Animal Bite Reporting

Animal bites are investigated to protect the public from exposure to the rabies virus. While rare, rabies is of great public health concern as it is almost always fatal. For this reason, rabies vaccinations of domestic dogs and cats are required by law.

The Health Dept investigates about 300 animal bites each year. Working closely with the Great Falls Animal Shelter and city and county law enforcement, biting animals are located and quarantined or tested if necessary.

If You Get Bitten or Scratched:

• Immediately wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and warm water
• Use a viricial agent, such as iodine
• Seek medical attention immediately

Reporting Procedures:

1. REPORT IMMEDIATELY: Call City County Health Department, and City or County Animal Control. They must locate the animal as soon as possible.

2. Animal Bite Report Form: These forms are to be filled out by doctors, medical personnel, or animal control officers. You must provide as much information as possible. Click here to download the Animal Bite Report Forms (PDF) Click Here to Download the FREE Adobe PDF Reader.

3. FAX: the completed bite report form for ALL bites

4. Contacts:
Cascade City County Health Department
Phone: (406) 454-6950 Fax: (406) 454-6959

Great Falls Police Department Dispatch:
Phone: (406) 771-1180 Fax: (406) 761-7858
 

Cascade County Sheriff's Office:
Phone: (406) 454-7697 Fax: (406) 454-6948
After hours/weekends, Dispatch: (406) 454-6978

Malmstrom Air Force Base, Public Health
Phone: (406) 731-4405 Fax: (406) 731-4029

For More Information, visit the CDC Rabies website:
www.cdc.gov/rabies
or visit http://www.cdc.gov/MMWR/PDF/rr/rr4801.pdf

Montana ARM 37.114.571 RABIES EXPOSURE from section (2) states: "The local health officer shall investigate each report of possible rabies exposure and gather, at a minimum, information about the circumstances of the possible rabies exposure; nature of the exposure; name, age, and address of the exposed individual; vaccination status of the animal in question; treatment of the exposed person; and eventual outcome for both animal and person involved."

For full text see:
http://www.mtrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?RN=37.114.571

Online Resources

The West Virginia Bureau for Public Health brochure that includes a brief description of symptoms of rabies in animals: http://www.wvidep.org/Portals/31/PDFs/rabies_facts_brochure.pdf

Coping With Bats in Montana Homes: an article about bats, rabies and bat-proofing homes and other structures

If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Environmental Health Division at (406) 454-6950.