikers and other trail users about the rabies concern.
Coatis (Coatimundi) are very social animals, the females and their young often group together to forage. The males are usually solitary. Coatis, unlike their cousins the ringtail and the raccoon, are diurnal, which means they are active during the day.(Recreation.gov)
Rabies is an infectious disease that affects the nervous system of mammals and can spread to both animals and humans.
Health officials say anyone who believes they may have been exposed to a rabid animal should seek medical care immediately.
Wild animals showing unusual behavior, including aggression or unusual tameness, should be reported to local animal control officials or the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Pinal County Animal Care and Control Director Audra Michael said hikers should take extra precautions when bringing pets on trails.
“The first thing is to make sure your pets are properly vaccinated,” she said. “The other is not to let them roam free while you are hiking; always have them on a leash.”
Anyone looking for rabies vaccine information for pets in Pinal County can call (520) 509-3555 or Pinal County Animal Care and Control’s website.
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