Wildlife Safety Reminder for Our School Community
Local health departments throughout the Capital Region are reporting a rise in the number of rabid wildlife this summer. As families enjoy the outdoors, please remember to keep a safe distance from wildlife.
We ask that you remind your children not to approach or touch wildlife, even if the animal seems friendly. For more information on rabies prevention and safety, please visit the New York State Department of Health website: https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/zoonoses/rabies/
With warmer weather bringing more wildlife activity around our schools, we also want families to know the signs of rabies and what our staff do to keep students safe.
Signs an animal may be sick: Acting unusually tame or friendly toward people🐾 A nocturnal animal (raccoon, skunk, fox) out and active during the day🐾 Aggression or attacking without being provoked 🐾Stumbling, weakness, or seizures 🐾 Drooling, foaming at the mouth, or trouble swallowing
You can't always tell just by looking — so we treat any wild or stray animal on school grounds with caution.
What our staff do if a wild or stray animal is spotted on campus: ✅Keep everyone away — no touching, feeding, or handling ✅Move students indoors and clear the area right away ✅Secure doors and ground-floor windows ✅Notify administration, who contact local authorities or licensed wildlife control for safe removal.