Rabies in Oklahoma: 29 Cases and Counting in 2025

If you needed another reason to steer clear of skunks this summer, here it is: Oklahoma has already logged 29 positive rabies cases in 2025, and it's only August.

According to the State Veterinarian, Dr. Rod Hall, this isn’t exactly a crisis. It’s pretty on par with what the Sooner State sees on average this time of year, which is super-comforting if you find phrases like “normal amount of rabies” reassuring.

The cases so far have been spread pretty evenly across the state, with no one region being the epicenter.

The usual suspect. 

While we all expect sources of such things to be coyotes, dogs, and squirrels, that's not the case at all. Skunks are the main characters at play, but bats, raccoons also play their roles.

As you’d guess, late spring and summer bring a spike in rabies activity. Since the government works on timelines in the past, here is the most up-to-date info from our OK.gov.

The official advice? You can vaccinate your animals for this. Without fearmongering, stating just the facts, rabies is completely preventable through modern medicine. Without vaccination and protection, it's also 100% fatal.

How to spot rabid animals. 

The old faithful foaming at the mouth, acting weird, wobbly walking, and aggressive demeanor is usually the dead giveaway, but you may not always see all of the signs.

Rural Oklahoma has a long-standing rule about seeing skunks during the daytime. If they're out while the sun's up, they're rabid - shoot on sight. With cattle to protect, it's not nearly as barbaric as city yuppies cry about.

If you're inside city limits, you could always call animal control. Let's hope they have a better response in your area than mine.

If you think there’s been a bite or exposure, get medical help immediately. Don’t do the old Oklahoma “wait and see.” Rabies won't wait politely.

Earlier this summer, a dog in Tulsa tested positive. The city had to track down everyone who may have had contact. The reports on that whole mess - from people complaining on Facebook - it was stressful and worrying for everyone involved, and the authorities complained about the cost of it. It doesn't paint Tulsa in the best light, but when you consider it could’ve all been avoided with a cheap up-to-date vaccination, fair is fair.

If you can't remember the last rabies shot your pets had, call your vet. Get the booster. Doesn’t matter if it’s a barn cat grandpa hates or the beloved family hypoallergenic golden-doodle. Rabies doesn’t discriminate.