Rabid Skunks Found in Liberty, SC: Pet Exposed, Health Officials Warn Residents
Two skunks in Liberty, South Carolina tested positive for rabies, exposing a dog to the viral disease. Health officials urge residents to vaccinate pets and report potential exposures.
Health officials say two skunks in Liberty, South Carolina tested positive for rabies, exposing a dog to the potentially fatal viral disease. The discovery has prompted warnings for residents in the area to take precautions and ensure their pets are properly vaccinated.
What Happened in Liberty
On Thursday, Sept. 17, the South Carolina Department of Public Health announced that two skunks found near Odell Street and Smith Circle in Liberty had tested positive for rabies. The skunks were submitted to the DPH laboratory for testing on Monday, Sept. 14, and the positive results were confirmed on Tuesday, Sept. 15.
A dog was exposed by the first skunk on Friday, Sept. 11, and was exposed again to the second rabid skunk on Sunday, Sept. 13. Health officials said the dog will be quarantined as required under the South Carolina Rabies Control Act.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Pets
No people are known to have been exposed at this time, but health officials are urging caution. If you believe you, someone you know, or your pets have come in contact with either of these skunks or another animal that potentially has rabies, please call DPH's Upstate Greenville-Spartanburg office at (864) 372-3270 during normal business hours (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday) or after hours and on holidays at (888) 847-0902 (Select Option 2).
It is important to keep pets up to date on their rabies vaccination, as this is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect against the disease. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear but it is entirely preventable through vaccination.
Rabies in Pickens County and South Carolina
These skunks are the fifth and sixth animals in Pickens County to test positive for rabies in 2026. Statewide, there have been 88 confirmed rabid animals this year. Since 2002, South Carolina has averaged approximately 136 positive cases a year. In 2025, four of the 101 confirmed rabies cases in South Carolina were in Pickens County.
Rabies can affect any mammal, but in South Carolina, the most common carriers include raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats. The virus spreads through saliva, usually through a bite, and affects the central nervous system. Early symptoms in animals may include unusual aggression, excessive drooling, difficulty moving, or appearing unusually tame.
For more details on this developing story, see the full report from WYFF News 4.
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