Prevention

With common sense, you can lower your risk of being bitten by an animal:

• Avoid contact and interaction with unknown animals. Even animals that appear friendly can bite if provoked.
  
  
• Do not feed or try to catch or play with wild animals such as squirrels, raccoons, or rats.
  
  
• Do not disturb an animal while it is feeding or taking care of its young.
  
  
• Use great care when "aggressively" playing with an animal. Even the family dog can bite its owner by accident while playing tug of war over that old shoe.
  
  
• Do not stick your fingers into animals' cages—for example, at the pet store, zoo, or dog show.