Rabid Bobcat Confirmed in Colleton County; One Person Exposed

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 31, 2026

COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Department of Public Health (DPH) confirmed that a bobcat found near Augusta Hwy and Noble Lane in Smoaks, S.C., has tested positive for rabies. One person was exposed and has been referred to their health care provider.

The bobcat was submitted to DPH's laboratory for testing March 27, 2026, and was confirmed to have rabies March 30, 2026. If you believe you, someone you know, or your pets have come in contact with this bobcat or another animal that potentially has rabies, please call DPH's Charleston office at (843) 953-4713 during normal business hours (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday) or after hours and on holidays at (888) 847-0902 (Select Option 2).

"To reduce the risk of getting rabies, always give wild and stray animals plenty of space," said Terri McCollister, Rabies Program manager. "If you see an animal in need, avoid touching it and contact someone trained in handling animals, such as your local animal control officer, wildlife control operator, or wildlife rehabilitator." An exposure is defined as direct contact (such as through broken skin or mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, or mouth) with saliva or brain/nervous system tissue from an infected animal. If your pet is found with wounds of unknown origin, please consider that your pet may have been exposed to rabies.

It is important to keep pets up to date on their rabies vaccination, as this is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect against the disease. This bobcat is the first animal in Colleton County to test positive for rabies in 2026. There have been 21 cases of rabid animals statewide this year. Since 2002, South Carolina has averaged approximately 136 positive cases a year. In 2025, one of the 101 confirmed rabies cases in South Carolina was in Colleton County.

Contact information for local Public Health offices is available at dph.sc.gov/RabiesContacts. For more information on rabies, visit dph.sc.gov/rabies or cdc.gov/rabies.

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