A Florida bobcat at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, not the animal in this case. Photo: Daniel Casper/NASA, public domain.
Rabies Advisory in Marion County After Rabid Bobcat Near Rainbow Park, the Fifth Case of 2026
This is a local news news article published on 2026-10-03 covering local Marion County, Florida news. The Florida Department of Health in Marion County issued a rabies advisory after a bobcat killed off State Road 40 and SW 140th Avenue near Rainbow Park on Sept. 15 tested positive. It is the county's fifth confirmed animal rabies case of 2026.
A Florida bobcat at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, not the animal in this case. Photo: Daniel Casper/NASA, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Five Confirmed Cases in 2026
The bobcat is the fifth animal rabies case DOH-Marion has announced this year. All five come from the department's own advisories:
| Date | Animal | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Feb. 24 | Raccoon | Belleview area, off US 441 and SE 132nd Street Road |
| March 20 | Raccoon | Huntington area, off State Highway 35 |
| May 11 | Raccoon | Ocala, off SE 8th Street (60-day rabies alert) |
| July 26 | Raccoon | Reddick area, off US 441 and W Highway 316 |
| Sept. 15 | Bobcat | Rainbow Park area, off SR 40 and SW 140th Avenue |
Only the May case in central Ocala was issued as a formal 60-day rabies alert with mapped boundaries (NE 8th Street, SE 22nd Road, SE 22nd Loop and SW 4th Avenue). The others, including the bobcat, were issued as advisories, which tell the whole county to take precautions.
What DOH-Marion Says to Do
- Vaccinate pets and livestock on your veterinarian's schedule. Our Ocala veterinarians directory lists local clinics.
- Keep pets supervised and on a leash, and keep livestock secured. If a wild animal bites your pet or livestock, get veterinary care right away and call Marion County Animal Services at 352-671-8727.
- Do not touch, feed or attract wild or stray animals. Bring in outdoor pet food and secure garbage cans.
- If you are bitten or scratched by a wild or domestic animal, seek medical attention and report it to DOH-Marion at 352-629-0137. Treatment after an exposure protects against rabies.
- Never adopt a wild animal. Call a licensed wildlife rehabilitator instead, and keep bats and other wildlife out of homes and schools.
Raccoons, bats, foxes, skunks, otters, bobcats and coyotes carry a higher risk of passing rabies to people, according to the department. More information is at FloridaHealth.gov/Rabies.
Near Rainbow Springs and Dunnellon
The Rainbow Park area sits along SR 40 between Ocala and the Rainbow River. Visitors heading to Rainbow Springs State Park or kayaking the Rainbow River should leave any wildlife they see alone and keep dogs leashed. For pet-friendly outings around the county, see pet-friendly Ocala.
Sources: DOH-Marion rabies advisories and alert dated Feb. 27, March 25, May 15, July 31 and Sept. 18, 2026, published on floridahealth.gov. Checked Oct. 3, 2026. Photo: Daniel Casper/NASA (public domain).
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