Biologists suspect bats at source of rabies outbreak in Oregon

MEDFORD, Ore. — A draft report that looks at ways to combat a rabies outbreak among animals in the Cave Junction area says getting vaccines to the vulnerable gray fox population and vaccinating local pets are the area’s best options.

The Medford Mail Tribune reports seven foxes, one domestic goat and one coyote have died of rabies in the Cave Junction area since the outbreak began about one year ago.

All the animals suffered from the same strain of rabies, and biologists think the disease hit the fox population by gray foxes eating dead or dying rabid bats.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife biologist Mark Vargas says the options in the draft report likely wouldn’t be implemented until a separate strain of rabies is found or a human is infected.