Rabies cases are on the rise nationwide and in New Jersey. The CDC is warning of the uptick in cases. If a bite or scratch from a rabid animal is left untreated, rabies can cause encephalitis and even death.

In New Jersey this summer, there’ve been rabid racoon attacks, a beaver attack and even a rabid groundhog going after people.

That beaver attacked a child along a lake in May in Mahwah. In Ridgewood in June, two people were bitten by a rabid raccoon on two separate days. A child was bitten near Maple Field & Community Garden, an adult was attacked the next day in Ridgewood.

Cases are rising nationwide according to the CDC. Data shows that from July to August of this year, the CDC reported 17% more rabies cases, than during the same period in 2025. Symptoms of rabies include delirium, paralysis, fever and fear of water.

Ridgewood has considered using vaccine packets to deter these incidents. The packets or cubes are coated in fishmeal to gain the attention of hungry raccoons.

The packets are then scattered in wooded areas. Once an animal ingests the packet, they're immunized.

Cape May County uses vaccine cubes. The county scatters 30,000 of the cubes which they hope will be eaten not only by raccoons but foxes and skunks.

The CDC says each year around 1.4 million people in the U.S. get treated for rabies.