Wildlife Reservoirs for Rabies

Although all species of mammals are susceptible to rabies virus infection, only a few species are important as reservoirs for the disease. In the United States, several distinct rabies virus variants have been identified in terrestrial mammals, including raccoons, skunks, foxes, and coyotes. In addition to these terrestrial reservoirs, several species of insectivorous bats are also reservoirs for rabies.

Distribution of major rabies virus variants among mesocarnivores in the United States
and Puerto Rico, 2008 to 2015

The figure shows a map of major rabies virus variants among mesocarnivores in the United States and Puerto Rico for 2008 through 2015. Black diagonal lines represent fox rabies variants (Arizona gray fox and Texas gray fox). Solid borders represent 5-year rabies virus variant aggregates for 2011 through 2015; dashed borders represent the previous 5-year aggregates for 2010 through 2014.

Terrestrial Rabies Reservoirs in the United States
2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015