Avoiding Animal Bites

The majority of animal bites are caused by a pet, either yours or someone else’s. While wild animal bites are rare, they can happen if the animal feels threatened or sick. To prevent animal bites, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following: never pet or feed an animal that you don’t know; watch your child closely if they are near an animal; spay or neuter your dog to make them less aggressive; vaccinate your pets against rabies; and wear long pants and boots if walking in areas with poisonous snakes. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 2017