FILE - A tranquillized raccoon has its ear tagged by U.S. Department of Agriculture wildlife specialist Robert Acabbo in Grand Isle, Vt., Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. The U.S. government has begun scattering millions of packets of oral rabies vaccine from helicopters and planes over 13 states from Maine to Alabama. The major aim is to keep raccoons from spreading their strain of the deadly virus to states where it hasn't been found or isn't widespread, said field trial coordinator Jordona Kirby. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File)
Aniya Faulcon is The Spark Host/Producer for WITF. She has a passion for shining a light on unique people, experiences, and perspectives within the community.
Previously she worked as the People and Social Trends Reporter/Video Anchor for LancasterOnline | LNPNews. During her time there, she created video packages, provided Facebook Live coverage at community events, and wrote data-driven stories with census data and feature stories on local leaders, non-profit organizations, events, and people with unique talents and experiences within Lancaster County.
Aniya also worked at WMAR ABC 2 News as a Sales Assistant and at the AFRO American Newspapers as an Executive Assistant and Media correspondent. Aniya interned at WEAA Gospel Grace 88.9 and worked at her alma mater’s radio station, WWPJ at Point Park University, where she gained skills and a passion for radio.
Aniya grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and attended the Baltimore School for the arts for high school with a concentration in acting. She continued to hone her skills and passion for storytelling and later graduated from Point Park University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and Broadcast Reporting. Aniya is eager to continue her journey with storytelling in her role with WITF, as she aims to shed a light on real people and real stories within Pennsylvania in a variety of mediums.
FILE - A tranquillized raccoon has its ear tagged by U.S. Department of Agriculture wildlife specialist Robert Acabbo in Grand Isle, Vt., Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007. The U.S. government has begun scattering millions of packets of oral rabies vaccine from helicopters and planes over 13 states from Maine to Alabama. The major aim is to keep raccoons from spreading their strain of the deadly virus to states where it hasn't been found or isn't widespread, said field trial coordinator Jordona Kirby. (AP Photo/Toby Talbot, File)
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Airdate: Monday, September 5, 2022
Taking long evening walks in woodsy neighborhoods or on nature trails brings about anxiety for some as there’s a possibility of coming in contact with foxes, racoons, cats and other animals infected with rabies.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, while rabies is rare in people in the United States, with only 1 to 3 cases reported annually, about 60,000 Americans get post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) each year to prevent rabies infection after being bitten or scratched by an infected or suspected infected animal.
Bats were the most frequently reported rabid wildlife species, followed by raccoons, skunks, and foxes.
Aliza Simeone, Veterinary Medical Field Officer for the Pennsylvania Dept. of Agriculture said, rabies is a virus that can infect mammals and can spread through bites or saliva from a rabid animal entering a fresh, open wound or mucous membranes like the eyes.
She said, bats and racoons are species that carry rabies, which are more likely to come in contact with people in suburban and urban areas because they are reliant on trash, human feeding, and garbage. Although she said, those areas are of higher risk, people can come in contact with an animal who carries rabies anywhere.
Simeone and Caleb Pyne, Community Cat Coordinator at Animal Rescue League of Berks County, made these suggestions for people to protect themselves and animals from rabies:
Do the best you can to get away from the rabid animal and find shelter in a house or car
Call the Pennsylvania Game Commission, police, or animal control and have their numbers on hand in case of an emergency
Seek medical attention and guidance, if bitten by what you perceive to be a rabid animal
Avoid contact with wild animals and free roaming cats
Make sure your animals are up to date with their rabies vaccine
Pyne said when an animal is rabid they may have drastic behavioral changes, show aggression, foam at the mouth, or become docile.
“So we don’t want people thinking that this is something to be in a panic about,” Simeone said. “It’s just something to be aware of that it’s out there and taking those commonsense precautions.”
