Rabies Statistics

Animals Tested for Rabies, by Species and Test Result, Minnesota, 2003-2023 (PDF)

The majority of animals that we test are negative, except for skunks. Almost half of all skunks we test are positive for rabies.

Rabies Trends in Bats, Skunks, and Domestic Animals, Minnesota, 1980-2023 (PDF)

In Minnesota, bats and skunks are the natural carriers of rabies. As rabies levels in skunks drop so do levels of rabies in domestic animals. This happens because most domestic animals get rabies from skunks.

Rabid Raccoons in Minnesota, 1988-2023 (PDF)

Minnesota does not have the raccoon strain of the rabies virus so rabid raccoons are very rare. When a raccoon does get rabies, it has the skunk strain of the virus, not the raccoon strain.

Bats Submitted for Rabies Testing by Month, Minnesota, 2003-2023 (PDF)

Bats are very active in the late summer months as they are preparing for winter and pups are leaving for the first time thus increasing your chances of having a bat encounter. Only 3.7% of bats we test are positive for rabies making it a low risk, but not no risk. If you wake up to a bat, have a small child or a vulnerable adult awaken to a bat, or someone had physical contact with a bat, please capture the bat and submit it for rabies testing.