Central Pennsylvania is a beautiful place to live, and it comes with plenty of nature’s neighbors.

Mike Steingraber, Wildlife Conservation Officer for the PA Game Commission, said “we live in a community, a unique community that is surrounded by wildlife, there is no place in the state college area that would be void of wildlife. We have wildlife everywhere.”

He added while wild animals are something to appreciate, they’re also something we should be very aware of.

“Other than a professional, nobody should have any contact with any wildlife out there.,” Steingraber said.

Within the last month two cases have been reported of rabid animals interacting with residents in Lemont.

The first was initially reported as a coyote, attacking a pet cat and the homeowner shooting it in defense.

But the animals gray coat was misleading, “the whole time it was a fox but it got misidentified early on,” Steingraber said.

That same week, another fox was reported and euthanized.

Steingraber said both tested positive for rabies.

“There are rabid animals in our area and there’s a possibility that it can spread to domestic animals as well,” Steingraber said.

He said the animal population with the virus is low but any percentage at all…brings some risk to the community.

“It’s a very dangerous virus, it’s not something that you want to have contact with,” Steingraber said.

And if you encounter a wild animal, bottom line is you can look, from a safe distance, but definitely do not touch.

And if you think the animal is sick, call the game commission.

“Let us decide you know whether or not we think that animal needs to be euthanized,” Steingraber said

For more information on how to directly contact the game commission for our region click here or call:

570-398-4744