Two horses, one cow, one coyote and a bunch of skunks. These are the victims of the rabies virus in Santa Cruz County so far this year, some 20 animals, said Lt. Jose Pena, supervisor of the county Animal Control Department

“We haven’t had a livestock case in this county for years and now we have three cases,” Pena said.

A cow in the Patagonia area died in April, he said. In June, two horses died on a ranch near Pena Blanca Lake.

“These horses were infected by a skunk,” said State Livestock Officer Rudy Acevedo. He placed four other horses and a calf on a six-month quarantine to prevent them from co-mingling with other livestock.

Animal Control officers have found three rabid skunks in Nogales this year, Pena said. When they discovered two skunks just west of Nogales High School, they distributed fliers to apartment residents in the area to alert them about the danger.

The other skunk showed up on the campus of Coronado Elementary School in April, Pena said.

It wandered onto the playground from the back of the school, said desk clerk Irene Valdez, who was on recess duty.

“I blew the whistle and called the kids in,” Valdez said. She called the security guard and the office called Animal Control to capture the skunk.

“It (the skunk) was very friendly,” Valdez said. Because the nocturnal animal was out in the daytime, “we explained to the kids that’s a red flag.”

About three weeks ago, Animal Control officers distributed fliers along Pendleton Drive in Rio Rico, from the golf club to Camino Josefina, Pena said. Six skunks in that area have tested positive for rabies.

“Once any animal gets the virus, it’s fatal,” Pena said.

Humans who are bitten by a suspected rabid animal can receive post-exposure shots to prevent the infection, Pena said.

“We’re having a really bad year,” he said. “Make sure your pets are vaccinated.”

Residents who see any suspicious behavior in wildlife should call Animal Control at (520) 761-7860.