Checked October 19, 2026 · Source: Florida Department of Health (DOH) county rabies alerts and advisories
Florida’s county health departments have issued several rabies alerts and advisories since mid-September, mostly after raccoons tested positive. These alerts don’t mean your dog is likely to get rabies. They mean rabies is active in local wildlife, so it’s a good moment to check your dog’s vaccination date and keep dogs away from wild animals. Here is what was posted on the Florida DOH rabies page as of Oct. 19.
Recent notices
| County | Issued | Type | Animal | Area | Runs until |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay | Sept. 30 | Alert | Raccoon | Orange Park area: Kingsley Ave. N (north), Doctors Lake Dr. (southeast), Foxwood Rd. S (west) | 60 days (about Nov. 29) |
| Martin | Sept. 30 | Alert | Raccoon | Stuart: SE Tressler Dr. (south), SE Federal Hwy. (east), S. Kanner Hwy. (west) | 60 days (about Nov. 29) |
| Marion | Sept. 18 | Advisory | Bobcat | West-central county, Rainbow Park area off SR 40 and SW 140th Ave. | Not stated |
| Jackson | Sept. 17 | Advisory | Two raccoons | Grand Ridge area | Not stated |
| Hillsborough | Sept. 14 | Alert | Cat with no known rabies vaccination | Gibsonton: Alafia River (north), Bullfrog Creek (south), Alafia St. (east), Hillsborough Bay (west) | 60 days (about Nov. 13) |
A Sept. 2 alert for Brevard County is also on the list, along with earlier 2026 notices for other counties. The full, current list is on the Florida DOH rabies page, where each county name links to the official notice.
Alert or advisory?
Both are public warnings that rabies has been confirmed in an animal in the area. Alerts in this batch name boundaries and a set length, usually 60 days. The two advisories describe a general area and don’t give an end date. Either way, the advice to pet owners is the same.
What dog owners in these areas should do
- Check your dog’s rabies vaccination and keep it current on your veterinarian’s schedule. Florida law requires dogs to be vaccinated.
- Keep dogs leashed and supervised, especially at dusk and at night, when raccoons are most active.
- Don’t leave pet food, water bowls or open garbage outside. They draw raccoons and strays.
- Don’t let dogs approach, chase or play with wildlife, including animals that seem tame, injured or dead.
- If a wild or stray animal bites or scratches your dog, take your dog to a veterinarian right away and call your county animal control, even if your dog is vaccinated.
- If you are bitten or scratched, wash the wound, seek medical care and report it to your county health department.
Who to call
| County | Health department | Animal control |
|---|---|---|
| Clay | DOH-Clay (904) 529-2924 | Town of Orange Park Animal Control (904) 269-6342, option 3 |
| Martin | DOH-Martin (772) 221-4030 | Martin County Animal Control (772) 463-3211 |
| Marion | DOH-Marion (352) 629-0137 | Marion County Animal Services (352) 671-8727 |
| Jackson | DOH-Jackson (850) 526-2412 | Jackson County Animal Control (850) 718-0021 |
| Hillsborough | DOH-Hillsborough (813) 307-8059 | Hillsborough County Animal Control (813) 744-5660 |
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This article is general information for dog owners, not veterinary or legal advice. New alerts can be issued at any time. Follow the official source when it differs from this article.
Sources
- Florida DOH: Rabies (county alerts and advisories list)
- DOH-Clay: Rabies alert, Sept. 30, 2026
- DOH-Martin: Rabies alert, Sept. 30, 2026
- DOH-Marion: Rabies advisory, Sept. 18, 2026
- DOH-Jackson: Rabies advisory, Sept. 17, 2026
- DOH-Hillsborough: Rabies alert, Sept. 14, 2026
- DOH-Brevard: Rabies alert, Sept. 2, 2026