A raccoon found in Kings Park has tested positive for rabies. The animal was discovered by a Sunken Meadow State Park employee on Sept. 11 and appeared to be ill, according to the Suffolk County Department of Health Services. The department's Public Health Protection Bureau collected the raccoon and submitted it to the Wadsworth Center at the New York State Department of Health for testing.

The results came back positive for rabies. There were no reported human or pet exposures to the raccoon. It marked the 26th positive terrestrial rabies confirmation in Suffolk County this year and the 45th since February 2025. Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that attacks the central nervous system and is most often seen among wild animals such as raccoons, bats, skunks and foxes, the department warned. However, any animal can be infected with rabies. The Health Department reminds residents not to touch or transport wild animals. Anyone who sees a raccoon acting abnormally is encouraged to call the Suffolk County Police Department's non-emergency line at 631-852-COPS (2677), or the state Department of Environmental Conservation at 631-444-0250.