Nine wild animals have tested positive for rabies in El Dorado County this year.

The rabid animals include one fox, one bat and seven skunks. While none have been located in the Tahoe basin, that isn’t always the case.

This year the rabid animals have been in Placerville, Pollock Pine, Diamond Springs, Somerset and El Dorado Hills.

Animal Services is warning domestic pet owners that unvaccinated pets are at risk, especially those that are exposed to areas beyond their back yard.

“We find rabid wild animals every year in El Dorado County, so the need for vigilance is important,” Henry Brzezinski, chief of Animal Services, said in a statement.

Rabies is a virus spread through the bite and saliva of an infected animal and is usually fatal to pets and humans if not treated shortly after exposure.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report