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Sixteen people in Beaufort received treatment Friday night after being exposed to a raccoon with rabies.
What's more, Charleston County leads the state when it comes to the number of rabid animals.
Barbara Dilligard's home in Downtown Charleston is home to more than her family, since some extra tenants have settled in.
"It’s been an evening romper room for them," said Dilligard.
Dilligard laughs now but she says she's had some frightening run ins with the raccoons in her yard.
"Being in the yard, taking a nap, when everything is just so peaceful and breezy and there’s one looking at me, scaring me to death," said Dilligard.
Enough so, to take extra precautions in her own home.
"When my grandbaby is here I don’t let him or any kids stay in the yard by themselves because I don’t know when they'll come around," said Dilligard.
Animal Control Deputy Valerie White says being careful is exactly what people should do around raccoons.
"Put your cat food up higher. Trash cans, weigh them down, tie the lids shut, you don’t want your house to have the invisible sign that says eat here," said White.
Keeping your distance is the key to rabies prevention. DHEC officials say in 2007, one in three raccoons tested was infected with rabies and not all of them will show it.
"The babies can have it. They can be born with it. They can never show a symptom and give it to you," said White.
Baby raccoons, on the rise in the area around this time.
"Particularly in the spring, the mamma raccoons are having their babies," said White.
There are also several Lowcountry organizations that will rescue baby raccoons and get them to a wildlife sanctuary.
Charleston County Animal Control’s phone number is (843) 329-1551.
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