MOULTRIE, Ga. — This time of year, people, pets and wildlife tend to be more active — which can result in potentially deadly interactions.

“Any time pets, humans and wild animals interact, there is the possibility of rabies exposure,” said Colquitt County Health Department Lead Environmental Health Specialist Lawanda Lovett. If untreated in humans, rabies is nearly always fatal.

“We are concerned about people being exposed to the rabies virus through pets whose vaccinations are not up-to-date, through stray animals that have not been vaccinated and through wild animals, any of which could catch the infection and pass it along through their saliva,” she said.

In the winter months, wildlife is often relatively inactive. But when spring arrives, animals mate, produce offspring and feed. Sometimes when adult animals look for food, they leave their young alone, Lovett noted.

“Spring-time is also when humans and pets begin to spend more time outdoors enjoying the weather,” she said. “As a result, the likelihood of encountering wild animals increases.”

Lovett advised residents to avoid wildlife that behave oddly (such as nocturnal animals being out during daylight hours or wild animals seeking human interaction).

“Please don’t handle young animals, either,” she said. “Chances are the parents are nearby and will return when you leave.”

Also, protective animal parents might attack, or parents might abandon offspring handled by humans, Lovett said.

Wild animal species that frequently carry the rabies virus in Georgia include raccoons, bats, skunks, foxes, coyotes and bobcats. “When they come into contact with strays or unvaccinated pets, they can pass the infection,” Lovett said.

The best protection against rabies exposure is to vaccinate pets, she said.

“The most heart-breaking conversations I have is telling pet owners that they are going to have to euthanize their beloved pets because of rabies. If that animal had just received its annual rabies vaccination, it would have been a happy ending instead of a tragedy.”

Anyone bitten by wild animals or strays should seek immediate medical attention and contact the Colquitt County Health Department and law enforcement, she said. “You should not attempt to catch the animal yourself. The authorities will handle that so that it can be tested for rabies.”

Georgia law requires dogs and cats three months old and older to be vaccinated against rabies. Pet ferrets should also receive rabies inoculations, as should susceptible livestock, Lovett said.

For more information about rabies, contact the Colquitt County Health Department at 229-891-7100, ext. 223 or go on-line to www.southwestgeorgiapublichealth.org.