DENVER—State health officials have confirmed that a skunk found near Sloan Lake in Denver has tested positive for rabies.
The skunk was discovered earlier this week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the skunk had a strain of rabies typically found in bats.
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment says it’s the first rabid skunk seen in the Denver metro area since 1976.
State epidemiologist John Pape (POP’-ee) says the bat strain usually doesn’t spread to other animals, meaning the skunk likely ate a rabid bat.
Officials are urging pet owners to ensure their animals are up to date on vaccinations.
The state health department’s Animal Care and Control division is hosting a pet vaccination clinic at Sloan Lake Park on Sunday.
