Rabid Raccoon Confirmed in Chapel Hill After Dog Encounter

In Chapel Hill, North Carolina, a raccoon has tested positive for rabies following an encounter with two domestic dogs — a confirmation that the ancient and nearly always fatal virus continues to move quietly through the wildlife of residential communities. Orange County Animal Services has opened an investigation, and the incident serves as a reminder that the boundary between the wild and the domestic is thinner than fences and streetlights suggest. The health of the two dogs now hinges on the foresight of their owners, and the community is called to a familiar but urgent vigilance.