TRUSSVILLE, Ala. (WBRC) – What started as a quick walk before a family gathering turned into a tense and prolonged public safety situation for one Trussville man — and raised broader concerns about how communities handle dangerous wildlife encounters.
Jeremiah Smith said the incident happened earlier this month while he was walking his dog along a trail behind his neighborhood near the Trussville Sports Complex. The area was busy, with families and children gathered for youth softball games.
Smith said he initially noticed a raccoon lying motionless on the trail.
“And that raccoon was right there,” Smith said.
At first, he believed the animal was dead — something he said isn’t uncommon in an area with frequent wildlife activity. But as he cautiously moved closer, the situation quickly changed.
“It starts swinging its head around, it’s spitting, it’s drooling, it’s trying its best to hiss and lunge and after about 5-7 seconds of getting all its energy out it flops back onto the ground,” Smith said.
Smith said the animal’s erratic behavior immediately raised concern, especially given how many people were nearby.
“It was just very, very clearly sick or in distress,” Smith said, describing the raccoon as sluggish but capable of sudden bursts of aggression.
With several children approaching out of curiosity, Smith said his focus shifted to keeping others safe. Holding onto his dog, he began directing kids to stay back while calling his brothers for help.
“I don’t know what to do with all these kids around that are very, very interested in this sick or injured animal,” Smith said.
As his brothers arrived, they worked together to warn families and alert parents at the nearby ball fields. Smith said they also had to stop people coming from the opposite direction on the trail — including a runner who unknowingly got within a few feet of the raccoon before being warned away.
Despite the urgency, Smith said finding help proved difficult.
He said he called multiple agencies, including parks and recreation, public works and non-emergency law enforcement, but was unable to get clear direction.
“We were not able to figure out who are we supposed to call,” Smith said.
After nearly an hour of monitoring the situation and warning others, Smith said he even called 911, but still did not receive immediate assistance.
Eventually, he contacted the Greater Birmingham Humane Society, which he said helped point him toward the appropriate channels. But by then, the situation had already taken a turn after his mother shared a post warning neighbors about the animals in Facebook groups.
“There’s a comment on one of the post and it’s a lady saying that her husband went out and shot it,” Smith said.
Discharging a firearm within Trussville city limits is illegal. Smith said the animal was later disposed of, though questions remain about how it was handled.
For Smith, the experience highlights what he sees as a gap in accessible public services for wildlife emergencies.
“I feel like it does highlight a need,” Smith said. “I think this is everywhere in general — needs more public, free, accessible animal services.”
He also raised concerns about potential costs associated with private wildlife removal, saying that could discourage people from reporting dangerous situations.
“That could be a huge preventative for a lot of people,” Smith said.
The Jefferson County Department of Health advises anyone who encounters an animal suspected of having rabies to avoid contact and move to a safe location. Because animal control services vary by jurisdiction, officials say residents may need to contact local authorities or law enforcement for guidance.
In the event an encounter with an animal suspected of having rabies, a person should seek a safe shelter from the animal and not engage with it themselves. In Jefferson County, the Greater Birmingham Humane Society (GBHS) provides animal care and control in unincorporated Jefferson County. The Greater Birmingham Humane society DOES NOT provider services in the following jurisdictions: Hoover, Adamsville, Hueytown, Bessemer, Mountain Brook, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, and Birmingham. GBHS does not provide services in those areas because they each have their own animal control officers. For people residing in those areas, you would need to consult local webpages to determine who to call. Additionally, law enforcement can be called for guidance on what to do in these situations.
In the case of the animal that was shot, we would recommend speaking with a veterinarian as to how to handle the animal’s corpse. Ultimately, a veterinarian would be needed to help process the animal’s remains for testing to be performed.
The Jefferson County Department of Health can receive samples for testing for rabies. Instructions on this can be found at this website: Jefferson County Department of Health.
Additionally, in the event of a bite from an animal that might have rabies, it is STRONGLY recommend that a person go to a local Emergency Department first to receive the initial dose of the rabies vaccine and the immunoglobulin (antibodies against the rabies virus) to prevent the rabies infection from reaching the brain and causing death. Without vaccination, infection with the rabies virus is almost universally fatal. Once a person has been seen in an Emergency Department for wound care, the first rabies vaccination, and rabies immunoglobulin, the Jefferson County Department of Health can provide the remaining vaccine doses that are needed after a bite. The Jefferson County Department of Health is not equipped to provide initial wound care or rabies immunoglobulin. Rabies vaccines should be given as follows: 1st dose on day 0, 2nd dose on Day 3, 3rd dose on day 7, and 4th dose of day 14. Persons needing to be seen for rabies vaccines after being seen in the Emergency Department can call 205-588-534 to ask for an appointment at the Jefferson County Department of Health Specialty Clinic.
Health officials also emphasize that rabies exposure is a medical emergency. Anyone bitten by a potentially rabid animal should seek immediate treatment at an emergency department. Without prompt vaccination and care, rabies is almost always fatal.
Smith said he hopes sharing his experience raises awareness — not just about rabies, but about the need for clear, accessible guidance in moments when time matters most.
“We’re lucky that this raccoon was very, very tired and probably was within its 12th hour,” Smith said. “I would not have time to look on my phone, looking through all sorts of different pages, down all sorts of different numbers and still not finding anything that is providing immediate assistance.”
He added that situations like this can happen anywhere — even in neighborhoods many consider safe.
“Rabies is not a rural issue at all. It can happen in your own backyard,” Smith said.
For now, he hopes others take away a simple message: stay alert, keep your distance from wildlife and know who to call before an emergency happens.
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