BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 9, 2020
A trapping program in Bath targeting animals that commonly carry rabies accidentally caught three house cats as well. Bath deployed box traps with the goal to reduce the density of skunks, raccoons and gray and red foxes, all of which can carry rabies. In total, 24 raccoons and four skunks were caught and euthanized under the program, and testing is being conducted to determine whether any carried rabies. Another two gray foxes, three skunks, two brown bats, one muskrat, one brown rat and one raccoon that were found dead or euthanized separately from the trapping program also were collected for sampling. Among 26 animals not targeted, three cats were captured. They were returned to their humans. The other animals not targeted also were released.