NEWS
Rabid bobcat euthanized after attacking dogs
Health officials report New Mexico’s first animal rabies case of the year and urge residents to keep pets vaccinated and avoid contact with wild animals
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A bobcat that tested positive for rabies was euthanized after attacking several dogs in Sierra County, the New Mexico Department of Health said.
The case is the first animal rabies case of the year in New Mexico, NMDOH said in a Monday news release. The state reported 12 rabid animals in 2024, four of which were bobcats, and 13 animal rabies cases in 2025, including one bobcat.
The dogs that were attacked were all up-to-date with rabies vaccinations and received a booster shot for treatment. They will be monitored for any rabies symptoms for 45 days. Two people who may have been exposed are receiving a post-exposure rabies vaccine.
“Rabies is deadly but preventable. State law requires all dogs and cats be vaccinated against rabies,” said Dr. Erin Phipps, state public health veterinarian for the NMDOH. “Unvaccinated pets exposed to rabies must be euthanized or strictly isolated for four months to prevent human exposure.”
Rabies is a virus that infects the central nervous system and causes brain malfunctions that can cause an altered mental state or personality changes.
“Early symptoms of rabies in humans are nonspecific, consisting of fever, headache, and general malaise,” NMDOH wrote on their website. “As the disease progresses, neurological symptoms appear and may include insomnia, anxiety, confusion, slight or partial paralysis, excitation, hallucinations, agitation, hypersalivation, difficulty swallowing, and hydrophobia.”
While the disease is most often found in wildlife such as bats, skunks and foxes, all mammals are susceptible to rabies and may not show symptoms upon contact.
“Rabid wild animals may show no fear of people and may be aggressive, or they may be quiet and appear tame,” NMDOH said.
To prevent rabies, NMDOH recommends keeping pets up-to-date on vaccinations, avoiding wild animals and reaching out to a veterinarian if your pet has been bitten by a wild animal.
Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.
